“If you’re curious about it now, you’re always gonna be curious about it”. That’s one of the best advices ever. It applies not only to bass, but to life.
One thing to think about if you're thinking about gigging with an upright: you need to have a vehicle which fits! I helped my daughter schlepp one around for five years, and it was *never* easy.
The upright bass fits in any vehicle, check "upton bass shop" whatevers ok youtube, they fit a bass in one of those teenytiny toy cars. I myself had a Volks UP, the most basic one, and the bass had plenty space. Just check if the front passenger seat can open up to almosr flat and thats it. If the passenger seat doesnt go very flat, you will need to lower the back seats and use the cargo+backseat space. It isnt easy, never, but it fits. I use a Fiat Argo now with the same method and I can carry 3 passengers in the back (considering they are all relatively thin and one of them will be staring at my endpin and their possible blindness/death, should I crash the car....but the bass will be fine, thats what matters)
@@doriangrayest All I can say is that fitting my daughter's "normal" upright (a "3/4" size, as nobody since Dragonetti plays a "4/4") into a compact sedan is physically impossible, with "any safety to the bass" (to misquote Mark Twain). Even a "5-door" hatchback with fold-down rear seats and the front passenger-side seat all the way forward would be impossible. Maybe if you're willing to mess with the setup by dropping the bridge flat, you could get away with something? I dunno, wouldn't care to try.
The occasional theater gig will have a book that asks you to flip between both. Just wrapped up Carole King - Beautiful that had multiple switches between the two I also remember back when I was in high school and traveled a lot for jazz band competitions, we often got judges saying "it's so nice to hear an upright for once" Lastly, playing upright all my life made transitioning to playing a fretless bass so much easier. I actually find fretless so much easier (so long as I can hear myself clearly, of course)
Another great tip for upright: If you're just starting out, Get. A. Teacher. Upright bass is a very physical instrument, and the guidance on technique that a teacher can provide is INVALUABLE. I had tried to learn upright on my own, and between that and playing on a 6-string electric (who's dimensions and measurements didn't jive with me) and having abysmal electric technique (playing with my wrists bent at 90 degree angles) caused me to develop tendonitis in both wrists. My first teacher for upright worked with me on developing proper technique and posture that I was able to decrease the tendonitis over time (I still need to be mindful, and to properly stretch before playing). Another difference between electric bass and upright bass is with the left hand. On electric bass, you have a hand grip/squeeze with the fingers to push the string down on the fretboard; on upright, you use way more muscle groups, as you use your arm, shoulder and back muscles together to *pull* the string against the fingerboard. Fantastic video, and I echo a lot of what Kelly had said! I also need to get back in to practicing my upright more regularly, I probably sound like hot garbage right about now.
This is a very important piece of advice. A proper technique is a huge advantage in the long run. Also a teacher tends to be a really good help for your intonation.
When you began playing though there weren’t online bass schools . Plenty of lessons on posture, basic technique on “Discover Double Bass” etc. it’s entirely possible these days IMO
To me the biggest difference in sound is “color”, especially compared to the setup and tone with the Fender in this comparison. The double bass is open, rings, has texture to the sound especially on the decay. The electric bass is mostly attack and can sound more precise, and that is great in its place. Having been playing both forty years, I have a great appreciation for both the instruments and the people that play them. Could never imagine Flea playing with Bill Monroe, or Gary Carr jamming with Primus. All great artists, just very different expressions of their art.
I’ve been playing bass for 50 years I played both upright and electric. I started on upright. And this is so good to hear. It’s the first time I heard…which I tell to all my students… when you can’t hear you turn down not up. the first time I heard that advice from anybody else thank you so much. It is funny how we’re so trained to turn the radio or TV up when we can’t hear it. It’s so opposite in the band
Kelly seems like a really nice guy. Thanks for introducing us to such a pleasant and knowledgeable guest! Love the way he talks us through stuff without being condescending!
I switched from electric to double when I was 30. I have not looked back. One thing to understand is that after the initial shock, double bass is an easier instrument to make sound good, it is more comfortable to play and you get LOADS of gigs. There are no down sides, apart from when you break it, but who hasn't broken their bass?
I love Kelly’s vibe and the way he sees everything. I’m an electric player who has just started playing upright and everything he’s said has really resonated with me.
Upright may not fit all situations, but it is ALWAYS cool. I’ve been playing electric for about 35 years. For the last year or two I’ve been playing a TonyFranklin PJ fretless electric and have really loved the freedom and versatility of it. Last summer when a local music store came across a handful of uprights, I bought the pick of the litter as soon as they hit the show floor and haven’t regretted it. Our Orchestra teacher has made me a few personalized starting videos as well as put me in with some great online content to get my bow working correctly before I developed any bad habits. This video is amazingly fun and it showed me that I’m still playing my right hand fingers a little two high. 😉
Philip, Kelly, that was really cool! I've been playing bass for a number of years and built an amazing fretless. I also have fretted basses. My friends ask how I know where the frets are. I tell them they need to find where the notes are. You get used to it pretty quick. I'm sure that's the deal with upright as well. I've always wanted an upright. It's not the money, it's the space. My wife would kill me if I brought home something that big! But it's always interested me. Thanks for the rundown! I learned so much. I want one more! Thanks for the great video!
I converted from 4 string to upright, which I play exclusively. You don't learn the fingerings overnight. I have an electric 4 string bass that is 100% fretless. No markers. It wasn't so bad, given the scale length is the same as a normal electric. I bought that as a way to transition to upright. Nope. The jumps are so much different on the upright that where the 7th fret is on the upright its probably the 10th on the electric. Had I to do over again I would have skipped buying the fretless and gone right for upright. As for space - I bought a palatino electric upright. Lived in a smalllllllll apartment. Later, when my girlfriend moved out, I bought an acoustic upright. The palatino upright is basically the same as an acoustic, just friggin' heavy and no body, thus takes up waaaaay less space. Same strings, height, etc.. The electric does have a built-in pick-up, but 100% trash. (Don't confuse this with the EUBs which are just electric basses on a stand, using electric strings, electric fret spacing, etc. These are for folks that can't play upright, but are looking to show off cause they can play their bass on its side.)
This is a fantastic video for those of us who LOVE bass. Acoustic, the best! 1200 lol in 2023. Bought my first (laminate ) one in 1976 for 600 and thought I'd pick it up again in 2023. Couldn't find one for under 5k. Great video.
Second-hand info, but the most sought-after classical bass instructor in Iowa (1st chair bass, Des Moines Symphony, died just a few years ago) told me she thought the cheap composite basses from China were very good quality for student instruments, great tone & projection, maybe $500 or $600 before COVID. Some of her students had started off with them, and she was quite surprised.
This was gold. I'm a guitarist, just got back for the regular gypsy jazz jam, where none of our bass players could make it. Ended up playing upright for half the session (have never played on before, but have played alot of elec bass). Was insanely fun, and difficult, but now i want one. Kelly is awesome, great tips! Work man.
Great stuff man! I played upright in college, left it behind and gigged w Fenders for forty years. Rekindled the relationship after a decades-long 'whole rest' w a $1,500 laminate then 4-yrs later got a $5K solid wood bass, now i could finally hear some bottom. It's musical therapy for me, Fenders feel like children's toys now, whole different mindset. Upright, you gotta play every day or it will eat your lunch. Get a teacher. Your first 3-hr gig will humble you enough to crawl back to the woodshed.
