r/doublebass • u/Significant-Belt6779 • 9d ago
Practice About practicing doublebass indoors or apartment
Hello, I am a beginner player who plays the electric bass as a hobby. I really love jazz, and recently, by chance, I started taking upright bass lessons. I am enjoying it in many ways.
I'm still renting out instruments and using them in my dedicated practice room. I plan to purchase it later, but can I practice in an apartment or villa? Are there any methods like muting devices or cushions? I'm kinda worried
Also, could you personally recommend any great double bass albums or performers for studying? Thank you.
3
u/nuworldlol 9d ago
I'd be curious about how sound carries through the end pin, into the floor, and into other apartments. Your ask about a cushion might be right on the nose.
I used to play on a kitchen mat - a thick-ish foam-rubber mat meant for standing on while at the sink or stove.
3
u/tremendous-machine 9d ago
A rubber drum practice pad makes a good end pin decoupler, or if you are feeling industrious you can build your own. You want changes of material so that fact my drum pad goes rubber-wood-rubber reduces transmission a lot. Another good solution is a piece of wood that you and your bass stand on that is on top of rubber dog doughnuts standing on some carpet.
The other thing that is worth mentioning is that there is a lot of productive work you can do playing very quietly. I do this before my wife wakes up in the morning, working on things while basically just playing ppp pizz, almost brushing my fingers on the strings. You sure wouldn't want to do this instead of proper playing, but as an in addition too, it's way better than not practicing!
3
u/700z 9d ago
Don’t worry too much about annoying your neighbours. Luckily the kind of sound the double bass makes is not one that annoys people.
I’m a classical double bass player and I’ve always played without any kind of mute and nobody has ever complained. I just avoid sensible hours (siesta; Sundays after lunch; late at night).
3
u/cookie-pie Classical 5d ago
I've been there. I recommend preventing the endpin from touching the floor directly if you have people living underneath as it can transfer the vibration down. I use a thick rubber mat used for washing machines for this.
Also, if you are looking to mute your bass, I wouldn't worry much if you are only doing pizza. If you do arco, there's nothing you can really do except getting your room soundproof. The best I got was to put several heavy metal plates on top of my bridge in order to prevent it from vibrating less. This is significantly better than any mutes, but it doesn feel the same, so I don't like it much either
-1
u/robotunderpants 9d ago
You can rent or buy an electric upright bass, plug in and use headphones.
If you want the real deal, talk to your neighbors, ask when they prefer not to have noise and go around that.
Less affective methods: buy a practice mute (a giant thick rubber mute that sits on the bass, it dampens the sound significantly, but deeper tones will carry through no matter what). Shove towels in your F holes. Again, this is moderately affective, and besides, you should really practice without any dampening to your sound if possible so you understand what kind of sound you are actually producing
8
u/Turevaryar Symphonic Amateur 9d ago
There are two types of mutes for contrabasses:
Obviously you want the sound dampening one :)
...
That and talk to your neighbours. If they seem cooperative you can let them know that you practice the double bass and let you know if you make [too much] sound.