sarah thomas

Carbon Yita vote from me too. I went for the German style after trying both and preferring the German. Bowing is a whole new world and it's well worth having a couple of lessons if you're just starting out on the bow. If you're after a case, modified snooker cue cases are much much cheaper than pukka bow cases.

Looks brilliant! Congratulations

Oliver Nelson - Blues and the Abstract Truth

We've got a Honda CR-V diesel which fits double bass, amp, drum kit in the back with us two in the front. A bit of re-arranging would allow for a passenger in the back as well. When we were looking for it, we tried out a shortlist of cars and took the bass along to check for size. I heard of someone fitting 3 people and a double bass in a Ford Fiesta, but the journey was one of extreme discomfort.

Lovely! I enjoyed the pictures, unwrapping the bass with you as the full glory was gradually revealed. And LlanfairPG looks very pretty through your window too. Congratulations and happy Christmas.

Have you unwrapped it yet? Taken any pictures? Did you get back home okay? We need to know ...

Hi Cordelia You'll find lots of friendly people on here and if you head on over to the double bass bit, you'll find a wealth of information and advice Never be afraid to ask the obvious! And happy christmas.

When my son was a little baby I couldn't listen to any music without 'hearing' his urgent hungry cry at some point. Some things are tuned into your neurons - like mothers and children And wives!

You've got Good Boys Deserve Fun for the lines on the stave. Just add All Cows Eat Grass and you've got the spaces.

Here's a link to David Gage's article on changing bass strings: https://davidgage.com/luthier.php?id=12 He recommends using a winder and if you're not using a winder, to pull the string through the hole on the winding peg until there is little slack left left in the playing length before you start winding. Hope that helps! Let me know if the link doesn't work.

To explore what Hector's saying, you could try out the exercises and principles of 'The Inner Game of Music' by Barry Green. Great book.

As my other half just said 'It's hardly the end of Glasto, is it? They've been having sh*te acts headlining now for years ...'

Fantastic! Great ideas. I've collated them all and printed out a copy to keep on my music stand.

Thank you all very much for the tips. I have a great teacher who I'm seeing more often now to help with the bowing. I'll try those exercises - relaxation does seem to be key. There's one piece I know by heart which I enjoy playing and my whole body feels different to when I'm really trying.It seems like learning to drive - there are so many things to think about all at the same time. Fatgoogle, I don't know what you mean by 'starting notes just with your wrist'. Do you mean as opposed to using your arm? Many thanks again.

I'm merrily ploughing through Grade I pieces and it's great. But I have a problem with dynamics. Is it simply a matter of pressing down harder on the bow? It's so hard to get a clear, unmuffled sound. Is it just a matter of practice, rather like learning clutch control in a car? I've got page 1 of Tarlton's Sevcik to help practice but I'm worried that I'm missing something. Any pointers from you classicists out there?

Just love the Dutch! Lucky you. And welcome to a great forum.

No pain no gain!

Superb. I notice Ray Brown plays right at the end of the fingerboard - I've started having a go at this myself and get a much bigger sound. I've also got a huge blood blister on what was previously a workable callous.

I use Allianz too and can leave my bass in an unattended car as long as it is covered with a blanket or suchlike. It costs about £4.50 a month for £2, 500 worth of bass. It could be that an upright bass is less nickable in the first place. Another option is to join the Musicians' Union which will also give you public liability insurance.

That looks good - I'll see what the other band members come up with first though. We may well have enough to go at. Thanks for your help.

Cheers for that, pfretrock . Ironically also, that is the only song I have found sheet music for. The library proved a blank, even on microfiche, but the search goes on ,,,

I hadn't thought of the library! Thanks Dave.

I would be hugely thankful if anyone has the sheet music for 'We'll Meet Again', 'We'll Gather Lilacs in the Spring', 'Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree' and 'Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kitbag' which I am researching for a lounge jazz quartet I'm in. We're doing a sing-a-long next year and need to learn some new stuff. Any links to useful websites would be great too. I've been searching but without too much luck so far ...

Hey Daf - just wanted to say thank you for doing the strings trial. I certainly benefitted from trying out all those strings and more so from your advice and friendship. You're a big part of what makes basschat a wonderful place. Cheers!

Likewise - and it was a pleasure to assist Dr Keith and yourself with the 'F' section.