Dear Mr. Hughes, Thank you for your years of knowledge ‼️ My head exploded from the truths embedded in your comment(s) 🤯 In a nutshell….. my life was hijacked with religious dogma…… so personal aesthetic development was seen as almost “useless” as a life pursuit 😢 Of course, I cheated….. wrote a ton of songs ( in the low )….. gravitated from jazz to country…… and back again…… Prayer got me out of that destructive cult 4 years ago after 50 years! ….. IM FREE TO DEEP DIVE INTO THE ARTS‼️‼️‼️‼️ I’m a self taught jazz composer, short story writer, poet, inventor, screenwriter of short films,and currently teach myself animation for a short film about a fantasy world of musical “ citizens “. The theme for the movie targeted for teenage kids is: “ HARMONY IN COLLABORATION “ (Don’t have a working title as yet) the story deals with narcissistic soloists who need to find the value of ; not just blending on the bandstand…… but the importance of harmonious “ generosity “ In every moment of life. The debut album coming out approximately Christmas 2025 will feature a ensemble …. ( I need a small orchestra actually lol)…. ( session musicians) myself on piano. This album will also serve as the movie soundtrack to this fantasy short film!…… the film won’t be ready for release for a few years… probably Christmas 2026 ?……. I would humbly expect this masterpiece to be my only release….. as I m 67 …. And though I’m in great health….. who knows what can happen…… All that to say…… I will be needing to buy a double bass , and drums to write the lines to these mostly jazz ballads featured throughout the film…… (always wanted a stand up 👀) Is it feasible to teach myself purely out of need, love of music, and adrenaline….. ❓ should I be expecting “quality tones “ from a newbie like myself….. ❓……… even though I own a jazz electric bass, 12 string acoustic, and a couple of electric guitars for years. I don’t think I could fit the time for a teacher in while working on sooo many projects at the present❓ BUT I TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT LEARNING THE RIGHT WAY VERY SERIOUSLY 🫣. Funding this dream isn’t easy either. But……. I’m saving up ….. and…. there’s a settlement from a collision due soon…… but I don’t really know when…….. Keeping my eyes out online for used analog boards and tape machines for my home studio ……. ( digital is way faster….. sure… but…. I can HEAR THE DIFFERENCE on vinyl‼️) will write and mix at home …… but performances, and engineering mastered professionally in a adequate studio…….of course. Maybe pay someone to go with me to “ look “ at double basses for sale…… can’t expect perfection with $ 1200 to $1600 budget I guess 🥴…. (I’m certain the tone is in the seasoned wood ❗️) ( then….. find someone to adjust and give it a good tune up as well). Well…… I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this insightful video today! It’s my dream to leave the world in a better place by adding a well told story along with stirring, melodic jazz ballads that touch the soul………… ……….Mercer, Porter, Rodgers & Hart,Arlan & Harburg ect. These men touched my life…….. ……… just maybe….. I can humbly add a verse….. or two ❓…. Lol Happiest Spring Maestro 🌱 God bless, 🎼RAIN AGAIN 🎼
@@RAIN-AGAIN Dude I hear you, I'm a preacher's kid myself, we are the same age. If you are looking for an analog recording deck, I have a Tascam 80-8 I'd sell along w/ a mix down deck, gimme an email or ph#. And I can help you find a decent $1500 Upright. I warn you it's not like recording fretless Fenders, it's quite humbling, to say the least.
THANKS FOR THE GENEROSITY BROTHER HUGHES. KIND OF YOU TO OFFER…… 🙏🏾 BUT I GOT MY WISH LIST WITH MY PICKS ALL SELECTED…. Lol BETWEEN SWEETWATER AND REVERB ; (ILL BE BITING THE BULLET ON THEIR PRICING), BUT I WANNA GO MORE HIGH END ; NEVE 8424 ; AND NEVE’S USUAL SUSPECTS IN OUTBOARD GEAR….GOT MY EYE ON THE STUDOR A800 2” 24 TRACK. IM HAPPY THAT THEY OFFER WARRANTIES AND TECH SUPPORT THAT I NO DOUBT WILL BE NEEDING….. lol AS FAR AS THE DOUBLE BASS…. I LIVE 50 MILES FROM CHICAGO AND THERE IS A TON OF OPTIONS IN REGARDS MEETING PRE- OWNERS. THIS NEW BASS WILL BECOME AN INTIMATE “ FAMILY MEMBER “…. Lol
SOOOOOOO, I WANT TO HEAR FIRST HAND THE BACKSTORY OF THE INSTRUMENT BEFORE BRINGING ( her ) TO ITS NEW HOME…… lol ( I’m a bachelor…. So, that bass will be the official “queen “ of my home studio…… lol) I FEEL ITS IMPORTANT TO GET FACE TO FACE WITH PRIOR OWNERS……..TO UNDERSTAND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH IT…..👀 ( don’t want bad vibes sneaking into my studio thru negative, shady pre-owners……..lol) FINALLY, WANT TO BE RELATIVELY CLOSE TO HOME WHEN I TRANSPORT THE BASS HOPEFULLY, ALL NEWMANN MICS, MONITORS ECT…..WILL HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY THEN. AND……. DONT FORGET…. IM WAITING ON MY LAWYER TO SETTLE A COLLISION CASE SO I CAN PROPERLY FUND EVERYTHING!…… lol IM NOT GONNA BE IN A HURRY, GOD WILL WORK IT ALL OUT FOR ME……… 🙏🏾 IVE WAITED 50 YEARS FOR A HIGH END HOME STUDIO!!….. MOST OF MY SONGS, SHORT STORIES,POETRY, AND FILM IDEAS WERE HIDDEN AWAY IN DUSTY BAGS AND BOXES FOR DECADES! THE YELLOWING PAGES ARE EVEN STICKING TOGETHER….. IVE WRITTEN ABOUT 20 NEW PIANO PIECES SINCE THE PANDEMIC….. SO IVE BEEN BUSY….
( my roses out in the yard are budding nicely as well…. they keep me busy too…….lol) MEANWHILE……. ( 100’s of cassettes with decent demos I have yet to sort through ect) ITS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT…… BUT …. I WILL SALVAGE WHAT I CAN OF THESE CANDLES IN THE WIND… lol IM JUST GLAD TO BE ALIVE BROTHER HUGHES……….‼️‼️‼️ OUR 60’s IS POSSIBLY THE BEST DECADE EVER!!!!…. JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER TO EAT RIGHT…. AND GET PROPER REST ❗️…. Lol IM NOT LOOKING FOR FAME OR FORTUNE……. COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ALBUM SALES…….. ITS JUST A BUNCH OF GREAT SONGS THAT NEED TO BE PROPERLY PRODUCED……. SHARED WITH OTHERS……… AND………..THATS ABOUT IT! Lol I HOPE YOU NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR TALENT MAESTRO ❗️ KEEP CREATING‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ REMEMBER….. OUR DAD IN HEAVEN IS A PRETTY ARTISTIC GUY ……👀 AND BEING MADE IN HIS IMAGE ………..WE ARE CHIPS OFF THE OLD BLOCK….. lol SOOOOO, CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE… DONT LET ANYTHING ROB YOUR JOY BROTHER ‼️ WHEN THIS ALBUM IS DONE ; ( around Christmas 2025)….. I’ll let you know. UNTIL THEN, BE KIND TO ALL…… KEEP THE LIGHT BURNING BRIGHT🕯 GOD BLESS, NATHANIEL…… aka RAIN AGAIN
I absolutely love the tone of an upright. So awesome. I agree, there is no getting an electric bass to sound like an upright. Closest I've gotten was an Epiphone DeLux Masterbuilt hollow boddy bass with some LaBella's on it and a foam under the bridge. It's not spot on but it's got similar characteristics so it was maybe 80% there. A nice standup is on my list to acquire but I can be manic about tone and don't know how I feel about buying online if I can't play it and hear it first. Then again, watching this I realize playing first might not matter since I don't have the technique to hear it's true tone yet anyway lol. Fantastic video!
