Andrew Anderson Teaches the Double Bass - Part 1

[99CKINGable]

hey man i think you're doing a good job. i will stay tuned, very informative.

[Siyamandm]

how to Trill on doublebass?? please help!!

[MrDLimit]

Yes I am holding it already. Play a fucking note.

[MonacoBlast]

@MrDLimit Patience grasshopper.

[Vulturer]

Look at his forearms!

[MrUprightbassplayer]

Im 13 and i play bass haha crazy

[snoopydoc75]

Useful, but you need to work on production quality... have a good long think about what you're going to say and demonstrate (and how you're going to do it) _before_ you start recording it.

And when you're editing the video snippets together, don't fade your last few words out. Perhaps try to get into the habit of leaving a few seconds of silence at the end of each explanatory note so when you cut it together you can transition cleanly without cutting off / fading the last part of each clip.

[KGPromotion]

This set of videos has been really helpful. I've been kicking off bad habits left right and centre.

Thanks

[ImChrisEasley]

This was a great video, and I'm sorry to bring this up... BUT...

does anyone else think this guy looks like/talks the slightest bit like the "Driving On Salvia" guy? haha

[Siyamandm]

you are a great teacher!!

[xHarry777]

the rubber band is a really good idea..I do the rosin thing, too

[zakwasny]

Every bass player love Guinness! :)

[alreadytakenthe3rd]

45 degree, perpendicular; you're driving a math geek crazy!

[TheTrooper9169666]

Am I the only one who thought this is a drum lesson?! XD

[BeginningBassist]

Nice instruction. Did you make the material guard for the upper bow? I want one.

[21niko21]

Love the video. I'm going to start looking for an instructor soon and see if there's a rental available. Excellent choice of cylindrical object as well. :-)

[SteveArpo]

Great - thanks for taking the time.

[eliseoborrero]

Thanks for the lessons. The rubber band technic seems a little primitive. I have been using third finger on all positions and I think it's better. Gary Karr does it on his video BASSically Karr. My theory is that before Simandl bass players used all fingers. I would reccomend every bass player to study both and use the most comfortable one. The sound is what matters!

[eliseoborrero]

Thanks for the lessons. The rubber band technic seems a little primitive. I have been using third finger on all positions and I think it's better. Gary Karr does it on his video BASSically Karr. My theory is that before Simandl bass players used all fingers. I would recomend every bass player to study both and use the most comfortable one. The sound is what matters!

[mvztvp]

what if you are yao ming ?

[8000cheese]

i play rock and roll with double bass, love it

[tristin183]

how tall should i be to play one? i'm 5 foot 5 inches (1.651 meters) and was wondering the average height of one

[bassman071]

@tristin183 Don't worry about specific measurements and practicality as much as comfort and playability. If you can play if comfortably and it suits you as a musician, then you have no worries. After all, if you sound good, nobody will care how you do it.

[jodi183]

@tristin183 Believe it or not, I am 5'2" as an adult and played upright bass in junior high for a year. I think I was a little under 5' tall at the time. I had to stand on a milk crate. There are different sizes of basses - 7/8 scale, 3/4 scale, etc. 1/2 scale is the smallest if I recall. Good luck!

[tristin183]

@jodi183 what sizw do you play?

[jodi183]

@tristin183 I haven't played one since junior high school and that was in 1986 so, I don't remember exactly what size it was but, it was as small as they come. I'm going to be playing one again soon as I'm studying music in college and want to put some time in with string bass cause I want to be a fully versatile bassist. I play long scale electric - haha! It's not the same thing AT ALL, though. Just get to a shop and try out smaller ones and see what feels right. That's what I plan to do!

[tristin183]

@jodi183 haha! good idea! :) thank you!

[VAHEABED]

PLEASE ANSWER!!!

Hi I am 27 and I just wonna start double bass for my hearts sake, I love it, I love jazz and classic music, I've never played an instrument !!! But I'm a profession listener lol......how do you think If it's possible to learn and enjoy playing double bass !!! need your advise HELP PLEASE.

[Dralcoffin]

@VAHEABED Find a good tutor, ask around at music stores if you can rent one, and you should be able to pursue it. I'm a college student who never played an instrument before the bass, and I'm renting one from a local music store that also provides weekly lessons, and I'm progressing very well. So basically just start hunting around and you should find an opportunity. It's possible to learn an instrument, you just have to put in the practice...

[Vissor]

wow. halfway through this video i realize thats a 5 string. awesome

[ANKTSUNAMUNH]

Wow Jason when you say "pretending I'm holding a can of soda" I really imagine you holding a six pack of sodas! Those are big hands!... By the way, your videos are really hepful, thank you very much.

[Prodigy502]

can someone tell me what key the double bass is in?

[Policefan234]

Hey can anyone help me? I'm starting an instrument and I narrowed it down between string bass and violin. I already play electric bass. Does anyone have any recomendations?

[JamesBannerBass]

Play double bass (string bass), will make you much more versatile as a working musician

[Policefan234]

@JamesBannerBass thanks man I choose bass a while ago anyway :) But your defiantly right bass rules!

[JamesBannerBass]

@Policefan234 haha good choice man

[ernestoconga]

very good

[Fuckopz]

Mañana presento 3 canciones junto un ensamble de guitarras. y justamente ayer empecé con el contrabajo. ESTO ES DE INFINITA AYUDA!!

