This is a blog documenting me learning the double bass. If anyone ever reads this, this may raise a few questions:
1) Wait, aren’t you a saxophone player? Yes, however at this current point in time (ie, 15 months into the Covid-19 era), I don’t really feel like a saxophone player. This might just be because I’ve not been performing or recording regularly, but if I am being honest with myself, I don’t think I’ve ever really felt like a saxophone player. When I was in high school, I played bass guitar as much, if not more, than the saxophone, the main difference being that on bass I was completely self taught. I figured I had a better chance of getting into uni on saxophone than on bass, and I was right. Even when I got to uni, after a couple of years I realised i was becoming less interested in that instrument, and more interested in composition, electronics, etc.
A rocking pose for Mum’s Christmas letter c.1999-2000. Clothes: model’s own.
When I moved to the UK I actually toyed with the idea of switching to bass guitar a couple of times, however I was looking to break into a new scene and figured it made sense to put my best foot forward. I think, though, that in my heart of hearts I’ve always wanted to be a bass player, but just figured that that ship had sailed. Fast forward to now, and this forced time-out has made me really evaluate the types of musical experiences I want to have in my life, and, I think, confirmed some things that I’ve been feeling for the last 15+ years. The prospect of starting more or less from scratch on a new instrument is daunting to say the least, but the longer I leave it, the harder it will get. The ship may indeed have already sailed half way around the world by now, but at the very least I want to confirm that for myself.
2) Why the double bass? Because I think it is an amazing instrument. I love its sound, its versatility, its size. I love that it is made of wood. I think it’s an instrument that naturally lends itself to a more humble, thoughtful approach. I love that a great bass player creates a perfect synthesis of rhythm, melody and harmony. In a lot of ways it would have made more sense to choose the bass guitar, but the whole point of this is to find a way of music making that didn’t involve any compromises, and sonically I’m more attracted to this enormous thing that I can pluck or bow and feel the way it vibrates. Whether I still feels this way as I start to climb the mountain remains to be seen, but there’s only one way to find out.
3) Why a blog? I’m not exactly sure why I’m doing this as a blog, if I will ever publish it, or if I’ll ever even write another post, but documenting this process feels appropriate for some reason, even if it is just a way of getting some of these thoughts out of my head and onto (virtual) paper in order to process them. Plus, its pretty damn rare to find anything out there about musicians who have switched instruments mid-career, so on the off-chance I do put this out in the world, it might help people who find themselves in a similar position to where I am right now.
Progress up to now
Very little, although at the very least I have my own instrument:
This is Betsy. She’s been with us for about 2 months now, but due to work and life have not had much time to get to know her. I am hoping that this will change this summer, when I plan to start having some lessons and start climbing the mountain in earnest. For now, I’ve just been working on my fingerboard geography, but I’m hesitant to attempt too much technique-wise until I start having lessons with a teacher, lest I develop some bad habits, especially with the bow, which is completely new territory for me. I am nonetheless very excited!