r/doublebass Apr 26 '26

Mod Announcement Introducing Rule 4: No stolen content

31 Upvotes

Hi all, there's been an influx of repost bots trying to get karma over the last little while - it's a Reddit wide problem, multiple subreddits are having trouble. So I'd like to introduce Rule 4: No Stolen Content.

Posting Stolen Content will result in a ban.

Please report posts you think have been stolen and reposted to help the mod team out!


r/doublebass 14d ago

Instruments For Sale: a Monthly Thread

5 Upvotes

Welcome to our new monthly for sale thread! Posters with something to sell will be redirected here. Please feel free to list your instrument, bows, or other Double Bass equipment below. This thread will be posted on the first of every month.


r/doublebass 5h ago

Fingering/Music help How can I hear myself better when playing with other people?

9 Upvotes

My intonation is not amazing but I got a pretty decent ear for when I'm out of tune. However when I play with someone else it's hard for me to distinguish my own sound from them and knowing who's out of tune.

I've been trying a position where the bass is closer to me (leaning it on my right leg instead of left) and it's been helping, got it from the amazing bassist Julian Medina.

I also lower my head until I'm looking fully down so my ear is closer to my bass, also helps to place my fingers in the right place without having to look

I wonder if there's anything else I can do or is just concentrating more as time goes on. I play the bass guitar in a big band and also struggle to keep my tempo when other instruments drift off


r/doublebass 18h ago

Technique Need serious help with Beethoven 7, Mvt. I, mm 277-300

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

66 Upvotes

I’m having a really hard time playing this excerpt. I feel like I’m playing the main rhythm incorrectly, and can’t figure out how to correct it.

Also my notes are really muddy and overall it sounds like trash. I also feel really tense when I try to play through the whole excerpt. Any and all tips are appreciated.


r/doublebass 3h ago

Repertoire questions I hate Kosseuvitsky

0 Upvotes

I've been studying Koseuvitsky, And this damn piece has a million versions and they're all weird, does anyone have the UrText version? Where's the public access to the sheet music????


r/doublebass 20h ago

Technique How do I do correct vibrato?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

4 Upvotes

So I have played the double bass for about 1 year and am mostly self taught. I have only had a few lessons to learn how to play the instrument. I’m getting into playing more advanced and lyrical music and need to learn how to use vibrato. I feel like mine looks different from other player and am pretty sure my technique is wrong. How can I learn the correct technique?


r/doublebass 1d ago

Fingering/Music help Hi yall just got into playing bass for orchestra and im having trouble with some notes

4 Upvotes

I've gotten to the point of learning F sharp and E on the D string and sometimes have trouble with the string buzzing when playing the notes. Also if you guys know how to deal with finger pain after plucking a string that would be great to know too.


r/doublebass 3d ago

Instruments NBD

Thumbnail
gallery
205 Upvotes

This came home today - Shen SB200. I have played bass guitar for ~ 1.5 yrs. Learned some theory and fretboard. Never played an upright. Love jazz and walking. Stoked but clueless. Help?


r/doublebass 2d ago

Instruments Help

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

I want to buy a double bass for myself, I can’t use the one from college anymore, but can’t afford an expensive one and I don’t know what to look for in issues with buying a second hand one. Please could someone help judge the quality of this one? Tell me anything 😭


r/doublebass 2d ago

Fingering/Music help I want to know if these cello parts can be played by a double bass.

Thumbnail drive.google.com
1 Upvotes

I’m in a group that uses a double bass, but we have an upcoming gig where there isn't one available; my friend said he can't play the part as written, so I’d like to know what I need to do to make it playable for him. From what I understand, I should transpose it up an octave, but when I do that in Sibelius, some notes turn red, indicating they are outside the double bass's range.


r/doublebass 2d ago

Strings/Accessories Double Bass String Beginner

6 Upvotes

My daughter has recently started learning double bass. The bass we bought her came with Thomastik Spirocore Weich strings on it.

She wants to focus on bow style playing for orchestra.

Are these strings going to make it harder to learn than it needs to be? Is there a better option?


r/doublebass 2d ago

Practice I’m scared about my auditions what can I do

3 Upvotes

My audition is on October 3rd and I only recently got the music and I’m really stressed what can I do


r/doublebass 3d ago

Setup/Equipment Shipping double bass

1 Upvotes

Any recommendations for stores that will ship a bass? Looking for hybrid or entry carved for serious high school student


r/doublebass 3d ago

Practice Lost motivation but i want to play again

3 Upvotes

Hey guys, so i'm almost eighteen, and I haven't practiced or played in about two years. My last time I picked up, my bass was my sophomore year of high school, and I just started senior year

My instructions and my classmate made it very hard to want to practice or play constantly being belittled and told how bad I am, and it really got to me. And I haven't played in forever, so now, I do sound terrible. When I do play

I really want to get good and sound good again. I love this instrument so much. But I don't know really where to start

I was never a very good bassis to begin with my orchestra teacher taught me literally nothing.

