Beginning Upright Bass: How to Mark Your Finger Positions

This is for the beginning player. Chris Talley Armstrong shows you how to mark the finger positions on an upright bass. (The Bluegrass Shack - New Athens, IL)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• beginning
• upright
• acoustic
• bass
• bluegrass
• how
• to
• mark
• finger
• positions
• fret
• shack
• new
• athens
• Illinois
• chris
• talley
• armstrong

[xXx1llusionxXx]

Sorry, but making marks on your bass might make it easier for you in the beginning, but once you want to advance, you will have a big problem, because you will rely on the marks instead of the sound. And because of that, you will play out of the tune most of the time.

I really suggest you to play without any marks, it might take you longer to learn, but once you get the sound in your ear, you will be able to play any bass anywhere, anytime. It will also help to tune your bass by using flageolets

[blueiis2]

@xXx1llusionxXx Playing without marks is great for people who can hear the pitches, but not for people who can't. If you don't know what correct pitch sounds like, and if there is no one there to tell you, you will be playing out of tune and not know it. I've not had any students, including fiddle students, that couldn't get rid of the tapes IF they even needed them in the first place. My students understand that the tapes are for reference, and that you still have to use your ear.

[EarthHumanProject]

lizard spit! i play trombone as well as upright. you've just gotta train your muscles. play with drones man.

[Davesax1965]

Got to agree with Blueiis here. I play fretless bass - I want to convert to bull fiddle. Marking your fretboard will teach you very little indeed. You have to develop the ability to determine the change in pitch and develop muscle memory. It's not easy and there are no short cuts.

[OBZeta]

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.

[blueiis2]

@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.

[UrsaMusic]

oops, I meant mark the A and E octave on the E string, not A string. A string would be D and high A

[UrsaMusic]

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!

[dailybeard]

I like your gentle way. Best wishes. -db

[debbiewilson17]

thank you...nice ans simple to follow