I just stumbled across this after talking with a guy whose band is looking for an upright bass player. They have a bass in their rehearsal space, and I'm going to give it a shot. I played violin in the middle school orchestra, and have played around on a few uprights over the years. The closest I've come to getting an electric to sound like an acoustic upright is playing a fretless jazz bass with a mute shoved behind the strings at the bridge. Thanks for the tips and insights!
Huge thanks to Kelly for ending the pain in my pinky. I was was pushing down on the side. When I pushed straight down, (on the bone), the pain went away. Thanks!
Kelly has an incredible sound, which seems to be very difficult to cultivate on upright bass. He’s right. I’ve been thinking about playing upright for years, and it won’t go away. This interview and video are of the highest quality. Thank you so much for it! I’m glad I don’t live so far from K.C. strings.
Thank you so much for the tip about moving the wrist to even up the finger length. I have struggled with this playing my electric bass. I have adjusted my hand position but not really enough. Now that I know it's a thing I will focus more on it to get a better sound. Cheers.
I play my NS Designs CR5M Upright Double Bass as my primary bass for almost all genres. I understand for the purists, its not considered acoustic, but for the variety that I play, it does the job. Does make playing anything above hard rock a bit dicey unless I add my Boss GT-1B for effects. I do play most of the with the side of my finger like most acoustic musicians. However, the plus side is I can fit it in my convertible.
Man, what a great tutorial! I added double bass to my gigging bag of tricks about three years ago. Still learning about this wonderful instrument, and how to play it. I added barely visible chromatic finger stop pencil marks along the side of the fingerboard, up to the D on the sixth position of the E string, to help navigate the notes. A cheater trick My teacher taught me. I had a chance to learn double bass back in high school symphonic band, over fifty years ago. Declined to switch from trombone, because I thought it would be a pain to haul around. Who knew?
I’ve had one of these for 7 or 8 years now and am totally happy with it. Adds much to the variety in my bass playing. I did add some felt to line the inside channel where the peg is set as it was a bit noisy when shifting the instrument around while playing.
Great video! I’ve always been curious about getting an upright, but the idea of developing an entirely separate technique has kept me from diving in…he made sense of it & it doesn’t seem as daunting now!
If you bought it 6months ago, like your comment, you probably already have the imaginary fingerboard pretty much figured out. Intonation is a lifetime of study and practice, but knowing the note position in theory, ballparking with high precision, is much easier after some direct contact and practice with the instrument. Videos alone makes it seem impossible hahahah The bow though really is a whole universe itself. Unlike pizz technique, bowing only reveals itself harder and harder.
Great explanation of comparing the two! As a both electric and double bassist I often tell those who aspire to play both or at least learn is that they are 2 different instruments although the roles are the same. Technique, sound, approach are the biggest things that go into it. I would also tell students to listen to upright bass players and genres of music that have it heavily on their rapport. Listening and understanding are key elements when looking into acoustic instruments.
Literally took me half way through the video to realize that’s the same guy who stood in for Philip with Noah Guthrie for a brief moment. He seems so knowledgeable, and now I want to get an upright
"The itch isn't going away, so you might as well scratch it" Oof... that was very encouraging/discouraging. Looks like I'm in for a hard couple of years, LOL
Wow nice one! The Upright sounds so good and boomy. The fact is I have free time only at night and I could never play acoustic instruments that late. All my guitars and basses are solid body.
Thanks for the video . I would like to add an important HEALH ADVICE. I have been playing bass guitar for years and decided to start upright during lockdown . I injured deeply by left hand and left elbow (tendinitis and nerve compression at elbow) because I did not knew that on upright you must use YOUR SHOULDER MUSCLES to pull the string , and not your left thumb to achieve pressure on the strings. ( check the video on the driveadoublebass channel for example).
I can only say that I put my Fender Fretless Jazz Bass down for good after I got my first Double Bass. As much as I loved my fretless, the sound of the wood was so much more resounding, and real.
I switched to upright from electric after playing electric for about 5 years (?). Switched about 9-10 months ago maybe and actually sold my jazz bass. I absolutely love the upright and and self taught on both, but for me, upright bass and some rockabilly is awesome.
Man I miss my upright. Regret selling it but I couldnt move it with me when I moved to another state. Hope i can afford one later on. It's so fun and challenging
Great insight, great tips. I'm actually more of a bass frequency curious I guess. I own several electric basses, even currently building a short-scaled one. Still, electric is where I'll remain in the foreseable future I believe. NIce upload, once again nailed the topic, and nice editing on top!
Can't wait to try the 'target practice' routine using the harmonic! Also noticed your clip-on tuner at the bridge, I'm defo doing that 🙌🏻 thanks for a great video!
I was a half assed guitar player in the early 90s. My buddies had a bluegrass band and they handed me an upright and said you're the bass player, lol. I got my technique the hard way, trial and error and long suffering. I play grass, country, and rockabilly. I never evolved into a jazz guy, mainly because I didn't get the education, didn't have the background, or know the tunes. Plus I was too lazy to put in the work. I thump ones and fives with a few simple runs in 1st pos for the most part. But even so, Ive gotten WAY more gigs playing upright than elec bass or guitar. Grass or acoustic music, a mic is the way to go. Country, you need a small amp or go direct, but blended with a mic. The modern rockabilly thing required learning how to slap, getting a really good pickup system, and a POWERFUL amp with lots of eq options.
solid advice, great clip... i started on upright then moved to electric... went from 90/10 upright play in college now to 98/2 electric now and can definitely agree not playing upright for a while your endurance goes straight down.
I'm not sure but I think I met Kelly at the velvet note. He was the house upright player. I think? Anyway this video was awesome and shout out to Kelly and the mystery bass player if they aren't the same person! 👍👍
Great content and good natured format all around. My upright gigs are such that I do not have the luxury of not using a pickup and amplifier. I like the idea of having the volume come from the bass though. Will try to play with that in mind. Very good advise about key concepts - no 3rd finger up until the octave harmonic (12th fret) and no pinkie beyond that. Ideas I knew but never heard anybody say it that way before. Need to catch Kelly in Atlanta sometime. I know Dash at least.
I bought an upright a few years ago after 20 years of playing electric. I always wanted one, as I took up bass having fallen in love with the old jazz and rockabilly players. I love that big boom sound, which I constantly was trying to duplicate on electric. I've not touched my electric 4 strings since, and put them in storage while I bought a 2nd upright. I play electric 4 strings now and feel like they are a toy. I was told by my band my playing immediately improved and was asked not to bring back the electric. LOL. Likely because playing upright broke all my bad habits, bad fingering, and lazy playing. There's some things harder to do on the upright, so you can't fall into them easily. I mean, its nearly impossible to play 16th beat metal metal runs above the 9th fret. LOL Or, as they mention, the jumps can be huge. > I will say that playing upright took re-learning. As in doing it seriously, not haphazardly. I mean, as an electric bassist who thinks of whether you're buying low tension or high tension strings, or strings for plucking, bowing, slapping or hybrid? While, as he points out here, I had to relearn my right hand (and left hand). I see a lot of electric players who use electric fingering when converting to upright, and it looses umph on the right hand, not to mention makes it impossible to mute (and muting in upright can be important to stop other strings from vibrating such as the low E, and not the same as muting on an electric for a change in sound), while electric left hand positions make learning the fretboard positions harder as your fingers are not in a solid shape. In the end: upright is for me. Its the sound I wanted. My fave bassists were always the old guys. I've since converted my bass to rockabilly and I'm in heaven in a way I never was with an electric, where I was constantly never happy with my sound, my playing or anything.
