How to Play Upright Bass

From its original uses in medieval and classical music, to its ubiquitous use in jazz, the upright, or double bass is the monster of the low-toned family of instruments. Perhaps called “double” because of its uses as a low octave double for the cello, the upright bass is the backbone of any orchestra or band because it lays the sonic foundation for the movement of the notes and beats within a song.

Our expert will show you the basics of upright bass playing, including just figuring out what all the parts are called, how to make clear, precise notes, and how to maintain the bass and keep it in tune. For advanced players, he offers several lessons that can help expand your double bass playing into different styles and genres, as well as various techniques you can incorporate to add color and excitement to your basslines.

Some of the more skilled double bass players, such as Stanley Clarke, have made entire careers as solo artists, and perhaps you will too, if you pay close attention to the advice our expert gives in this video series.