I've just bought an upright bass and I'm completely new to musical instruments, never mind a double bass, but you assumption of no knowledge is exactly what I've been needing, all other videos assume even a small amount of knowledge. You've really helped to ease me into learning this instrument, as it is pretty daunting. So thanks alot, Lewis.
This is a terrific video! I bet I've watched it 100 times so I can learn it. Thank you for posting! As many others have stated I love to see more beginner bass videos on the upright!! Please post some new ones as I have found your videos easier to follow than all the others on RUclips and such. You are a great teacher, also I agree about the singing along, it helps me to hear what you are playing matching the points in the song. Kudos to you for being so awesome!
:) Great job this is perfect i just bought my first up right I was never in any string orchestra growing up now im in a folk band im making the jump from bass guitar to upright wish me luck! :D
i just bought a upright these video's are great !!!! i think i found 4 of them if there are more i would love to know how to find them . just to let you first time i held one of these was over 40 yrs ago haha .th/y for having these on here
@Heahmount It is the same all the way across for all strings. If you need to know what the names of the notes (chords) are on the other strings, check out my other bass video on bass chords.
hey great lessons... just want to say that if you are going to mark your bass, which is a bad idea in the long run, go for the 5th and the 12th "frets", so like A and E octave on the A string. eventually a marker will hinder your progress and slow you down, but it can help the acoustic bass seem less daunting. learn how to check the octaves and 5ths in various positions and you'll be much better off! thanks again for the bluegrass help!
I'm interested in learning the notes, so I've been working through a beginning bass (orchestra style. ) book, which has been helpful in understanding the fretboard. What would you suggest for the next step in my learning, for being able to play along in a jam, etc. just playing along to CDs? Or is there a method series that is worthy?
Hi, thank you for the video! My budget prevents me from buying a bass... but I have an option to buy a 3/4 size Chinese-made Plywood Flamed Double Bass for a reasonable price of 500. Do you think this is okay to start learning to play on? It would be used by a couple of people between the heights of 5'7" and 6'. Thanks!
I was not suggesting that people measure by saying an approximate distance. I was giving the distance so people would know they were in the right ball park. Use a tuner and then it won't matter what size bass you have or what the string length is.
What is the significance of the blue frets? If you marked all the frets down to half-way, what would they be? Which would be the blue ones, and why? Thanks!
Marking the positions all in one color can make it harder to determine where you are going. I mark the "major" positions used by a beginning bass player in silver. I mark the ones that are less common in blue. In the keys of G, D, A, and B, the three most common chords used in these keys will all be open or on the silver marks. In the key of C, or if there are minor or more unusual chords, you may need the blue markers.
Hi, I got it. Just go up the G string and start marking half steps up to G or half of the string, that is the start of the thumb position I think. the marking should be good for all the strings
The best way to learn to play with others is to play with others. If you need some practice, then I would suggest the Murphy Method or Pete Wernick's jamming DVDs. They have lots of songs to play along with, and you can view the guitar players hands to see the chords. I can't stress enough that you really need to play "live" with others, though. Keeping the beat is the MOST important thing. Wrong notes won't be noticed as much as missing the beat when you are supposed to BE the beat.
Hi Chris! This is Carolyn from California! A few weeks ago I got a 1951 Kay Swingmaster and have been learning how to play it. I came across your video, and it was like running into an old friend! It looks like you are using your middle fingers to note the strings. Is that the usual way? I was trying to use my index at first, but it was too fatiguing.
I am just showing the basic "hillbilly" way to get started playing bluegrass. If you want to learn notes, read music, play classical, bow -- you need to get proper instruction because it will be very important for what you are going to do. If you just want to jam, it's up to you how technical you want to get. I use all my fingers except my pinky when I play the bass. A properly trained bass player doesn't use the ring finger, but the pinky is used instead.
...actually its more like 2-5/16" to the 1st position from the nut; 2nd position is app, 4-9/16" from nut; 3rd position is app. 6-5/8" from nut; 4th position is app. 8-1/2" from nut; 5th posistion is app. 10-1/2" from nut. It is a mistake to measure from on pos. to another pos.,..all measurements should be from nut. Remember each distance is app. 1/16" less, i.e. from one pos. to the next. I would allow 1mm tolerance
You are a great teacher and have a true knack for developing clear and uncomplicated explanations.
I've just bought an upright bass and I'm completely new to musical instruments, never mind a double bass, but you assumption of no knowledge is exactly what I've been needing, all other videos assume even a small amount of knowledge. You've really helped to ease me into learning this instrument, as it is pretty daunting. So thanks alot, Lewis.
You helped me .
I didn’t understand Positions .