Gerard Stroh*** Philip Conrad*** I started on Upright Bass When I was 11 or 12 Years old and I Played Upright for About 6 Years and after High School I had to Give up the Bass Because the Price of an Upright Bass was not Cheap But When I started on Upright Bass I also Learn The Bass Guitar at the Same Time and I been Playing Bass Guitar for over 50 years Now and 2 Years Ago I Told Myself I am Gonna Buy Me an Upright Bass and Thats What I Did and I Made it Happin and I Love the Upright Bass!!!! When I Got The Upright Bass I also Buy Some Good D'addario's Kaplin Hard Tension Upright Bass Strings and Those Bass Strings Sound Awesome!!! I Want to Get A Bass Extention so I can Play Play A Low B or C on the E string!!!! and 4 Years Before I Got My Upright Bass I Got Me A Electric Stagg Stick Upright Bass and it Was OK But It Did Not Have The Acoustic Bass Sound!!! I Play Classical Music on the Upright Bass!!! In 1987 I did Buy A Acoustic Bass Guitar Fretless Bass that Was Made By The Guild Guitar Company and it Sounds Awesome Too!!!! What I Learn On Upright Bass that your Thum Must Be Behind the Neck and You Don't Use your 3rd Finger and I use 1+ 2 + 4 Finger in First Persition and after the Octive You Use Your 3rd Finger if the Bass Had A 12 Fret and Plucking an Upright You Must Put Some Meat into it to Get Alot of Sound out of your Bass!!! I Play the Upright Bass With A Bow and I have 3 Bass Bows!!! That's My Upright Bass Story!!! Bye From Gerard Stroh!!!!
Very informative vid! Not an upright guy but love the insight in other instruments 🙏🏻 Btw how do upright players take it around!? Do they put it in a gig bag or just carry it out in the open?
I got a chance to play one some years ago, but an upright won't fit in my apartment. Therefore, I'm with a parlor-sized acoustic and a p-bass. Cello was the first instrument I ever played, but it was too heavy for a 7 year old. But, an overgrown fiddle with a thyroid problem is in my future! Full size: I'm a big guy.
Can you play the electric bass upright? Maybe with a stand or a specialized strap? I wonder if it's easier to reach the strings if the neck is upright. You don't have to bend your wrist so much.
most towns have a shop that rents to students. I was able to rent one for $45 per month for 3 months. That is the perfect amount of time to take lessons. By the end of 3 months, you will know
@@philipconradmusic can't go wrong with La Bella flats. I've got them on my Mustang and my Bass VI and I love them so much. Got Fender flats on the P-Bass, but I'm seriously considering switching to La Bellas
P Bass and LaBella Flat Wounds go together like ham and candied yams. Any bass player from Atlanta knows exactly what I'm talkin' 'bout! Tasty! 😋 Besides, if they were good enough for Duck and Jamerson, they'll certainly work for the average cat like me.
You just had to lead off with that question, didn't you? The short answer is, you will never make any electric solidbody bass guitar sound exactly like an acoustic double bass. The long answer is, you can get an interesting sound out of an electric bass guitar that captures some of the vibe of the upright bass, with careful selection of instrument, pickups, strings, and most importantly, technique, with maybe a little bit of signal processing. In my case, I play a Music Man StingRay fretless with 3-band EQ and piezo pickups, Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 flats, with foam mutes, and I use a Boss AD-2 Acoustic Preamp and BC-1X Bass Comp. But it's my right hand technique that makes the biggest difference of all. I play with an upright-style technique, using more of the side of my fingers.
If you're gonna play arco, and you're worried about messing up your forearm, play german grip instead of french grip. GERMAN GRIP ALL THE WAY. French grip is better for fiddly diddly widdly stuff since the bow changes are faster, but since most upright bow playing is long notes, German grip is the way to go-- it's relaxed, because the bow rests on top of your hand.
Totally agree with 'the upright is the worst gf you ever gonna have'.. one of the biggest problems is hearing yourself on the bandset no matter how hard you pluck esp if the band is loud.. sustain from an upright is based on 3 factors: string type, action and pickup/mic (using a pickup works more for sustain than mic ). In summary there's more work for electric bass than the upright..
every guitar player apreceats the good baseline but sometimes it is heavy to hear this art, this low frequenzes are not easy to differntiate sometimes. I used baseline often to find out the right accords on guitar because don't like notes
I'd like the younger generation to play a dance hall with an upright bass without any amplification. You have to work pretty hard to generate a big enough sound to fill the hall.
AND, AND, when you have a double bass on a stand in your house, you can walk right up and start playing. Song on the radio? Tv commercial? Walk up to the bass and join in in a second!
“If you’re curious about it now, you’re always gonna be curious about it”. That’s one of the best advices ever. It applies not only to bass, but to life.
bot it just now,,, been curious 50 yrs
That's not true at all. Interests wax and wane. I do not have the same interests that I had years ago. Meh
One thing to think about if you're thinking about gigging with an upright: you need to have a vehicle which fits! I helped my daughter schlepp one around for five years, and it was *never* easy.
good on you sir.
@@garyjr.miller7647 rude
The upright bass fits in any vehicle, check "upton bass shop" whatevers ok youtube, they fit a bass in one of those teenytiny toy cars. I myself had a Volks UP, the most basic one, and the bass had plenty space. Just check if the front passenger seat can open up to almosr flat and thats it. If the passenger seat doesnt go very flat, you will need to lower the back seats and use the cargo+backseat space. It isnt easy, never, but it fits. I use a Fiat Argo now with the same method and I can carry 3 passengers in the back (considering they are all relatively thin and one of them will be staring at my endpin and their possible blindness/death, should I crash the car....but the bass will be fine, thats what matters)
@@doriangrayest All I can say is that fitting my daughter's "normal" upright (a "3/4" size, as nobody since Dragonetti plays a "4/4") into a compact sedan is physically impossible, with "any safety to the bass" (to misquote Mark Twain). Even a "5-door" hatchback with fold-down rear seats and the front passenger-side seat all the way forward would be impossible.
Maybe if you're willing to mess with the setup by dropping the bridge flat, you could get away with something? I dunno, wouldn't care to try.
@@oscriadocomandosancto2898 how is that rude??
The occasional theater gig will have a book that asks you to flip between both. Just wrapped up Carole King - Beautiful that had multiple switches between the two
I also remember back when I was in high school and traveled a lot for jazz band competitions, we often got judges saying "it's so nice to hear an upright for once"
Lastly, playing upright all my life made transitioning to playing a fretless bass so much easier. I actually find fretless so much easier (so long as I can hear myself clearly, of course)
Another great tip for upright: If you're just starting out, Get. A. Teacher. Upright bass is a very physical instrument, and the guidance on technique that a teacher can provide is INVALUABLE. I had tried to learn upright on my own, and between that and playing on a 6-string electric (who's dimensions and measurements didn't jive with me) and having abysmal electric technique (playing with my wrists bent at 90 degree angles) caused me to develop tendonitis in both wrists. My first teacher for upright worked with me on developing proper technique and posture that I was able to decrease the tendonitis over time (I still need to be mindful, and to properly stretch before playing).
