julietgreen

I realise that this is a 6 year old post now, but perhaps you could elaborate on the pressure issue. I've got my J-tone pads squeezed rather tight in the gaps on my bridge. Is that not a good idea? Should I give them a little more room?

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. So far this tells me that I'm not a million miles away either with the J-tone pickups for now (This is my first year of gigging on the DB. Maybe one day I'll think about laying out more for something else) and my markbass and trace combo as my monitor with a line out to PA (possibly with no bass in my monitor if possible). I hadn't thought about blocking the F holes. I'll look into that.

I've never thought to use F hole blockers. I'm very new to the world of double bass.

I've started gigging with the DB this year. I'm using a j-tone piezo pick up and a trace amp and mark bass two by ten cab. It's been OK ish so far. The last gig I had to deal with a bit of feedback. Set up was cramped and I was practically on top of the cab. Some festy gigs coming up will have bass rig set up but they'll be for eb. I've never tried it through anything else yet. Was thinking of sticking to my combo and Di to the PA. I'd like to pick the brains of experienced dB players who have used amplification. Thoughts?

You can definitely fit both. I've been in multiple bands on saxes and bass. Rehearsals every night of the week! I was younger then. Now I grumble about having to rehearse in person and not on jamulus.

You realise this is entirely different if you're a female bassist, don't you? 😜

Thanks people for the advice. I followed some of it and I also started consciously working on pulling my shoulders back and making sure I don't drop my chin down whilst doing the things - typing, looking at screens etc. And whilst playing. I just ran through a set with minimal discomfort, so I think I might be on the right lines. I also booked a physio. I 'sledded' down the stairs about a year ago on my back (unintentionally) and that can't have helped!

This is true. It hurts when I start playing bass, but it could be typing at the computer or even looking at the phone too much that has triggered it!

You could be on to something here. I'm getting it practising at home so no amp. I'll try some amplification and see if it helps.

I guess it's always a good idea to have some lessons. I do also work on core strength. It's weird that this is a new thing.

Standing. I haven't tried sitting yet.

That's the muscle that lies between the shoulder blade and the spine, in case you weren't sure! I've been playing dB for a couple of years now and this is new. I'm playing more than I used to, because I'm now in a band and am practising more! I don't think I'm doing anything particularly wrong -though I must be. It seems to be just the action of the left hand is causing this. I'm as relaxed as I can be. I don't hold up my elbow to play. I use the weight of the arm. I'm not holding the bass tightly etc. I don't want this to become a thing that stops me from playing. Anyone had this and overcome it? J

It's gratifying to read this. At my last outing, I realised I'd gotten to the end of a short set and hadn't made any mistakes. It was a remarkable moment. It's rare. Usually there are a few and it's always about lapses in concentration.

I'm keen to do the melody for j'attendrai on double bass for the Hot Club style band that I play in. As I'm newish to dB and I've not been doing melodies so far, I'm seeking advice on which fingering you would use moving from c to d to e and back on the g string as happens in this tune.

I've got a good system that seems to work for me. I have a J-tone double bass pickup through a Trace amp into a little Mark Bass traveller cab. I think it sounds OK. I haven't gigged much with it for the DB yet - only tried out in rehearsals. The last gig I did, it had to be accoustic as there was no power.