Composer here just double-checking to make sure my low low bass part isn't impossible-all of this info helped a lot to solidify my understanding, thanks so much. also before this I thought that 5 string basses were just an oddity! That's cool that they use them across the pond.

@doublebasshq

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Feel free to run any low note questions by me-I know it can be confusing.

@jeffswarts2027

3 ай бұрын

The bassist in a friend’s band (roots rock/folk and country bands) plays a 5-string Kay from the late thirties. They’ve been around for a long time! I didn’t know they made them until I met him.

I always put C1s and Eb1s in a lot of music I arrange and I'm finally gonna be able to play them 😝

Helpful. I got a position as the arranger for a string ensemble right now, and they're really having me push the limits of playability, as they are all incredible players. Most of the time when I write for bass, I always include the optional higher octave. At this point, I've started writing and arranging for European orchestras, and orchestras with extensions. I actually played string bass in college, but I had no dexterity, they just had me there for the extra oomph on the low notes. I never had a French bow, and I was never comfortable with the German bow. Basically they told me you're here to reinforce the low notes because we only have two or three other players. Get those notes in tune and you're fine. Play the easy passages, and you're fine. Now arranging for virtuoso players, it's amazing what they can do, but I still struggle with giving anything really fast to a player using an extension. I'm going back over the literature and rewriting some of the quartets to include string bass, and having to make the judgment call on where the bass should and shouldn't play, and where it should play in unison instead of in octaves. One of my next goals is to write a bass concerto. I have conquered a few other instruments, but I do have a few friends who would love a bass concerto. 🙂

This is so helpful! Thanks!

@doublebasshq

4 жыл бұрын

You bet, Laura!

This is useful. I love composing for string instruments, so learning this is useful.

@doublebasshq

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Very informative-thanks!

Thank you, very interesting for me as an european bassplayer. But I also prefer 5-string-basses. They usually are bigger, because the deep tones need more room to let them show their full power than a just extended 4-string-bass is able to offer.

Great video! I learned a lot!

Thank you. I just learnt about them and wanted to know more. I would definitely just get a 5 stringer.

Great vid man. Good and useful info.

@doublebasshq

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Justin!

@theresa.y5221

Ай бұрын

2:36 if this was a D wouldn’t you play open D?

This answered all of my questions and more

@doublebasshq

Жыл бұрын

That's great--thanks for checking this out!

Very informative. thanks!

@doublebasshq

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you very much for the video - I got a chromatic capo extension on my bass some time ago and am still figuring out how to deal with it best (I'm in Germany where everybody lese is playing a 5-string bass). It's interesting to see how quickly you are able to open the capos during short breaks. Besides, on my bass I can now remove the G-tuning mechanic after tuning (small luthier work), such that it is easier to reach "-1" position. Generally I think it's quite manageable and quite an alternative to a 5-string.

@doublebasshq

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you found it helpful! Extensions can be tricky to get used to at first, but I'm loving mine. 😁

@philippmai4897

3 жыл бұрын

@@doublebasshq Are you able to close the capos as well with the left hand only? I usually need the right hand to press down the C-string to make sure the capo is closed correctly. But sometimes it would be helpful to be able to close it with the left hand alone. Apart from that, how do you tune the C-string, against the open G-string (sounding a perfect fifth?)? Or with some other harmonic? Last question: on my bass the C-string is lifted very much when I am opening all capos, so playing becomes a bit uncomfortable. Is this normal?

@doublebasshq

3 жыл бұрын

Philipp Mai I can close the capos with the left hand only on my extension, but it can vary from extension to extension. I generally tune the closed E, and the extension notes are also it tune, but maybe that’s just due to my particular extension. My open extension string height is a OSSO higher than when closed, so I typically don’t open it unless I needed it. I think that’s one of the trade offs between and extension and a 5 string.

@philippmai4897

3 жыл бұрын

@@doublebasshq Thank you Jason for the answer! So you are tuning the low string with the E-capo closed! I always feared doing that because I thought the string might tear. Is this normal in the US to tune the low string like that? I might try it myself then.. (actually my very first C-extension string tore after a couple of days, so I'm careful...)

@doublebasshq

3 жыл бұрын

@@philippmai4897 I usually close it to tune, then open it to adjust. I don't think you're likely to hurt anything if you tune it with the capo closed, but I have the same fear as you, so I open it up when I move it.

Some 50 years ago, I recall the low-C extension referred to as a 'Poik-Glaesells' (I'm sure the spellings aren't correct!) extension.

@doublebasshq

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting!

Dumb question, is the extended string tuned with the same tuning peg?

@doublebasshq

Жыл бұрын

It’s a good question! Typically, the A and E strings are swapped, so the higher peg goes through the tuner. That’s what’s happening on my bass here.

@BestMusicToolsOfficial

Жыл бұрын

@@doublebasshq Thank you! yes I saw that in other models as well. Great video

A 5 String Double Bass eliminates the need to use that extension cause the lower notes are instead on a lower string. You can also tune a Double Bass in Fifths just by re-stringing it with strings designed for that tuning (C, G, D, A, plus a High E for the 5 String Models made by Pirastro as either Obligato or Passione). Red Mitchell was the guy who bought Fifths tuning back to life & I find it ideal for playing reperitore that was originally not written for Double Bass such as Violin and Viola pieces 2 Octaves lower, & Cello pieces an Octave lower.