Another difference between electric bass and upright bass is with the left hand. On electric bass, you have a hand grip/squeeze with the fingers to push the string down on the fretboard; on upright, you use way more muscle groups, as you use your arm, shoulder and back muscles together to *pull* the string against the fingerboard.
Fantastic video, and I echo a lot of what Kelly had said! I also need to get back in to practicing my upright more regularly, I probably sound like hot garbage right about now.
This is a very important piece of advice.
A proper technique is a huge advantage in the long run.
Also a teacher tends to be a really good help for your intonation.
When you began playing though there weren’t online bass schools . Plenty of lessons on posture, basic technique on “Discover Double Bass” etc. it’s entirely possible these days IMO
To me the biggest difference in sound is “color”, especially compared to the setup and tone with the Fender in this comparison. The double bass is open, rings, has texture to the sound especially on the decay. The electric bass is mostly attack and can sound more precise, and that is great in its place. Having been playing both forty years, I have a great appreciation for both the instruments and the people that play them. Could never imagine Flea playing with Bill Monroe, or Gary Carr jamming with Primus. All great artists, just very different expressions of their art.
Nicely said! Thanks for watching ⚡️
The Contrabass is a different animal, period.
I’ve been playing bass for 50 years I played both upright and electric. I started on upright. And this is so good to hear. It’s the first time I heard…which I tell to all my students… when you can’t hear you turn down not up. the first time I heard that advice from anybody else thank you so much. It is funny how we’re so trained to turn the radio or TV up when we can’t hear it. It’s so opposite in the band
Kelly seems like a really nice guy. Thanks for introducing us to such a pleasant and knowledgeable guest! Love the way he talks us through stuff without being condescending!
Agree 💯. Kelly is top notch. Thankful to have him on the channel!
I switched from electric to double when I was 30. I have not looked back. One thing to understand is that after the initial shock, double bass is an easier instrument to make sound good, it is more comfortable to play and you get LOADS of gigs. There are no down sides, apart from when you break it, but who hasn't broken their bass?
Thanks for sharing! ⚡️
I love Kelly’s vibe and the way he sees everything. I’m an electric player who has just started playing upright and everything he’s said has really resonated with me.
Kelly’s great!
This is one of the best videos I've seen that discusses the transition between electric and upright bass. Well done.
Thanks so much Eric! Happy to have you here ⚡️
Upright may not fit all situations, but it is ALWAYS cool. I’ve been playing electric for about 35 years. For the last year or two I’ve been playing a TonyFranklin PJ fretless electric and have really loved the freedom and versatility of it. Last summer when a local music store came across a handful of uprights, I bought the pick of the litter as soon as they hit the show floor and haven’t regretted it. Our Orchestra teacher has made me a few personalized starting videos as well as put me in with some great online content to get my bow working correctly before I developed any bad habits. This video is amazingly fun and it showed me that I’m still playing my right hand fingers a little two high. 😉
Philip, Kelly, that was really cool! I've been playing bass for a number of years and built an amazing fretless. I also have fretted basses. My friends ask how I know where the frets are. I tell them they need to find where the notes are. You get used to it pretty quick. I'm sure that's the deal with upright as well. I've always wanted an upright. It's not the money, it's the space. My wife would kill me if I brought home something that big! But it's always interested me. Thanks for the rundown! I learned so much. I want one more!
Thanks for the great video!
If your wife dont let you have an upright, I suggest you get a new wife.
I converted from 4 string to upright, which I play exclusively. You don't learn the fingerings overnight. I have an electric 4 string bass that is 100% fretless. No markers. It wasn't so bad, given the scale length is the same as a normal electric. I bought that as a way to transition to upright. Nope. The jumps are so much different on the upright that where the 7th fret is on the upright its probably the 10th on the electric. Had I to do over again I would have skipped buying the fretless and gone right for upright. As for space - I bought a palatino electric upright. Lived in a smalllllllll apartment. Later, when my girlfriend moved out, I bought an acoustic upright. The palatino upright is basically the same as an acoustic, just friggin' heavy and no body, thus takes up waaaaay less space. Same strings, height, etc.. The electric does have a built-in pick-up, but 100% trash. (Don't confuse this with the EUBs which are just electric basses on a stand, using electric strings, electric fret spacing, etc. These are for folks that can't play upright, but are looking to show off cause they can play their bass on its side.)
I was going to get rid of my upright and my wife freaked and said she would leave me if I did.
This is a fantastic video for those of us who LOVE bass. Acoustic, the best! 1200 lol in 2023. Bought my first (laminate ) one in 1976 for 600 and thought I'd pick it up again in 2023. Couldn't find one for under 5k. Great video.
Second-hand info, but the most sought-after classical bass instructor in Iowa (1st chair bass, Des Moines Symphony, died just a few years ago) told me she thought the cheap composite basses from China were very good quality for student instruments, great tone & projection, maybe $500 or $600 before COVID. Some of her students had started off with them, and she was quite surprised.
very nice...he's one of my very best students i ever had, and i'm the one that sent him to rodney, a move that REALLY paid off for kelly!
This was gold. I'm a guitarist, just got back for the regular gypsy jazz jam, where none of our bass players could make it. Ended up playing upright for half the session (have never played on before, but have played alot of elec bass). Was insanely fun, and difficult, but now i want one. Kelly is awesome, great tips! Work man.
Thank you and thanks to Kelly for the insight of the Upright.
Great stuff man! I played upright in college, left it behind and gigged w Fenders for forty years. Rekindled the relationship after a decades-long 'whole rest' w a $1,500 laminate then 4-yrs later got a $5K solid wood bass, now i could finally hear some bottom. It's musical therapy for me, Fenders feel like children's toys now, whole different mindset. Upright, you gotta play every day or it will eat your lunch. Get a teacher. Your first 3-hr gig will humble you enough to crawl back to the woodshed.
Dear Mr. Hughes,
Thank you for your years of knowledge ‼️
My head exploded from the truths embedded in your comment(s) 🤯
In a nutshell….. my life was hijacked with religious dogma…… so personal aesthetic development was seen as almost “useless” as a life pursuit 😢
Of course, I cheated….. wrote a ton of songs ( in the low )….. gravitated from jazz to country…… and back again……
Prayer got me out of that destructive cult 4 years ago after 50 years!
….. IM FREE TO DEEP DIVE INTO THE ARTS‼️‼️‼️‼️
I’m a self taught jazz composer, short story writer, poet, inventor, screenwriter of short films,and currently teach myself animation for a short film about a fantasy world of musical “ citizens “.
The theme for the movie targeted for teenage kids is:
“ HARMONY IN COLLABORATION “
(Don’t have a working title as yet)
the story deals with narcissistic soloists who need to find the value of ; not just blending on the bandstand…… but the importance of harmonious “ generosity “ In every moment of life.
The debut album coming out approximately Christmas 2025 will feature a ensemble ….
( I need a small orchestra actually lol)…. ( session musicians) myself on piano.
This album will also serve as the movie soundtrack to this fantasy short film!…… the film won’t be ready for release for a few years… probably Christmas 2026 ?…….
I would humbly expect this masterpiece to be my only release….. as I m 67 …. And though I’m in great health….. who knows what can happen……
All that to say…… I will be needing to buy a double bass , and drums to write the lines to these mostly jazz ballads featured throughout the film……
(always wanted a stand up 👀)
Is it feasible to teach myself purely out of need, love of music, and adrenaline….. ❓
should I be expecting
“quality tones “ from a newbie like myself….. ❓……… even though I own a jazz electric bass, 12 string acoustic, and a couple of electric guitars for years.
I don’t think I could fit the time for a teacher in while working on sooo many projects at the present❓
BUT I TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT LEARNING THE RIGHT WAY VERY SERIOUSLY 🫣.
