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The bass is very different from the cello and yet, you will find that some of your technique is directly applicable!.

1) The bass is normally tuned in fourths while the cello is tuned in fifths!. Cello strings from low to high are C-G-D-A!. Bass strings are E-A-D-G!. (A few bassists tune their basses just like the cello, but I've tried it and prefer tuning in fourths because there is less shifting!.)

2) The bass is much larger than the cello!. A 3/4 size bass (the standard size that I and most bassists play) stands a little over 6 feet tall or a little less than 2 meters!.

3) To play the cello you sit behind it with the instrument between your legs!. I recommend that bass students first learn to play standing!.

The back edge of the upper bout of the bass (the widest part of its upper body) should the bass should meet your body right at the navel (near your center of gravity!. Stand with your feet apart right under your shoulders!. The bass should lean against your body at about a 10-degree angle!. Looking directly at the neck, you should be staring right where 1st position would be!.

4) The cello's neck sits to your left very close to your ear!. The bass's neck, while still on the left side, is out in front of you!. This means you will need to open your shoulder and play with a more rounded left arm!.

5) You bow the cello with your arm bent at the elbow when you start a down bow, extending the forearm as you move towards the tip of the bow!. When bowing the bass, your arm is much straighter because you need that extension to reach the "sweet spot" for the bow!.

6) I prefer the German bow to the French bow (the one that looks more or less like a cello bow)!. I played French bow for 8 years before switching so I can play with either style bow!.

7) The bass should pivot forward slightly so if kind of falls into your left hand/fingers!. Do not let the bass rest on your thumb!.

8) Your left hand should assume a "C" shape with a concave palm and curved fingers with the thumb closing towards the second finger on the neck!. The hand should be turned slightly outward so that the thumb rests against the neck on the side of the first knuckle!. You want to aviod squeezing with the flat inside surface of the thumb because the joint is weak!.

Bottom line, you need to use the weight of the bass to help you close the strings to the fingerboard!. If you rest the bass on your thumb and try to close the strings by squeezing alone, you will exhaust yourself in no more than 5-10 minutes!. You can't muscle a bass; you have to make friends with it!.

This is probably too much, but anything less won't help you!.

My best advice to you is to find a good teacher!. If you need help, email me from Yahoo Answers!. I know many bass players!.


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