Richard's Serious Thread About Getting Better on the Double Bass.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

Here's a question - I've seen a couple of the regulars talk about pitch issues; I know Ken discussed this as a problem when switching between several basses for gigs. I'd like to know how serious these issues are - are you talking about quarter tones, or just the sort of thing where you can 'think' a slightly flat note into tune by rolling a finger just a bit...

Dave, my friend, I personally find that intonation, time, tone and phrasing are things that bite me if I don't pay attention to them. You don't have to be far out of tune to sound out of tune. My two basses are different sizes, but I think it's not too hard to readjust to the smaller one, which I don't play much at present. I guess it would be harder to use several different sized basses regularly. Intonation is by degrees. If someone is regularly a quarter tone out, well that's a problem - a sign that no listening is happening.