Funding this dream isn’t easy either.
But……. I’m saving up ….. and…. there’s a settlement from a collision due soon…… but I don’t really know when……..
Keeping my eyes out online for used analog boards and tape machines for my home studio …….
( digital is way faster….. sure… but…. I can HEAR THE DIFFERENCE on vinyl‼️)
will write and mix at home …… but performances, and engineering mastered professionally in a adequate studio…….of course.
Maybe pay someone to go with me to “ look “ at double basses for sale…… can’t expect perfection with $ 1200 to $1600 budget I guess 🥴….
(I’m certain the tone is in the seasoned wood ❗️)
( then….. find someone to adjust and give it a good tune up as well).
Well…… I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this insightful video today!
It’s my dream to leave the world in a better place by adding a well told story along with stirring, melodic jazz ballads that touch the soul…………
……….Mercer, Porter,
Rodgers & Hart,Arlan & Harburg ect.
These men touched my life……..
……… just maybe….. I can humbly add a verse….. or two ❓…. Lol
Happiest Spring Maestro 🌱
God bless,
🎼RAIN AGAIN 🎼
@@RAIN-AGAIN Dude I hear you, I'm a preacher's kid myself, we are the same age. If you are looking for an analog recording deck, I have a Tascam 80-8 I'd sell along w/ a mix down deck, gimme an email or ph#. And I can help you find a decent $1500 Upright. I warn you it's not like recording fretless Fenders, it's quite humbling, to say the least.
THANKS FOR THE GENEROSITY BROTHER HUGHES. KIND OF YOU TO OFFER…… 🙏🏾
BUT I GOT MY WISH LIST WITH MY PICKS ALL SELECTED…. Lol
BETWEEN SWEETWATER AND REVERB ;
(ILL BE BITING THE BULLET ON THEIR PRICING),
BUT
I WANNA GO MORE HIGH END ; NEVE 8424 ; AND NEVE’S USUAL SUSPECTS IN OUTBOARD GEAR….GOT MY EYE ON THE STUDOR A800 2” 24 TRACK.
IM HAPPY THAT THEY OFFER WARRANTIES AND TECH SUPPORT THAT I NO DOUBT WILL BE NEEDING….. lol
AS FAR AS THE DOUBLE BASS….
I LIVE 50 MILES FROM CHICAGO AND THERE IS A TON OF OPTIONS IN REGARDS MEETING PRE- OWNERS.
THIS NEW BASS WILL BECOME AN INTIMATE “ FAMILY MEMBER “…. Lol
SOOOOOOO,
I WANT TO HEAR FIRST HAND THE BACKSTORY OF THE INSTRUMENT BEFORE BRINGING ( her ) TO ITS NEW HOME…… lol
( I’m a bachelor…. So, that bass will be the official “queen “ of my home studio…… lol)
I FEEL ITS IMPORTANT TO GET
FACE TO FACE WITH PRIOR OWNERS……..TO UNDERSTAND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH IT…..👀
( don’t want bad vibes sneaking into my studio thru negative, shady pre-owners……..lol)
FINALLY,
WANT TO BE RELATIVELY CLOSE
TO HOME WHEN I TRANSPORT THE BASS
HOPEFULLY, ALL NEWMANN MICS, MONITORS ECT…..WILL HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY THEN.
AND……. DONT FORGET…. IM WAITING ON MY LAWYER TO SETTLE A COLLISION CASE SO I CAN PROPERLY FUND EVERYTHING!…… lol
IM NOT GONNA BE IN A HURRY,
GOD WILL WORK IT ALL OUT FOR ME……… 🙏🏾
IVE WAITED 50 YEARS FOR A HIGH END HOME STUDIO!!…..
MOST OF MY SONGS, SHORT STORIES,POETRY, AND FILM IDEAS WERE HIDDEN AWAY IN DUSTY BAGS AND BOXES FOR DECADES!
THE YELLOWING PAGES ARE EVEN STICKING TOGETHER…..
IVE WRITTEN ABOUT 20 NEW PIANO PIECES SINCE THE PANDEMIC….. SO IVE BEEN BUSY….
( my roses out in the yard are budding nicely as well…. they keep me busy too…….lol)
MEANWHILE…….
( 100’s of cassettes with decent demos I have yet to sort through ect)
ITS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT…… BUT …. I WILL SALVAGE WHAT I CAN OF THESE CANDLES IN THE WIND… lol
IM JUST GLAD TO BE ALIVE BROTHER HUGHES……….‼️‼️‼️
OUR 60’s IS POSSIBLY THE BEST DECADE EVER!!!!…. JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER TO EAT RIGHT…. AND GET PROPER REST ❗️…. Lol
IM NOT LOOKING FOR FAME OR FORTUNE……. COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ALBUM SALES……..
ITS JUST A BUNCH OF GREAT SONGS THAT NEED TO BE PROPERLY PRODUCED…….
SHARED WITH OTHERS………
AND………..THATS ABOUT IT!
Lol
I HOPE YOU NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR TALENT MAESTRO ❗️
KEEP CREATING‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
REMEMBER….. OUR DAD IN HEAVEN IS A PRETTY ARTISTIC GUY ……👀
AND BEING MADE IN HIS IMAGE
………..WE ARE CHIPS OFF THE OLD BLOCK….. lol
SOOOOO,
CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE…
DONT LET ANYTHING ROB YOUR JOY BROTHER ‼️
WHEN THIS ALBUM IS DONE ; ( around Christmas 2025)….. I’ll let you know.
UNTIL THEN,
BE KIND TO ALL……
KEEP THE LIGHT
BURNING BRIGHT🕯
GOD BLESS,
NATHANIEL…… aka RAIN AGAIN
I absolutely love the tone of an upright. So awesome. I agree, there is no getting an electric bass to sound like an upright. Closest I've gotten was an Epiphone DeLux Masterbuilt hollow boddy bass with some LaBella's on it and a foam under the bridge. It's not spot on but it's got similar characteristics so it was maybe 80% there. A nice standup is on my list to acquire but I can be manic about tone and don't know how I feel about buying online if I can't play it and hear it first. Then again, watching this I realize playing first might not matter since I don't have the technique to hear it's true tone yet anyway lol. Fantastic video!
I just stumbled across this after talking with a guy whose band is looking for an upright bass player. They have a bass in their rehearsal space, and I'm going to give it a shot. I played violin in the middle school orchestra, and have played around on a few uprights over the years.
The closest I've come to getting an electric to sound like an acoustic upright is playing a fretless jazz bass with a mute shoved behind the strings at the bridge.
Thanks for the tips and insights!
Huge thanks to Kelly for ending the pain in my pinky. I was was pushing down on the side. When I pushed straight down, (on the bone), the pain went away. Thanks!
Nice!
Kelly has an incredible sound, which seems to be very difficult to cultivate on upright bass. He’s right. I’ve been thinking about playing upright for years, and it won’t go away. This interview and video are of the highest quality. Thank you so much for it! I’m glad I don’t live so far from K.C. strings.
So much more complex than what it appears . Thank you for things I did not even consider about that instrument.
The Rabbath pivot approach gave me up to 3 whole-steps. It dramatically reduced shifting positions made life that much easier.
Thanks for sharing! ⚡️
Thank you so much for the tip about moving the wrist to even up the finger length. I have struggled with this playing my electric bass. I have adjusted my hand position but not really enough. Now that I know it's a thing I will focus more on it to get a better sound. Cheers.
everything on this channel is just gem after gem of knowledge, thanks for bringing this to youtube man.
