Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB)

Go Back   Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB) > The Bull Pit

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-14-2011, 03:18 AM
Terry McDougal's Avatar
Terry McDougal Terry McDougal is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 10-12-2010
Location: Dunedin
Posts: 0
Terry McDougal is on a distinguished road
Default So what makes a double bass player different from a bass guitar player?

I play the double bass.
I just had a wee peek at the bass guitar part of this forum. Well, they might as well be banjo players! They talk a different language.
I known we're a' Jock Tamson's bairns, but they do seem different. Tell me, what do we have in common and in what ways are we different?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-14-2011, 06:49 AM
Thomas Erickson's Avatar
Thomas Erickson Thomas Erickson is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 05-23-2010
Location: Pacific NW USA
Posts: 309
Thomas Erickson is on a distinguished road
Default

I tend to think jazz DB players and bass guitarists have much more in common than either does with the symphony player, but that's just me. While I dabble in jazz and BG, my education and interest lie as a symphony player, and when I talk bass with jazz musicians I don't feel like we're even from the same planet, let alone playing the same instrument.

And that isn't judging or faulting anyone; I have a lot of respect for guys who play other instruments and different types of music! It's just that playing in the orchestra is a totally different approach to the instrument, IMO, while playing pizz on the DB (by comparison) is really pretty similar to bass guitar.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-14-2011, 09:52 AM
Scott Pope Scott Pope is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-23-2011
Location: Missouri
Posts: 79
Scott Pope is on a distinguished road
Default

It's kind of like what some people say about the USA and the UK: two great nations separated by a common language -- for DB and EB, it's two great instruments separated by a common tuning.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-15-2011, 12:32 AM
Terry McDougal's Avatar
Terry McDougal Terry McDougal is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 10-12-2010
Location: Dunedin
Posts: 0
Terry McDougal is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson View Post
I tend to think jazz DB players and bass guitarists have much more in common than either does with the symphony player, but that's just me. While I dabble in jazz and BG, my education and interest lie as a symphony player, and when I talk bass with jazz musicians I don't feel like we're even from the same planet, let alone playing the same instrument.

And that isn't judging or faulting anyone; I have a lot of respect for guys who play other instruments and different types of music! It's just that playing in the orchestra is a totally different approach to the instrument, IMO, while playing pizz on the DB (by comparison) is really pretty similar to bass guitar.
Some of us improvisers play a lot of arco Thomas. I personally practise about 90% arco - though I really should increase my pizz practice. A lot of us slightly older improvisers are classically trained, though the younger ones usually come through jazz schools now (where I live). I actually have a degree in classical playing, but haven't played in orchestras for years. I have to say that I really value that classical training = good technique. Hey, but I'm just a humble Scotsman.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:54 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)