Fantastic video, as always! One to add might've been a kind of 'squeaking' sound you get when playing high on the fingerboard, which I've put down to not playing close enough to the bridge
The bit about maintaining a similar timbre by moving where energy is put into a string relative to changes where it's stopped I think applies to all stringed instruments. I expect it's also taken into account by piano makers. I'm curious to check for that next time I peer into one. Some really great content here!
Hi Jason, regarding the "6 to 1" ratio for bow placement, I get it, and it does seem to work for open strings, but as soon as you finger a note the vibrating string length is shortened and that optimal point is going shift towards the bridge... potentially a lot. So how can we find this point when fingering a note if we don't have 3 arms to be able to stop the note, find the minor-7th harmonic, and bow at the same time? Practice more and learn to recognize the feel of that "sweet spot", I guess. 😀
That’s a great point! We actually have a video coming out tomorrow that digs into that reality. It’s featuring Andy Moritz, who just came out with a book that focuses on this 6:1 concept and how it works as you start to shift around the bass.
Oh gee whiz. I do all of these nasty sounds. I'm an adult and have been playing for 10 months. I have to remind myself that this takes time. Every now and then it sounds wonderful, but usually not. Someday it will be more often. I must be patient. Thank you for a wonderful video.
I like to aim the bow by default smack in the middle of the C bout - that's what yours looks like when you do the 6:1 thing, and it's easy to see if you video yourself. Helpful video, thanks for posting.
great tips. I like to use a comb before I start playing to separate the bow hair too. Also for players with short arms, on a properly setup bass, the distance from the bridge to the tailpiece where the strings hook in should be 1/6 the string length so you can use that to judge
My director told me the best way to measure is to match your bridge height with your natural standing knuckle on your finger, the one closest to your fingertip :) I'll definitely be trying combing too that sounds interesting!!
It’s a bass from 1995 made by a bass maker named Albert Jakstadt. I’m actually doing a video all about my bass next month, so stay tuned for a more comprehensive look at it!
Like at 3:38 in the video? I get that some times... it's just a lack of fundamental. In my case it's caused by my inattention to bow placement/angle, bow speed, or a lack of rosin.
Interesting show I do not play a voil instrument.. My .instrument... piano and formerly flute. Love music. At my music camp years ago...55 years...Gary Karr played a concert. He had just won something in the beginning of his career. Our cabin counselor played string base. She was very nice.
Many thanks Jason! great checklist! About good sound on a slow bow, I remember a little exercice given by Tom Martin, during the Rencontres de Contrebasses en Roussillon(RCR):bow an open A string, hold the note for 30 seconds, metronome at 60... part of the final exam at the Royal Academy of Music , it seems! Tom's advice: start the note at around 1/6 of the string length and slowly get closer to the bridge without stopping...quite difficult, my personal record:24 seconds😂
I need a channel like this but for cello 😭😭👌👌🤠🤠
Fantastic video, as always! One to add might've been a kind of 'squeaking' sound you get when playing high on the fingerboard, which I've put down to not playing close enough to the bridge
That’s a good one to add!
You're my hero ❤ Thank you so much!
You're welcome, and thanks for the kind words!
Number 7 been driving me nuts lately
Me too!
I wipe the Rosin off the string if I am not dialed in during a gig to get a balance...
The bit about maintaining a similar timbre by moving where energy is put into a string relative to changes where it's stopped I think applies to all stringed instruments. I expect it's also taken into account by piano makers. I'm curious to check for that next time I peer into one.
Some really great content here!
When does part two of the interview come out? 😂 Great stuff!
I'll try to make something happen soon!
Thanks for the tips!
You bet!
Hi Jason, regarding the "6 to 1" ratio for bow placement, I get it, and it does seem to work for open strings, but as soon as you finger a note the vibrating string length is shortened and that optimal point is going shift towards the bridge... potentially a lot. So how can we find this point when fingering a note if we don't have 3 arms to be able to stop the note, find the minor-7th harmonic, and bow at the same time? Practice more and learn to recognize the feel of that "sweet spot", I guess. 😀
That’s a great point! We actually have a video coming out tomorrow that digs into that reality. It’s featuring Andy Moritz, who just came out with a book that focuses on this 6:1 concept and how it works as you start to shift around the bass.
Oh gee whiz. I do all of these nasty sounds. I'm an adult and have been playing for 10 months. I have to remind myself that this takes time.
Every now and then it sounds wonderful, but usually not. Someday it will be more often. I must be patient.
Thank you for a wonderful video.
❤️
I play double bass and I can't make it sound good that why I watch this video.
Thanks for watching! I think you’ll find next week’s video helpful for tone production.
I like to aim the bow by default smack in the middle of the C bout - that's what yours looks like when you do the 6:1 thing, and it's easy to see if you video yourself. Helpful video, thanks for posting.
Good tip!
great tips. I like to use a comb before I start playing to separate the bow hair too. Also for players with short arms, on a properly setup bass, the distance from the bridge to the tailpiece where the strings hook in should be 1/6 the string length so you can use that to judge
I use a toothbrush to clean off my hair before putting rosin again, helped me a lot with my tone and feel in general
Great tip!
hmm never thought of that-- normally i just add more rosin on top of the old
My director told me the best way to measure is to match your bridge height with your natural standing knuckle on your finger, the one closest to your fingertip :)
I'll definitely be trying combing too that sounds interesting!!
Now I'm wondering if running that same comb through my hair will improve manageability. Probably not so good for the bow, though. 😅
Thanks for that Jason, I’m probably guilty of all of those 😀
Ha--me too!
Great tips. Just curious, what kind of bass do you play? Is it new(ish)?
It’s a bass from 1995 made by a bass maker named Albert Jakstadt. I’m actually doing a video all about my bass next month, so stay tuned for a more comprehensive look at it!
i have a tryout tmrw and my bass was sounding super weird turns out my bow was just crooked
That's a great discovery!
Any advice on what’s happening when you play arco and there’s a type of didgeridoo-like sound in(side) the notes?
Hmmm… it could be a lot of things. Might be an open seam? It could be worth a trip to a local string shop to help diagnose.
Like at 3:38 in the video? I get that some times... it's just a lack of fundamental. In my case it's caused by my inattention to bow placement/angle, bow speed, or a lack of rosin.
Interesting show
I do not play a voil instrument.. My .instrument... piano and formerly flute. Love music. At my music camp years ago...55 years...Gary Karr played a concert. He had just won something in the beginning of his career. Our cabin counselor played string base. She was very nice.
Many thanks Jason! great checklist! About good sound on a slow bow, I remember a little exercice given by Tom Martin, during the Rencontres de Contrebasses en Roussillon(RCR):bow an open A string, hold the note for 30 seconds, metronome at 60... part of the final exam at the Royal Academy of Music , it seems!
Tom's advice: start the note at around 1/6 of the string length and slowly get closer to the bridge without stopping...quite difficult, my personal record:24 seconds😂
That's a good exercise from Tom!
I found this useful. Thanks
I am having difficulty figuring out where to download the check list.
Glad it was helpful!
It's in the description - here's the link: jason-heath-llc.ck.page/good-bass-tone
This was right on time! Thanks!
Thanks, like the vibes
Thanks!