No. 8 Wire Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) Hi All, From my previous thread I've picked up a reasonable DB to learn on. I'm starting to develop a practice routine - really just working on absolute basics right now, posture, hand position, very basic intonation and note finding. I'm using a lot of free online resources (discoverdoublebass etc) to get started. Obviously I can play some hackneyed basslines, but I kind of feel like I should get the basics right first and this will come. I want to use the DB to play basic blues, folk, rock'n'roll and rockabilly (sometime later as I'll need to learn slap). I have no aspirations of playing jazz or classical on this instrument but most learning materials start from this perspective. Is this right approach or should I be attempting to play tunes as early as possible? If so anything that was useful to start on from a beginners perspective? Cheers Guys, Dan Edited January 19, 2017 by No. 8 Wire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 It sounds like you're doing very much the same as I did! My view is to continue with your structured practice, the stuff you need to do. But make sure you enjoy it - and for me that's either playing tunes or improvising over jazz standards (poorly!). It may sound dull but I structure my practice like this (give or take): Warm up Sound building - open string exercises Scales/Chords to a drone Sight reading / Work through a book Playing through changes / playing along with records With a glass of wine I'll sometimes try and write a few lines that use specific approaches. All gets written down and then I can add pointers on stuff I'm getting wrong or struggling with. Some days though, I'll stick on some tunes I know and enjoy playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No. 8 Wire Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 [quote name='Burns-bass' timestamp='1484864814' post='3219328'] It sounds like you're doing very much the same as I did! My view is to continue with your structured practice, the stuff you need to do. But make sure you enjoy it - and for me that's either playing tunes or improvising over jazz standards (poorly!). It may sound dull but I structure my practice like this (give or take): Warm up Sound building - open string exercises Scales/Chords to a drone Sight reading / Work through a book Playing through changes / playing along with records With a glass of wine I'll sometimes try and write a few lines that use specific approaches. All gets written down and then I can add pointers on stuff I'm getting wrong or struggling with. Some days though, I'll stick on some tunes I know and enjoy playing. [/quote] What does your open string practice involve - is this using the open strings to find fifths, octaves, etc and the build further positions form there - if so I'm doing that. Or do you mean someting different entirely. Scales and chords (do you mean arpeggios?) to a drone sounds like a good idea. Thanks I take it you started playing tunes from the very beginning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Sorry, should have explained more. The open string exercises are form the Evolving Bassist book. They're great at helping get a big sound, and incrementally increase in complexity, to the point now where I'm working on 16th note passages. Arpeggios I call chords because I'm playing jazz, but you're quite right. I began to play tunes from the start because it's fun. The way I see it, if I do everything else I should be doing I get to indulge myself knowing the work is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I use this personally through a Bose Bluetooth speaker which is great. http://www.dronetonetool.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No. 8 Wire Posted January 20, 2017 Author Share Posted January 20, 2017 Thanks for the drone tool link - I'll end up using that. Just need to find some basslines to start off with. I've been listening to T Bone Walker a lot lately so might start off with some blues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 If you want to learn the classics then I recommend a Sun Records comp. This one is great. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00005Y47C/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1485021224&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=sun+records&dpPl=1&dpID=51WPbOb73DL&ref=plSrch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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