Got a crazy notion - Learning to play Double Bass

[Slide Panda]

Not many upright bass players out there. 

I personally can't imagine playing a fretless intstrument with any proficiency. I had a hard enough time playing rhythm guitar in my college band from time to time (I was also frontman). Not that beer or 'anything else' had any influence..... 

Fretted or fretless wasn't really a problem for me back in the day.  My instructor had a fretless electric that he let me take a whack at.  Wasn't that much harder... granted I was playing basic stuff in a low pressure situation.  it also had some cheater marks on the neck 

Consider signing up for at least a few beginning lessons, there's nothing like that hands-on, specific feedback that you can get.

In addition, a teacher should be able to help you locate a suitable rental or suggest resources for finding a used instrument.

Good suggestion.  Some of the techniques for playing upright would definetly befit from some tutelage.

Also, it really helps to learn some music theory as well. It really pushed me over a plateau in my playing. It helped me grasp the overall instrument better and made me a lot more proficient. Not to mention it added to my confidence in improvising a lot, as I was better able to understand what the other musicians I was playing with were doing.

I at least got some basic music theory back in the day, so at least I'm not 100% in the dark.. just 99.  But yeah - I could stand some learnin' there.

[somegirl]

Fretted or fretless wasn't really a problem for me back in the day.  My instructor had a fretless electric that he let me take a whack at.  Wasn't that much harder... granted I was playing basic stuff in a low pressure situation.  it also had some cheater marks on the neck 

Beginning violinists all have little pieces of colored tape on their fingerboards.

[McNair]

most of the best musicians don't know anything about music.

forget theory.  theory comes with understanding, which can't be taught.

You are in the dc area, right?  we can jam.  i have a small studio in MD.

[davesax36]

you should call up the guys in the military bands and get a few lessons to see if you really want to do it. I'm a musician, from a musical family, that teaches music. I played bass in school (and professionally), and got my degree in saxophone although I started on piano (age 5).  Lessons are the ONLY  way you should get started. If you don't, you're probably going to end up hurting yourself physically you learning some bad habits that will hinder your playing later if you stick with it. My buds from the marine band are absolutley sick players and are really normal guys. Also the guys from any of the military rock bands can usually do both. You could even go over to UMD and ask a student for some lessons. They've got a great bass studio over there, and there would be someone that would be happy to have some extra cash. George Mason University also has some really good players right now. THe bass teacher there is in the Marine band. He's crazy and a lot of fun.  Rent an instrument or look for a plywood bass that'll be less than a grand. If you need more help, or get more serious, shoot me a PM, and I'll give you my mom's number. she's a contractor of musicians in town, knows everybody, or someone who does, and can point you in the right direction.