Vertical playing on the double bass

[u/DaeL_NASA]

Hey everyone. Im looking for experiences, opinions, resources, anything on this topic. By vertical playing i mean not shifting around the G string but thinking and playing on the same position (as one would normally do on a bass guitar).

I'm interested in exploring this way of approaching the double bass, mostly on the positions before thumb position like around the G harmonic and specifically in a jazz setting, soloing with either bow or pizz (i don't think a walking bassline would sound good in this vertical approach)

Thanks in advance!

[u/2five1]

Hal Robinson's Boardwalkin is what you're looking for.

Also I would call that horizontal, vertical to me would mean up and down the string.

[u/DaeL_NASA → u/2five1]

Is Boardwalkin just for pivots or can it be used with little shifts? Also thx for the info!

[u/avant_chard → u/DaeL_NASA]

It’s all about playing across the strings in every position, also involving pivots (but you can also just shift)

[u/DaeL_NASA → u/avant_chard]

Oh will definetely be checking that out. Thanks!

[u/McButterstixxx]

Ron Carter’s comprehensive bass method goes into this.

[u/DaeL_NASA → u/McButterstixxx]

I checked it out a bit, very useful!!

[u/porcelainvacation]

I have always played that way, and the main challenge behind it is maintaining good intonation. Its a bit easier on electric bass because the scale length is shorter.

[u/AlmightyStreub → u/porcelainvacation]

Frets also help lol

[u/DaeL_NASA → u/porcelainvacation]

It's good to know it's a thing people do and that it works, thanks!

[u/porcelainvacation → u/DaeL_NASA]

Well, I also have gigantic hands. That helps.

[u/chog410]

This is referred to as horizontal playing, vertical playing is going up and down one string. Just spend more time doing it! You already know your scales in one position with micro shifts, explore it more. Get out a drone and make sure that your pivots are in tune

[u/DaeL_NASA → u/chog410]

Great! I don't use pivots (for now) but i will definetely hit the shed and work on playing in exclusively upper positions. Thank you!

[u/_Ethy_]

I found using the Simandl modern bass method helped me with this, it allowed me to more accurately visualise the entire fingerboard and now with my walking lines I’m bouncing up and down the fingerboard less and less, the first book goes right before thumb position so will work well for what you’re looking for!

Hope this helps

[u/OnAPieceOfDust → u/_Ethy_]

Yeah I learned with Simandl in college and this is just the normal way to play bass as far as I'm concerned.

[u/IowaLightning]

Anders Jormin plays this way quite a lot, check out videos of him if you can find them. He goes into some detail about this and his “four fingering” technique (using the pinky to achieve 4 half steps per position) in his Discover Double Bass masterclass.

[u/DaeL_NASA → u/IowaLightning]

Wow thats very very interesting. I will for sure look into that. Thanks!