Mike

I am really impressed by "Transcribe!" software - free 30 day trial then costs about $50.

Sounds good - paypal ok? Let me know an email address if so!

Hi all I thought it might be interesting to chronicle my journey into the murky world of double bass. I am primarily an electric player who plays corporate/wedding functions, theatre shows (not west end (yet) but things like Les Mis, We Will Rock You, Sweeney Todd, Follies etc) and jazz gigs. I also teach music tech, composition and bass as a peri. I would really like to learn double bass as I enjoy jazz and because I started losing the odd gig where electric was less appropriate. Plus, on all the West End shows I've sat in on, they've said you really need to play both. Even in shows like Avenue Q require it, which is interesting. So, working on advice, I purchased a 30year old Zellor for £525, and spent as much again getting new strings, new soundpost, adjustable bridge and a good set up by an excellent luthier near me called Martyn Bailey. I went on a jazz course over Summer with bass monster Mark Hodgson (Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham et al) which really highlighted how little I knew about playing double - I had just jumped in and was playing it (with enthusiasm) with horrible technique. The whole experience, while good over all knocked my confidence a bit, so I've now started regular lessons with a gentleman near me called Tony Hougham. Tony is the principal double bass of the Covent Garden Orchestra and a thoroughly nice man, treading the difficult line between friendliness and the teacherly respect. I have had two lessons so far. The most difficult thing for me initially was the change of fingering from electric bass - instead of using the third finger, it's been difficult for me to use it just to support the fourth. So playing something as simple as a one octave scale is all a bit different. I am also finding it difficult to keep my thumb in position without it wanting to slide around towards the fingerboard, especially when I'm playing on the E string. I am working through the half position exercises in Simandl and looking forward to moving to first position with Tony next week. I'm trying to learn properly and get my technique down from day 1 to avoid any annoyances later on - I've also bought a stool now so can sit down and play arco. It's also awakening my interest in classical music, which can only be a wonderful thing. More after our next lesson....!

Ps - OP - wind your neck in. This site isn't costing you a penny. The bass for sale forum does not owe you a living.

It's times like these I miss BBC

Not half an hour away for me ;-) But cheers for the headsup!

[quote name='Sibob' post='1025617' date='Nov 16 2010, 10:54 AM']Janek's a funny one for me!, obviously an incredibly talented musician (fantastic chordal knowledge), but I saw him at the 606 club, and although there were great chops and ideas.....I didn't find it very musical. I certainly didn't remember any tunes or melodies coming away from the gig. Having said that, his groove playing is great, his bassday lessons on bassplayer.tv are cool, and there's some cool r&b type clinic playing vids on YouTube! Horses for courses though innit, each to their own, boring if we all thought the same etc etc Keep it friendly Si[/quote] I think that some of his melodies from tracks like Mana, Four Brothers, That Stern Look etc are REALLY memorable - I like to quote them in solos sometimes, they sound great.