JonBarnes Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Hi All, I am thinking of starting to learn DB but I don't know anyone who teaches it here near Swansea and I don't want to buy an instrument on the chance I don't like it/cant play it!! Any suggestions/pointers? Ta muchly in advance.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petebassist Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Hi, rent one if you can, you'd have to google it, or buy a good quality second bass that you won't lose much money on if you decide to sell on. tuition: Ed Friedland's Jazz double bass DVD is great for learning bass technique, from how to hold it right through to jamming with a band. All very practical stuff. I used that and of course the amazing videos and lessons that Geoff Chalmers creates. I think that can easily get you started, and you can maybe consider a teacher in the future to fine tune Your technique if required. good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staggering on Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Good advice about renting and resources in the previous post.There are many online resources that cover just about everything about DB at different levels although a teacher would be a good idea if you can find one so you can get off to a good start and have someone to answer your questions. For a variety of reasons(space and transport and the Canadian climate) I went to an EUB instead of DB and got a Stagg and then moved on to a Yamaha SLB 200 and I love it.It is not a DB but it feels like one and can sound pretty close to an acoustic(save the discussion/arguments re DB vs EUB).I use my EB on a few songs but play only EUB on most gigs with my jazz quartet and septet. As many have said on here it is an instrument that just gets to you and you feel like a "real" bass player when you start to play.It is harder physically to play than an EB but it is so much fun that you want to work at it all the time, and it does take work...and then there is the bow to work with too!I started upright in my late 60's and now I'm almost 72 and if I can do it anyone can. Go for it, and if you can borrow or rent first that would be the best route that will start you down the slippery slope of long necked fretless basses and into a whole new world. How about some more encouragement from other upright players...let's go guys, he's ready to join the club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Jon, can't be that difficult compared to the goal you score against Brazil back in the 80s... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 On 18/12/2017 at 19:25, JonBarnes said: Hi All, I am thinking of starting to learn DB but I don't know anyone who teaches it here near Swansea and I don't want to buy an instrument on the chance I don't like it/cant play it!! Any suggestions/pointers? Ta muchly in advance.... What type of music are you interested in playing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 I found it really helpful to go and do a lesson before buying anything. Great for finding out how you feel about the instrument and getting a few pointers to good technique. I hadn't even held one at that stage. If there's a teacher near you, why wait? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Is there a music shop nearby where they could point you in the right direction? I'd be happy to let you have a tinker with mine for an afternoon if you're ever up in the Midlands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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