Since the 1950s, when the Memphis-based rockabilly sound first swept the world, the acoustic upright bass has remained its showpiece and rhythmic mainstay. Lee Rocker, one of the masters of the "new wave" of rockabilly musicians, has made an informative and entertaining DVD that teaches the intricacies of the exciting slap bass style to players of all levels...
Create spectacular multi-rhythmic effects to stop any show! The charismatic stand-up bass-slapper for the multi-platinum band Stray Cats teaches the intricacies of this exciting style to players of all levels...
Pete Turland gets more out of a standup bass than any other player I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. He's easily the most innovative and charismatic slapper in Canada and probably the US as well...
I've recently gotten an upright bass. I'm familiar with theory, so my problems are more technical. I'm wanting to focus on jazz and rockabilly (slapping). What are some common issues (revolving around technique) I need to focus on and learn when going from the Electric Bass to the upright bass? What reading/video material can I buy or possible get for free off the Internet?
first issue is finger spread. You are going to want to do some finger exercises to get that Left Hand spread going. You Can tape up the String Bass until you are used to the different style of playing. On upright bass, you are going to place your finger over the exact spot where the fret would be, if there was one. On electric bass, you have been (hopefully) putting your finger right behind the fret. Electric bass allows for some sloppiness. If you happen to land in the middle of the fret, it doesn't really matter. You are giving up a tiny bit of sound, but the note is going to sound intonationally the same. On an upright bass, where you land is what you play. You can be a quarter tone or an eighth of a tone, or even a sixteenth of a tone off. The closer you get, the worse it sounds! This is a tiny bit daunting at first, but as you learn to trust your fingers (and your ears, never forget the ears) your kinesthetic memory will kick in (we are talking about muscle memory here, the same memory you really on when you scratch your nose in the dark, confident that you are not going to poke your eye out because your hand just knows where to go!) and you will actually sound better as you gain confidence.
The upright bass is set up with the same strings as the electric bass, so you already have music. You are going to be building callouses, and bowing will be an issue. Learn to bow, even if you don't think you will need to. You never know when you'll need to bow and you want to be ready. I stuck a few links below to get you started. There are hundreds more, if not thousands.
“Sort of Worth It” or Better? Discussing Conan O’Brien at DAR Constitution Hall
Last night, Arts Desk took a field trip to DAR Constitution Hall for Conan O’Brien ’s Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour, the comedian’s cross-country trek following the much-publicized fizzling of his run hosting The Tonight Show . The evening began with a video of O’Brien—unshorn, obese, unemployed—waking up in his home, and it ended with an explosive musical encore.
![Rockabilly Slap Bass [VHS]](http://www.grayshotmusic.com/images/i/518HHX29F6L._SL160_.jpg)