I play my NS Designs CR5M Upright Double Bass as my primary bass for almost all genres. I understand for the purists, its not considered acoustic, but for the variety that I play, it does the job. Does make playing anything above hard rock a bit dicey unless I add my Boss GT-1B for effects. I do play most of the with the side of my finger like most acoustic musicians. However, the plus side is I can fit it in my convertible.
I loved the "Allman Brothers thing" ... not sure how it was meant, but I sensed some kind of love there! Great video, and I'll look for his playing.
Man, what a great tutorial! I added double bass to my gigging bag of tricks about three years ago. Still learning about this wonderful instrument, and how to play it. I added barely visible chromatic finger stop pencil marks along the side of the fingerboard, up to the D on the sixth position of the E string, to help navigate the notes. A cheater trick My teacher taught me.
I had a chance to learn double bass back in high school symphonic band, over fifty years ago. Declined to switch from trombone, because I thought it would be a pain to haul around. Who knew?
That’s awesome! Thanks for watching ⚡️
You've answered all the questions I had regarding this instrument. Thank you.
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!
I’ve had one of these for 7 or 8 years now and am totally happy with it. Adds much to the variety in my bass playing. I did add some felt to line the inside channel where the peg is set as it was a bit noisy when shifting the instrument around while playing.
Great video! I’ve always been curious about getting an upright, but the idea of developing an entirely separate technique has kept me from diving in…he made sense of it & it doesn’t seem as daunting now!
Hope it was helpful for you! Thanks Sean
If you bought it 6months ago, like your comment, you probably already have the imaginary fingerboard pretty much figured out. Intonation is a lifetime of study and practice, but knowing the note position in theory, ballparking with high precision, is much easier after some direct contact and practice with the instrument. Videos alone makes it seem impossible hahahah
The bow though really is a whole universe itself. Unlike pizz technique, bowing only reveals itself harder and harder.
Great explanation of comparing the two! As a both electric and double bassist I often tell those who aspire to play both or at least learn is that they are 2 different instruments although the roles are the same. Technique, sound, approach are the biggest things that go into it. I would also tell students to listen to upright bass players and genres of music that have it heavily on their rapport. Listening and understanding are key elements when looking into acoustic instruments.
Literally took me half way through the video to realize that’s the same guy who stood in for Philip with Noah Guthrie for a brief moment. He seems so knowledgeable, and now I want to get an upright
Kelly is my go to when I can’t do a gig. Amazing bass player and great hang!
"The itch isn't going away, so you might as well scratch it"
Oof... that was very encouraging/discouraging. Looks like I'm in for a hard couple of years, LOL
Wow nice one! The Upright sounds so good and boomy. The fact is I have free time only at night and I could never play acoustic instruments that late. All my guitars and basses are solid body.
Thanks for the video . I would like to add an important HEALH ADVICE. I have been playing bass guitar for years and decided to start upright during lockdown . I injured deeply by left hand and left elbow (tendinitis and nerve compression at elbow) because I did not knew that on upright you must use YOUR SHOULDER MUSCLES to pull the string , and not your left thumb to achieve pressure on the strings. ( check the video on the driveadoublebass channel for example).
This video is really awesome. thanks you so much Philip.
Your work is amazing !
Always happy to see notification for a new video !
Keep it up !
I can only say that I put my Fender Fretless Jazz Bass down for good after I got my first Double Bass. As much as I loved my fretless, the sound of the wood was so much more resounding, and real.
Nice!
Great video. Thank you guys, this was great. Much love.
I switched to upright from electric after playing electric for about 5 years (?). Switched about 9-10 months ago maybe and actually sold my jazz bass.
I absolutely love the upright and and self taught on both, but for me, upright bass and some rockabilly is awesome.
Man I miss my upright. Regret selling it but I couldnt move it with me when I moved to another state. Hope i can afford one later on. It's so fun and challenging
I hope you get the chance to play one again! Thanks for watching
Great insight, great tips. I'm actually more of a bass frequency curious I guess. I own several electric basses, even currently building a short-scaled one. Still, electric is where I'll remain in the foreseable future I believe.
NIce upload, once again nailed the topic, and nice editing on top!
Thanks Adrien!!
This was the best video on upright bass. I feel like i should pay some money for this lesson
Brilliant info. Many thanks
Thanks for watching!
Great video, Phillip. And you asked really helpful questions!
Thanks for watching!
Superb video. Very informative and helpful. Well made.❤ Greetings from Scotland.
Kelly is so smooth on upright. Thanks for the buzz tip..
He’s an amazing upright player.
I learned bass on an upright. It was a fairly easy transition to bass guitar, working on saving for a fretless right now. Should be fun I think.
that was an awesome clinic for someone who switched recently from electric to upright
Thanks for watching! Good luck ⚡️
Upright is next on my acquisition list !!
Very good advice running out and too one guy I know that plays. Always love the sound of a upright in jazz.
My husband who has passed built a portable upright acoustic electric bass circa 1980's our son has it now
That’s awesome! Sounds like a clever and thoughtful guy. Thanks for sharing ⚡️
Thank-you, Bass player sounds great! Now I'm curious.
Can't wait to try the 'target practice' routine using the harmonic! Also noticed your clip-on tuner at the bridge, I'm defo doing that 🙌🏻 thanks for a great video!
Thanks for watching!
I was a half assed guitar player in the early 90s. My buddies had a bluegrass band and they handed me an upright and said you're the bass player, lol. I got my technique the hard way, trial and error and long suffering. I play grass, country, and rockabilly. I never evolved into a jazz guy, mainly because I didn't get the education, didn't have the background, or know the tunes. Plus I was too lazy to put in the work. I thump ones and fives with a few simple runs in 1st pos for the most part. But even so, Ive gotten WAY more gigs playing upright than elec bass or guitar. Grass or acoustic music, a mic is the way to go. Country, you need a small amp or go direct, but blended with a mic. The modern rockabilly thing required learning how to slap, getting a really good pickup system, and a POWERFUL amp with lots of eq options.
What excellent content. Thanks!
solid advice, great clip... i started on upright then moved to electric... went from 90/10 upright play in college now to 98/2 electric now and can definitely agree not playing upright for a while your endurance goes straight down.
Agreed! Thanks for watching ⚡️
Thank you for all the useful information!!! 🎻
Thank you both very much, that was really very interesting and informative 👍
Thanks for watching!
I'm not sure but I think I met Kelly at the velvet note. He was the house upright player. I think?
Anyway this video was awesome and shout out to Kelly and the mystery bass player if they aren't the same person! 👍👍
Great video with quality information.
It also reminds me that I still need to text Kelly about lessons... >.>
Thanks for this. It’s super helpful and inspiring.
So glad!
Great content and good natured format all around. My upright gigs are such that I do not have the luxury of not using a pickup and amplifier. I like the idea of having the volume come from the bass though. Will try to play with that in mind. Very good advise about key concepts - no 3rd finger up until the octave harmonic (12th fret) and no pinkie beyond that. Ideas I knew but never heard anybody say it that way before. Need to catch Kelly in Atlanta sometime. I know Dash at least.
I cheated and put side marker inlays where my 2,4&5 frets would be to get me started on upright. 😅
That was awesome.. Kelly is Sage...
Cool, very helpful. The itch ...
Scratch it!
do tell cost of dbl bass used,,, strings used,,, cost too
Great video - thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Just bought my first upright Palatino! It’s an electric upright I come from bass guitar I’m learning to bow
very knowledgeable, thank you! :)
Thanks for watching!
What about an electric upright bass?