@punkypenguin321

3 жыл бұрын

All true but I will add the caveat that most basses designed for 4 strings should stay that way. 4 to 5 string conversions are not practical unless the maker accounted for it in the design. Extra string, extra tension, needs (among other things) a bigger bridge. A knowledgable bass specific luthier will know when it's achievable

@RockStarOscarStern634

3 жыл бұрын

@@punkypenguin321 Thomas & George Martin came up w/ a very clever way to convert it:kzread.info/dash/bejne/qoeekrWBk5PSl6Q.html & make it playable, so thank Thomas & George Martin for the most playable 5 String Double Bass.

@bobjacobson858

2 жыл бұрын

This is essentially the tuning of a cello an octave lower, with the E added at the top. I've wondered if the tuning of the lower four strings could be used on a 4-string bass. As one who truly appreciates the bass sound, I would have less interest in the high E.

@RockStarOscarStern634

2 жыл бұрын

@@bobjacobson858 Yes the red mitchell tuning

@chasmonaghan521

Ай бұрын

Fifths has been, for me, way more practical - in terms of cost and playability- than the cumbersome, frankensteinical extension…and having played in fifths for some years - a fiver with a high e would be awesome…

Can you make (or tell me if this excitation) if there is a video explaining how to play the chromatic extension smoothly?? I’ve been looking for one, but can’t find one. I just got a c extension, but I can’t figure out the capo and how to play them fast and efficiently. If anyone knows how I can learn to get better on my capo bass please let me know

@doublebasshq

11 ай бұрын

Coming soon, hopefully!

@Bloodshed_Silence

11 ай бұрын

@@doublebasshq I look forward to it!

Do you know if it’s physically possible to make a drop tuner for upright, bass guitar players have these tuners where they can flick the tuner down to instantly down tune it (rather than increasing scale length) I think this could be useful for Eb sections

@bryanstarkweather

3 жыл бұрын

A hip shot. Like shooting from the hip, it's not very accurate. They tend to go out of tune.

@macmuggo5459

3 жыл бұрын

@@bryanstarkweather really, I’ve never used one before, I thought they were supposed to be quite good, thanks for enlightening me

@michaelmagee6428

11 ай бұрын

@@macmuggo5459 The hipshot for acoustic bass puts the entire bass out of tune when opened. This happens because it changes the tension on the entire tailpiece which is where it is mounted. Agree with @bryanstarkweather. Best suggestion: just don't.

Hmm Allegro form Beethoven 6 - at pitch as written, try that on an extension! (runs ducks for cover) :-)

@TheMaestro2005

3 жыл бұрын

I was thinking of that exact same passage

@Kyubiwan

3 жыл бұрын

3rd or 4th mvt?

Gosh it's very hard to find a clear explanation of this.

Or just use the C G D A tuning, which is catching on.

@doublebasshq

4 жыл бұрын

Fifths tuning! It’s awesome.

@topsecret1837

4 жыл бұрын

Contrabass Conversations Which also has the added benefit of doubling cellists perfectly as well as making it a familiar platform for cellists.

@andrewprzybyla8871

3 жыл бұрын

Wasn't that how the violone was tuned?

@Kyubiwan

3 жыл бұрын

But you can break the top string

@bryanstarkweather

3 жыл бұрын

@@andrewprzybyla8871 no, not if you're talking about the viol family. Most of the tunings on that family were in fourths, and the tenor tuning I believe was exactly the same as the modern guitar tuning. As far as I know, historically speaking, the most popular tuning besides eadg was tuning in fifths with three strings, starting on g. Gda. Going back further in history, I don't think anybody is sure exactly how many tunings were used, but I don't think the octave below the cello tuning was particularly popular at any point, but I could be wrong.

Something I also have heard of is the English Barnaby extension. Is it just a variant of the Stenholm, or a whole different thing? Great video by the way.

@doublebasshq

4 жыл бұрын

I think that it's a Stenholm-type extension from what I read. Not sure of the exact differences.

@michaelmagee6428

11 ай бұрын

@@doublebasshq As a bassist and luthier myself, I have worked on all forms of machine extensions. The Barnaby is a copy of the original Fawcett extension. The main difference between the Fawcett/Barnaby extension machines and the Stenhom (there is also another company that made a copy of the Stenholm, I can't remember the name right now) is that the Fawcett/Barnaby works in the normal chromatic way: the lowest key (closest to the bridge) controls the E natural, the second to lowest key controls the Eb, the next (higher) key controls the D natural, and so forth. With the Stenholm style the keys work backwards: The lowest key (closest to the bridge) operates the C#, the second lowest key operates the D natural and so forth. I have played both styles but prefer the Fawcett, which I have played and maintained on my bass since I got the bass in 1985. I will also say that the materials of the Fawcet are far superior to those of the Stenholm. The Fawcett uses concentric stainless steel tubing whereas the Stenholm uses chrome plated brass concentric tubing. The chrome plated brass is very soft, dents easily, and wears quickly. I have worked extensively over the years to maintain and restore many of both styles of machine extensions. The players that have them love them. They always play in tune and are much easier to play (in my experience) than the newer non-machine extensions. I also have built many of the newer style four capper extensions with tunable cappers. On my personal basses I have Fawcett/Barnaby style extensions and love them. michaelfmagee.com