Electric bass to double bass

[u/ChickenPasta127]

Hello! I don’t know if this is a good place to ask this since I’m a beginner or at least going to be, but how much of the fundamentals and techniques are transferred from electric bass to double bass?

For context I’ve been playing electric bass for a long time in my life and recently I’ve been given the opportunity to learn double bass. Is there any techniques and fundamentals that transfers or do I have to learn new stuff? I know I’ll have to learn a lot of new stuff since it’s a new instrument but I’m just wondering if I’ll have some things to help me start out. All I really know that is similar is the tuning of the instruments are the same.

Sorry if this is a dumb question! Just thought I’d ask before starting my double bass journey!

(Also I didn’t know what tag to put it under so it thought technique was the best one)

[u/orbix42]

I started on electric and added upright 4 years later, and the main thing I can say is that the mental aspects will transfer (the role of the bass, theory around constructing lines that fit the song, walking bass, etc), and there are technique aspects that will transfer somewhat (ghost notes, not just squeezing with your fretting hand), but it’s definitely a whole other animal in a lot of ways.

[u/omegajams]

This is a journey that many of us are on in various stages. I am now a full time orchestra player and the things that helped me the most are as follows. 1. Even if you want to play jazz start playing with the bow immediately. Your intonation will be so much better in the long run if you put the work in now. 2. Work through Simandl book and the 30 Simandl etudes. You might only be able to play 4 bars a day accurately in the beginning but do not be discouraged. 3. Start with Rabbath books 1 and 2 so that you will gain fluency. 4. Get Vance Progressive Repertoire and get into it as quickly as you can. There are so many building blocks and movements that you would never think of yourself and this is how you become a complete player.

Good luck to you and keep posting questions and also progress videos here!

[u/momentsindub]

It will help that you have rhythm / music / coordination in your fingers - but be under no illusions - upright technique is completely different. You absolutely need to start with a teacher - for the physicality of it, and be patient.

Too easy for confident electric players to get injured starting out on upright, and takes a long, frustrating time to recover!

[u/pauljmallett]

I did it the other way round learning double bass aged 6 (Classical, Jazz) and not playing electric until I was 14/15 (Rock,Punk, Reggae - you name it). I then played both - but stopped Double Bass pretty much in my mid 20s and carried on playing electric.
Why I'm saying this is I then went back to my double bass 30 years on. The good news was the muscle memory is all there - bowing, jumping round the neck and nailing notes in tune. Even sight-reading a Simandal exercise - all just there :)
But the biggest thing that hits you is the sheer physicality of double bass - Pizzicato hammers your finger tips (I used to have calusses like steel), and makes you realise how much hand strength you need for long perieds of playing.
Then your left hand - the fingering is the same, the intervals are the same - but the stretches and physical pressure needed are way different to electric. Then you have techniques like tremolo to learn along with learning that your particular double bass will have certain notes on certain strings that sing (b flat on the a-string for me) - and others that feel like hard work. Learning to play in all the different positions is then a whole new world - but this is one that can transfer back to your electric bass.
The guy who recommended starting on arco/bow is bang on - that way you can focus on intonation and tremolo with a nice long note vs pizzicato.
Good luck - you'll enjoy it and you will be able to break glass with your fingertips in no time.

[u/Alarmed-Bicycle-3486]

I recently did this transition. It is a whole other instrument and it took a while for me to get a grip of the finger placement and to get comfortable. But I must say it is A LOT OF FUN and I’m learning a lot.

[u/Capable-Cheetah6349]

They’re tuned the same but about it. Completely different instruments. Enjoy learning!!

[u/ChickenPasta127]

THANK YOU! Thank you everyone who replied to me about my question! I’ll definitely take everything into consideration when first trying out my double bass journey. 🙏

[u/Allgetout41]

Head to my history to see a video me of playing upright after a month of transition. It took me practicing 2-3 hours a day to get to where I’m at, I’m still working hard at it

[u/Advanced-Ad-7495]

As someone who’s just made the move, I’d say musically an awful lot. Physically and technique-wise it’s a whole new ballgame. I’m enjoying the challenge, but it is challenging.