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I have a page from a solo double bass piece (could be a movement, could be an étude — no idea). No cover page, just this photocopy.

Anyone recognize this?

This will be long

[quick heads-up, english is not my first language and although I speak well my musical/academic vocabulary is limited]

Starting out with my double bass history: in my last semester of highschool in 2023 I was offered free lessons by my school because they had just gotten a teacher for it but had no students interested. I had been taking bass guitar and violin lessons so they thought it could work out. I had no way of practicing outside lessons but me and the teacher hit off well and made the most out of the short time we had.

The following year I started studying music in college and didn't lay a finger on a double bass. Campus' bass guitar and double bass teacher was the same and he'd make weekly group studies with all his bass students (which is me and a double bass girl, let's call "Taylor" who I considered a friend). Worth noting I kept playing the bass guitar and violin, participating in the ensembles and all. Also our teacher is the string ensemble conductor, so whenever I say teacher or conductor that's the same person.

2025 I had a subject where I had to learn an instrument by myself and I got back to the double bass. In the group studies I started bringing the double instead of the guitar to have some technical support. I caught up to them somehow. That's where it all started.

About halfway through the full orchestra conductor asked me to leave the violin and join the bass session. The following semester my teacher invited me to do the same for the string orchestra. Taylor, who's been playing for 5 years or so, started getting weird with me because she had to "beg" him to join the session and I was invited. For that ensemble specifically we had to record auditions every semester and there were some pretty tricky pieces, especially for me that had just started studying. In the end I scored higher than her and became principal (for the record, we have a more advanced player but at the time he was playing with the cellos due to lack of cellists)

At that point everything was a problem. She'd feel left out whenever I talked with him during the full orchestra rehearsal where he was the principal but complained that I was distracting her when I talked to her. The choices I made in my playing were similar to the ones he'd make and hers would be different, and sometimes impractical. She'd refuse to do it """my way""" but struggle with her own. She'd get broody whenever I struggled less than her to play an exercise or a piece.

The worst part for me was whenever I made a bowing decision, which was very rare cause I'd always check with my teacher beforehand, she'd be the biggest child about it, saying it made no sense, that she wouldn't do it (I can't describe how standard the bowing was). Right after the string orchestra rehearsal we'd have the full orchestra and she wouldn't complain when he did the exact same bowings. She'd complain about me to our peers full rage tho.

Taylor complained that I never asked if she agreed before settling on a bowing, and even though we have a whole manual stating that the principal can do essentially whatever they want, I decided to ask her once and she went "idk" with a dismissive tone.

One time just the two of us played together in a small group for a college and I let her be the boss. After one or two attempts she asked to swap because she didn't know how to lead and preferred to follow. I thought she'd chill after that but she kept complaining everywhere.

Time went on, our other player joined the session again and became principal, but I kept scoring higher still. She'd always make sure I knew how much she wanted to be invited to the gigs instead of me, even though she knew she wouldn't be available.

I have since distanced myself from her and no longer consider a friend. I had to start answering her disrespect to get her quiet at least for a while. Things are better now that I'm not in power and got enough distance to not stress myself longer than I need, but I can never ever succeed in anything without having a problem. At first I tried to avoid making her upset, fix stuff and all. Now I see it's beyond me and just do my best to not let it affect myself. That helped me progress much more.

Talking about the whole situation makes me feel so arrogant, like "oh she's mad cause I'm so much better" when I'm not even that big of a deal!! So much of that happens simply because I'm not afraid to play cause I've played other instruments for years now, while she still lets her anxiety get in her way. I avoid judging other people's performance like this but it became quite inevitable to notice the little things with how much she'll criticize me for existing. It's not like she's bad! She tends to play worse whenever she's focusing on me or something external tho. I never ever ever bragged about any achievement to her and still got that reaction.

anyways, has anything similar ever happened to you?

How do you guys store your upright bass. I’m a beginner upright bass player. I have a 38’ Kay bass. I live in a very small house with not a lot of space and a cat. So I don’t feel comfortable leaving it out in the open(like I’ve heard some people do) even if it’s a climate controlled space. So it stays in its gig bag in the closet that is well climate controlled. Is that an okay place to keep it? I heard some people say it needs to breathe and an enclosed space can cause moisture damage which is why they leave it out in the open. I also was going to build a trunk for it but also heard it’s not okay to leave it in its trunk/hard case cause if it is airtight it can trap moisture as well. I have experienced an upright bass collapse cause of improper storage from moisture damage and it was very sad. I do not have much of any acoustic instrument experience, and electrics are pretty hardy compared to these giant wooden bubbles. Them being more high maintenance leads me to ask endless questions. Thank you for the help guys!

This time last year I started kennings Jazz. We had 15 gigs in August, playing out is the fastest way to learn this music. Instagram.com/kenningsjazz

One of my favorite extended technique and free improvising bassists, with a large arsenal of sounds and a ton of control and precision on the instrument.

For years I’ve been a fan of Kolstein Heritage strings and Kolstein rosin. Right now, I don’t think I want to patronize them anymore. Do you have any suggestions for something similar?

My professor wants to acquire a couple German bows for our studio, and since this is much cheaper compared to Coruss or Finale, we were wondering if it's a good bow.

jazz bassist here. currently have d'addario helicore medium hybrids on my plywood bass and don't like how bright and "pingy" the G (and sometimes the D) sounds. was thinking of putting on obligatos or evah pirazzi weich's on the D+G but i'm currently unsure which strings would be a better option or if there is/isn't a big difference between both of them

i was eyeing out the EP slaps on the D+G too, as i thought they would give me the closest sound to the old school gut string jazz pizzicato tone (a lá charlie haden and scott lafaro) but i think the difference in tension between the helicore mediums and slaps might throw me off

mostly a pizz player (who digs in quite a fair bit) but i do occasionally play arco

Hey Everyone!