Thank you ,
Chuck
This is a terrific video! I bet I've watched it 100 times so I can learn it. Thank you for posting! As many others have stated I love to see more beginner bass videos on the upright!! Please post some new ones as I have found your videos easier to follow than all the others on RUclips and such. You are a great teacher, also I agree about the singing along, it helps me to hear what you are playing matching the points in the song. Kudos to you for being so awesome!
:) Great job this is perfect i just bought my first up right I was never in any string orchestra growing up now im in a folk band im making the jump from bass guitar to upright wish me luck! :D
i just bought a upright these video's are great !!!! i think i found 4 of them if there are more i would love to know how to find them . just to let you first time i held one of these was over 40 yrs ago haha .th/y for having these on here
@Heahmount It is the same all the way across for all strings. If you need to know what the names of the notes (chords) are on the other strings, check out my other bass video on bass chords.
hey great lessons... just want to say that if you are going to mark your bass, which is a bad idea in the long run, go for the 5th and the 12th "frets", so like A and E octave on the A string. eventually a marker will hinder your progress and slow you down, but it can help the acoustic bass seem less daunting. learn how to check the octaves and 5ths in various positions and you'll be much better off! thanks again for the bluegrass help!
I really like this video
I'm interested in learning the notes, so I've been working through a beginning bass (orchestra style. ) book, which has been helpful in understanding the fretboard. What would you suggest for the next step in my learning, for being able to play along in a jam, etc. just playing along to CDs? Or is there a method series that is worthy?
thank you...nice ans simple to follow
Hi, thank you for the video! My budget prevents me from buying a bass... but I have an option to buy a 3/4 size Chinese-made Plywood Flamed Double Bass for a reasonable price of 500. Do you think this is okay to start learning to play on? It would be used by a couple of people between the heights of 5'7" and 6'. Thanks!
Yes they do.
That bass sounds great
I was not suggesting that people measure by saying an approximate distance. I was giving the distance so people would know they were in the right ball park. Use a tuner and then it won't matter what size bass you have or what the string length is.
P.S.,...the above info is for a std. 3/4 bass ,with a 1060mm string speaking length from nut to bridge.
What is the significance of the blue frets? If you marked all the frets down to half-way, what would they be? Which would be the blue ones, and why?
Thanks!
Marking the positions all in one color can make it harder to determine where you are going. I mark the "major" positions used by a beginning bass player in silver. I mark the ones that are less common in blue. In the keys of G, D, A, and B, the three most common chords used in these keys will all be open or on the silver marks. In the key of C, or if there are minor or more unusual chords, you may need the blue markers.
Thank you for posting :)
Hi, I got it. Just go up the G string and start marking half steps up to G or half of the string, that is the start of the thumb position I think. the marking should be good for all the strings
That is correct!
I love the color of you bass!!
how different is the upright base from the cello?
oops, I meant mark the A and E octave on the E string, not A string. A string would be D and high A
Hi,what make is this bass,beautiful woods on it!!!!
The best way to learn to play with others is to play with others. If you need some practice, then I would suggest the Murphy Method or Pete Wernick's jamming DVDs. They have lots of songs to play along with, and you can view the guitar players hands to see the chords. I can't stress enough that you really need to play "live" with others, though. Keeping the beat is the MOST important thing. Wrong notes won't be noticed as much as missing the beat when you are supposed to BE the beat.
Hi Chris! This is Carolyn from California! A few weeks ago I got a 1951 Kay Swingmaster and have been learning how to play it. I came across your video, and it was like running into an old friend!
It looks like you are using your middle fingers to note the strings. Is that the usual way? I was trying to use my index at first, but it was too fatiguing.
I am just showing the basic "hillbilly" way to get started playing bluegrass. If you want to learn notes, read music, play classical, bow -- you need to get proper instruction because it will be very important for what you are going to do. If you just want to jam, it's up to you how technical you want to get. I use all my fingers except my pinky when I play the bass. A properly trained bass player doesn't use the ring finger, but the pinky is used instead.
...actually its more like 2-5/16" to the 1st position from the nut; 2nd position is app, 4-9/16" from nut; 3rd position is app. 6-5/8" from nut; 4th position is app. 8-1/2" from nut; 5th posistion is app. 10-1/2" from nut. It is a mistake to measure from on pos. to another pos.,..all measurements should be from nut. Remember each distance is app. 1/16" less, i.e. from one pos. to the next. I would allow 1mm tolerance
A cello is smaller and is tuned differently.
Help!
lizard spit! i play trombone as well as upright. you've just gotta train your muscles. play with drones man.
a funny thing happened as i was watching this just now;
she was naming the strings
g,d,a, *then i lost my wi fi signal i said* M!
(think about it)
strobo app- $10 the best tuner
Quit saying A# !