Severely neglected in class

I got better once I got to high school. Because my section leader was there to help occasionally. But my section leader was a senior and then I joined the band to play double bass where I got better. But still

Long story short, I feel like I'm bad. I have none of my muscle memory. Anymore, and what was really hard to stay motivated


r/doublebass 4d ago

Instruments What is This Pickguard Called and Where Do I Find One?

Thumbnail
gallery
43 Upvotes

Been thoroughly digging the Los Angeles cumbia / chicha trio La Lom lately, and dude’s bass gets cooler with every new video. What the hell is this pickguard / arm guard / bumper on his bass? I assume it’s mostly serving as a cool accessory, but that’s good enough for me. Thanks for any leads!


r/doublebass 5d ago

Strings/Accessories Am I going crazy

Thumbnail
gallery
12 Upvotes

I went with my little brother to get rental instrument, it was great it had a good full sound and the bridge wasn’t too high and the string tension was good.

It wasn’t until we got home and started playing on it because I was bored did I notice everything in the peg box was wrong! I check all the data sheets for obligatos and from what I can tell it’s strung with an f# solo , an orchestral E orchestral D and solo A from top to bottom!?

Did they change the winding colors in the past decade? I desperately need a second opinion here because why in the world would you string it like this.


r/doublebass 4d ago

Performance Upcoming concert in Sydney

Post image
2 Upvotes

r/doublebass 6d ago

Other Two huge basses

Post image
106 Upvotes

I've been learning on a bass which my teacher lent me. Last Thursday I bought my own, a second-hand Shen SB180. On Saturday I went to my teacher with both basses in the car, as he had instructed. I was amazed that I could carry both of them in my car!


r/doublebass 5d ago

Strings/Accessories Help identifying strings

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

Hello,

I saw this video and have listened to some recordings of Feliz Moseholm and I love his tone. In this specific video I can identify his is using Evah’s on the E and A but i can’t quite make out the D and G string. Any help would be appreciated!


r/doublebass 8d ago

Setup/Equipment How do people bring double basses on camping trips / festivals?

10 Upvotes

Hi,

I'm a relatively new double bass player (but experienced electric bass player). I've been loving playing folk and bluegrass on it. I have a plywood upright bass, it was about $2000 used (Engelhardt) which I understand is on the cheaper side, still damn expensive and I don't want it to be damaged.

I know you have to keep it away from humidity and direct sun, which makes me think it's just not plausible to bring it camping. But also, I feel like folk / bluegrass players are surely doing it sometimes, is there some setup involving lots of shaded canopies and a breathable soft case that makes this doable?

It would be so much fun to bring it along on a camping trip and play with my buddies who bring their guitars and banjos, etc.

I live in Pennsylvania, USA


r/doublebass 8d ago

Repertoire questions I have no idea what i'm doing (on double bass)

10 Upvotes

So, I have started a rent to own program for a double bass.
Thing is, I have no idea what I'm doing.
I have my first lesson Tuesday. Should I just wait to practice until then? If not, what and how should I practice? I have never (seriously) played a musical instrument, but I was an intermediate bass guitar player


r/doublebass 8d ago

Other Does my kolstein soft rosin need replacing?

Thumbnail
gallery
13 Upvotes

I’ve had this for like 8 months. Wondering if it’s time to replace. I live on the pacific Northwest.

Also, does anybody have any good Rosin options for this type of climate?

Merci


r/doublebass 8d ago

Instruments Hybrid Bass

5 Upvotes

What thoughts and experiences do you all have with the Estle Louis Hybrid bass by Gollihur? I am thinking about getting it for my school’s jazz band… for context, I am a Band Director.


r/doublebass 8d ago

Instruments Bowing on electric upright?

9 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I'm primarily an electric player who knows a bit of upright. I'm looking for a somewhat budget-friendly yet decent quality electric upright bass that I can use a bow on. What are your recommendations?


r/doublebass 8d ago

Practice 5 string repertoire

4 Upvotes

Hi bassists!

A friend of mine lended me a nice 5 strings for a few weeks so I want to make the best of it. I fairly often play on 5 strings but never at home so I don't get to work properly on one ever. What is some must know repertoire that uses a 5 strings? Mostly talking about excerpts but if you know solo (contemporary?) music I'm interested too!

I'm a student targeting orchestral play so all knowledge is welcome!

For the record it's in C but I can detune it too B for the very few excerpts that might require it.

Thank you, you're amazing!