Thanks, great video
Even if you dont play one much they're a great piece of furniture always nice to look at.
I bought an upright a few years ago after 20 years of playing electric. I always wanted one, as I took up bass having fallen in love with the old jazz and rockabilly players. I love that big boom sound, which I constantly was trying to duplicate on electric. I've not touched my electric 4 strings since, and put them in storage while I bought a 2nd upright. I play electric 4 strings now and feel like they are a toy. I was told by my band my playing immediately improved and was asked not to bring back the electric. LOL. Likely because playing upright broke all my bad habits, bad fingering, and lazy playing. There's some things harder to do on the upright, so you can't fall into them easily. I mean, its nearly impossible to play 16th beat metal metal runs above the 9th fret. LOL Or, as they mention, the jumps can be huge. > I will say that playing upright took re-learning. As in doing it seriously, not haphazardly. I mean, as an electric bassist who thinks of whether you're buying low tension or high tension strings, or strings for plucking, bowing, slapping or hybrid? While, as he points out here, I had to relearn my right hand (and left hand). I see a lot of electric players who use electric fingering when converting to upright, and it looses umph on the right hand, not to mention makes it impossible to mute (and muting in upright can be important to stop other strings from vibrating such as the low E, and not the same as muting on an electric for a change in sound), while electric left hand positions make learning the fretboard positions harder as your fingers are not in a solid shape. In the end: upright is for me. Its the sound I wanted. My fave bassists were always the old guys. I've since converted my bass to rockabilly and I'm in heaven in a way I never was with an electric, where I was constantly never happy with my sound, my playing or anything.
What about electric upright? How to get that ambience to electric version, even the techniques of playng remind the same on both uprights?😮
Loved that video, such an incredibly cool instrument, love the sound 👌🏻
Gerard Stroh***
Philip Conrad***
I started on Upright Bass When I was 11 or 12 Years old and I Played Upright for About 6 Years and after High School I had to Give up the Bass Because the Price of an Upright Bass was not Cheap But When I started on Upright Bass I also Learn The Bass Guitar at the Same Time and I been Playing Bass Guitar for over 50 years Now and 2 Years Ago I Told Myself I am Gonna Buy Me an Upright Bass and Thats What I Did and I Made it Happin and I Love the Upright Bass!!!!
When I Got The Upright Bass I also Buy Some Good D'addario's Kaplin Hard Tension Upright Bass Strings and Those Bass Strings Sound Awesome!!!
I Want to Get A Bass Extention so I can Play Play A Low B or C on the E string!!!!
and 4 Years Before I Got My Upright Bass I Got Me A Electric Stagg Stick Upright Bass and it Was OK But It Did Not Have The Acoustic Bass Sound!!!
I Play Classical Music on the Upright Bass!!!
In 1987 I did Buy A Acoustic Bass Guitar Fretless Bass that Was Made By The Guild Guitar Company and it Sounds Awesome Too!!!!
What I Learn On Upright Bass that your Thum Must Be Behind the Neck and You Don't Use your 3rd Finger and I use 1+ 2 + 4 Finger in First Persition and after the Octive You Use Your 3rd Finger if the Bass Had A 12 Fret and Plucking an Upright You Must Put Some Meat into it to Get Alot of Sound out of your Bass!!!
I Play the Upright Bass With A Bow and I have 3 Bass Bows!!!
That's My Upright Bass Story!!!
Bye From Gerard Stroh!!!!
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing. Glad to have you here ⚡️
Very informative vid! Not an upright guy but love the insight in other instruments 🙏🏻
Btw how do upright players take it around!? Do they put it in a gig bag or just carry it out in the open?
Gig bag, you get use to it quite fast.
I got a chance to play one some years ago, but an upright won't fit in my apartment. Therefore, I'm with a parlor-sized acoustic and a p-bass. Cello was the first instrument I ever played, but it was too heavy for a 7 year old. But, an overgrown fiddle with a thyroid problem is in my future! Full size: I'm a big guy.
Thanks to you too
Can you play the electric bass upright? Maybe with a stand or a specialized strap?
I wonder if it's easier to reach the strings if the neck is upright. You don't have to bend your wrist so much.
most towns have a shop that rents to students. I was able to rent one for $45 per month for 3 months. That is the perfect amount of time to take lessons. By the end of 3 months, you will know
Is learning on a electric double transferable to the original? Is the tone similar?
Great info
Curious about his opinion of electric uprights.
I have an NS WAV 4 that I love to play.
Is this a worthwhile way to start?
I don’t know, but follow Kelly and I bet he could tell you. Thanks for watching!
Great tone on both. What strings do you use on that P-Bass?
I think those are old La Bella flats if I recall… ⚡️
@@philipconradmusic can't go wrong with La Bella flats. I've got them on my Mustang and my Bass VI and I love them so much. Got Fender flats on the P-Bass, but I'm seriously considering switching to La Bellas
P Bass and LaBella Flat Wounds go together like ham and candied yams. Any bass player from Atlanta knows exactly what I'm talkin' 'bout! Tasty! 😋 Besides, if they were good enough for Duck and Jamerson, they'll certainly work for the average cat like me.
Good video.
You just had to lead off with that question, didn't you? The short answer is, you will never make any electric solidbody bass guitar sound exactly like an acoustic double bass. The long answer is, you can get an interesting sound out of an electric bass guitar that captures some of the vibe of the upright bass, with careful selection of instrument, pickups, strings, and most importantly, technique, with maybe a little bit of signal processing. In my case, I play a Music Man StingRay fretless with 3-band EQ and piezo pickups, Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 flats, with foam mutes, and I use a Boss AD-2 Acoustic Preamp and BC-1X Bass Comp. But it's my right hand technique that makes the biggest difference of all. I play with an upright-style technique, using more of the side of my fingers.
If you're gonna play arco, and you're worried about messing up your forearm, play german grip instead of french grip. GERMAN GRIP ALL THE WAY. French grip is better for fiddly diddly widdly stuff since the bow changes are faster, but since most upright bow playing is long notes, German grip is the way to go-- it's relaxed, because the bow rests on top of your hand.
Thanks for sharing ⚡️
Our teacher told us "french is for Cello"...
Totally agree with 'the upright is the worst gf you ever gonna have'..
one of the biggest problems is hearing yourself on the bandset no matter how hard you pluck esp if the band is loud..
sustain from an upright is based on 3 factors: string type, action and pickup/mic (using a pickup works more for sustain than mic ).
In summary there's more work for electric bass than the upright..
Very good stuff!
Thanks!
good vid! i learned some stuff, as i'm an old novice. 🤣
Get eurosonic wound on kevlar strings which mimic gut strings They're much easier to play than steel and sound sweeter .
When my father got calls from pupils whom would learn to play electric bass he told them that they could start learning guitar!😊
I would not have liked that as a student, and I disagree with any suggestion that electric bass is the same as playing guitar.
What kind of upright bass are you playing on this video.
Kelly says at one point; can’t remember off the top of my head. Thanks for watching!
I like the way the P bass sounds better. 🙂
every guitar player apreceats the good baseline but sometimes it is heavy to hear this art, this low frequenzes are not easy to differntiate sometimes. I used baseline often to find out the right accords on guitar because don't like notes
I'd like the younger generation to play a dance hall with an upright bass without any amplification. You have to work pretty hard to generate a big enough sound to fill the hall.
AND, AND, when you have a double bass on a stand in your house, you can walk right up and start playing. Song on the radio? Tv commercial? Walk up to the bass and join in in a second!
Nice!
"Bass jail" 😂😂😂
😂