Harry Brus tears it up on the electric bass

Here’s a funkaliscious video for your Friday enjoyment!

March 28, 2008 · Filed Under bass, bass videos, electric bass

When Size Really Does Matter

This is a post from contributor Bill Harrison. Bill owns and operates the play-along jazz tracks company playjazznow.com , and he maintains a blog called Jazz Underneath. You can read all doublebassblog.org contributions from Bill here.

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Among the many fascinating questions I get asked while wheeling my bass to gigs or waiting for parking lot elevators is: “Hey, is that a full size cello?” I have a variety of responses, depending upon my mood. If I’m in curmudgeon mode or in a hurry I’ll simply nod enthusiastically and move on. But sometimes I will take the time to explain that the instrument I am lugging is, in fact, a bass, not a cello and that it is not, in fact, “full size”. The bass I normally play has a string length of about 41″, which I believe makes it a 3/4 size. I rarely get this far with my explanation, however, as the inquirer usually loses interest after the heartbreaking news that they can’t tell a bass from a cello.

Since there are so many variations in the size, shape, tuning and other esoterica about our wily instrument, I’m not sure I can even define “full size”. I think a double bass has to have a 44″ mensure to be considered a 4/4 size. During my career I have owned two basses that were around 43″, which I guess made them 7/8 size, but I’m far from certain. What I do know is that, no matter what you hear on the street, the size of your bass really does matter, baby.

First, an admission: I have a rather small hand. I probably shouldn’t be a bass player for that reason alone (no snickering from those of you who know my playing, please…). Years ago, a wise teacher admonished me that I would never be able to out-muscle the bass; I’d always have to out-think it. I have always been jealous of the pornstar-like paws of bassists like Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius. But we make do with what we have, right?

February 26, 2008 · Filed Under bass, bass humor, bill harrison, electric bass, jazz bass playing

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Jaco Pastorius plays Portrait of Tracy with Weather Report

We’re continuing our occasional forays into the world of electric bass, highlighting some of the masters of the instrument. Today we’re featuring this video of the great Jaco Pastorius, who died at a tragically young age. Who knows how much farther he could have pushed the boundaries of this instrument and propelled himself into new forms of musical expression?

This clip was filmed live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1976.

February 5, 2008 · Filed Under bass, bass videos, electric bass, videos

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The virtuosity of Victor Wooten – video

OK–he’s not an upright bass player. But the indisputable awesomeness of the Woot certainly warrants attention here at doublebassblog.org. He’s one of the most popular electric bassists of all time, and rightly so–his inventiveness, creativity, and virtuosity shine through in everything that he plays. Go Victor!