[lummond]

Best video to explain how to hold the upright bass on YouTube. However, I'm too tall to play the bass standing. I have to extend the endpin almost all the way and the bass almost clears my knee. The entire bass is resting on my hip and thumb. Any advice anyone?

[rosesarefree2009]

@lummond maybe get a new end pin; my teacher suggested I do the same.

[germ77777]

@lummond Im like 6'5" and have no issues, either jack out the end pin as much as needed or if you still find it too small get a full size bass instead of a 3/4 which im assuming is what you are using

[willyager]

@lummond Sounds like you should try a 7/8 bass.

[wolsing333]

When should i use a 3/4 upright bass and when should i use a 4/4 bass?

[ShredRedemption]

wow. Those ratios are for what your size is. You should know that. Sorry I am a douche. Anyhoo, I am 6'1" and play a 3/4, as it really depends on your hands. Most basses are 3/4. 4/4 is for people that are like 6'8"+. My hand fully stretched measures about 9 1/2" wide (thumb to pinky). The whole system is designed so that you can have a comfortable stretch as exampled in this. So you never have a choice, as they are the same thing and pitches, just different scale lengths.

[wolsing333]

Thx, this was helpful..

btw, i dont play double bass, im just interested in buying one :)

[ShredRedemption]

Sorry I was in a pissy mood last night. But yeah, 3/4 if you are about 5'5" up.

[wolsing333]

Thats okay, now i may just buy one :)

[Zombbg4]

It also makes a difference in sound. Larger body= bigger sound.

[ShredRedemption]

While that sounds good in theory, it doesn't happen often. Think about it, since there is more room in the chamber of the bass, the air particles have to give more energy just to hit off the sides and back of the bass. More energy used=less distance sound travels=not as loud sound. Now, this isn't necessarily true too. Some 4/4s are pretty damn loud. This makes since if you are comparing a violin to a bass. The violin will be louder (doesn't require much energy, but the bass has a richer tone.)

[alexhijodeada]

muchas gracias maestro de verdad de corazon que dios lo bendiga!!!.voy a comenzar con el baby bass y queria aprender los fundamentos del contrabajo,sus consejos han sido como oro puro!!!.alex fernandez.(venezuela).

[bassman0202]

I've noticed a bunch of comments about strings. A German guy noted that in Europe (esp. Germany) they use 5 stringers like Andy's in orchestras to get the low notes (B or a C an octave below the cello). While some players (including Andy) use a 5 string bass here in the US, most often US orchestral players use an extension on the E string to get those notes. Andy's a friend of mine, so I know he tunes G D A E C, which I believe is a more German tuning.

[boiledegg100]

In Germany they tune their 5 strings to a Low B, not C, that's in Vienna.

Noob

[creativecompanion]

I love what you have to say about the joints.  Makes for a life long musician. Also love the rubber band trick!

[sawgydawg]

Is it easy to go from electric 4 string bass, I've been playing electric bass for about 7 years, I know a lot of theory but I've never played a fretless bass.

[no1use]

Very easy if you've been playing that long

[mustardsmuggler]

4 strings. E A D G

[ascari00es]

Ye but the lowest 5th string is a B. I play D. bass 2,

[HessesDemian]

I also play the double bass, but I play in a orchestra. You play a double bass tuned like a cello or a violin. I know this tuning is very common in the US, but in ochestras you play the five string bass.

Just watch the video again and count the strings.

Greetings from Germany

[viggetheman]

Waaait a minute.

How many strings does that thing have?

[HessesDemian]

It has five strings.

It´s a double bass for the ochestra, normaly a low C string oder a high H is added.

[biddybam]

Good Lesson.

Just of note, I learned differently.

o I have the nut above my hairline

o I hold it like the way you learned

o I don't avoid the extremes

o Mittens?

o Nice rubber band idea, never thought of that, never was a problem with me.

[jollyjim123456]

it would be great if this guy was actually good at bass

[bassman0202]

jollyjim123456, have you actually read this guy's bio?? He plays with some of the best orchestras in the US, and has been finalist in auditions with several other top-tier orchestras here. You are most likely unworthy to carry his jockstrap.

[justsid]

lmfao

[muchoshombres]

mmm...guinness...

[mrdark242]

hey way to copy my name buddy

[KatieSurfs]

Andy! hey what's up! Good to see you are still playing and teaching! Remember me? :) (it's Katie from IU 2003) I am still playing too, but not too seriously anymore. :( I am mostly teaching surfing, and I am living in California during summer and Hawaii during winter. Hope 2 hear from u. :)

[edlaksmi]

great video!

[PStewart0]

how do you manage to balance the bass? great videos.

[jasonheath]

I don't do this, but it seems to work well for many players, so if you can get it to work I'd say go for it. I'm also a player who, up until a couple of years ago, sat on a stool exclusively, so I have a more unorthodox way of standing.

[Andy0nBass]

I have multiple ways of holding the bass, and I was not advocating the any of them over any other. Rather, this is meant as an overview of the ways I was taught. I actually play with the bass hooked on my hip bone and pull diagonally with my left hand against my left hip through the bass.

I may need to produce another set of videos if there is confusion about this!

[carsleuth]

Jason a while back I was told to put my knee against the bass and step back when in thumb position. Later I was told that was bad and I broke the habit. He seems to like it and I was wondering do you like this position or dislike it? Nice vid and c u sunday!