A few months ago I posted about getting feedback on a design for a accessory storage system and the time has come for the official FREE 3D file release. Yes, FREE.

https://www.printables.com/model/1825223-the-rosin-vault

If this is your first time seeing this, it is a customizable pencil/accessory storage system with an integrated rosin humidor. The icing on the cake is that the lid features an integrated endpin anchor. There are more cup variants coming soon but I also just finished a cup for your rubber mute when you dont want it dangling on your strings. Just twist on the attachments you want, and throw it in your bag!

If you like this model, please let me know or let me know what you would like to see in the future!

Cheers!

Hi everyone! Could you please give me any info on my bass? Thanks!

Anyone aware of what strings Vicente Archer plays?? He’s such a monster of a player, amazing sound and time on anything he plays. I was just checking out hit instagram at a newish video he posted and I’ve never seen a string like this. Just curious as to what it might be. I’ve seen him play Thomastiks but these look like nickel. Any ideas?

My daughter started playing upright in her schools jazz band around 2 1/2 years ago. She's picked up on playing bass fairly quickly and has made it to our cities Honor Jazz Band both times she tried out. She has been wanting to find a bass of her own that way she can practice at home. We came across this 1986 Emanuel Wilfer Gamba Double Bass on Craigslist from a guy using it to play rockabilly. We got it for $2,300. We are going to take it to Fantastic Musical Instruments in Pasadena to get it cleaned up and given a once over. What do you think? Great deal or just okay. To be honest I know little to nothing about basses besides what I've learned online the last few months while looking for a bass for her.

I’m looking for a new set of strings for my 5 string bass. She’s a 7/8 body with 3/4 strings. I want something with solid bow response since you can see she’s got a big body that makes for a full and powerful sound. But I also play a good amount of pizz, so a good response and sustain woulld be important as well.

It’s a really good quality instrument, so I don’t want bargain basement strings. But I don’t need super high end stuff either.

Any suggestions you all have for a good 5 string set would be appreciated.

Pic is there for fun, attention, and because it’s fun to show it off a bit.

Hello! Which double bass preamp do you suggest?

I am playing small gigs with a Bossa Nova/Jazz Trio and was told I could connect the preamp to the PA instead of taking my bass amp. Can you give some input on that? I am classical trained musician that has zero knowledge on gear 😅

Hi, not familiar with the sub so apologies if this is not allowed, and please feel free to remove if needed.

A family member recently bought a house which was sold furnished, including the double bass pictured. They don't have an interest themselves and were hoping to sell it on but have no idea how to value it. Would anyone be able to give us a rough idea of what it's worth? I have also included a picture of the markings seen through the f hole. Thanks!

Hi,

Can y'all help me make a list of classical pieces that work well in ADGC tuning?

I recently experimented with a set of Corelli ADGC (AKA High C tuning) on double bass. I really want to play a recital in this tuning and want to make a list of repertoire that is really compatible with this tuning.

I have a few ideas I came up with, and gathered some other ideas from heavyweight bassists on youtube that have performed in this tuning.

So far here's what I have:

- R. Vaughn Williams: Six Studies in English Folk Song *Sounds AMAZING in this tuning

- Faure Elegie (G minor fingering in EADG tuning which has been done often with this piece)

- Janacek: Pohadka (as done by Bozo in this tuning)

- Beethoven Cello Sonatas (as done by Bozo in this tuning)

- 3rd Bach suite (G maj fingering in EADG)

- Schindler's List Theme (as done by Bozo in this tuning)

- Meditation from Thais (as played by DaXun in this tuning)

Obviously, a lot of solo tuning repertoire could be done in ADGC tuning if you transpose the piano part up a minor 3rd, so that creates a lot of options as well.

Thanks!

Hi. A couple of months ago i've purchased a GEWA hybrid 3/4 (solid/laminated)double bass (Around 2000 euros). I've been playing guitar and bassguitar for about 27 years and I do my own setups, so I know how important the height of the action is on a string instrument. But I have no experience with a double bass and how it should feel. According to the seller my bass should've been setup correctly out of the box. I've placed better quality strings on it that are more suitable for bowing. But since the only reference I have is from coming from (bass)guitar only, it feels like I'm pushing on a 'laundry line'. I'm aware I have to learn to push with multiple fingers in a line. But it still feels very uncomfortable to play.

So I'm asking Reddit if I should take my double bass to a luthier for a better setup? Or are my strings at a good height and it is just a matter of getting used to the extra string tension? Thanks for your help. The goal is to learn (french) bowing on the instrument.

My measurements:

At the Octave: (yellow in the picture)

E: 7 mm

A: 8 mm

D: 8 mm

G: 5 mm

At the end of the fingerboard: (blue in the picture)

E: 11 mm

A: 12 mm

D: 10 mm

G: 8 mm

Strings: Thomastik 3885.0W Spirocore Bass 3/4 L

Edit: Thank you all for your helpful replies. I'm going to bring my DB to a luthier and ask for an adjustable bridge so that I can set the height myself when necessary.

I’ve been practicing Bottesini 2 intermittently for a while now, not for anything in particular, and I noticed while listening to Mikyung Sung’s recording that measure 101 is noticeably different in the recording - in my part it’s a run going from D2 to D4, but she was plays something else entirely. I checked other recordings and the way she did it seems to be the most common way of playing that measure. Does anyone here know an edition with the typical writing in that measure? I’m using the Trapkus edition, off of IMSLP.