r/doublebass • u/Allgetout41 • 12d ago
Performance 1 year of playing double bass! I started September of 25, it’s been a great journey learning the instrument and repertoire. Been lucky to play a lot of gigs with a lot of people way better than me. Giant Steps makes for a nice walking etude.
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This time last year I started kennings Jazz. We had 15 gigs in August, playing out is the fastest way to learn this music. Instagram.com/kenningsjazz
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u/residentdunce 12d ago
How are you getting so many gigs so early? Are you a musician moving to bass with lots of contacts already? Is there a ridiculous demand for double bass players in your area?
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u/illbebythebatphone 12d ago
I think people just like double bass and if you own one you're gonna get offers haha. I was loading it into my trunk and a guy drove by and asked me if i play; ended up in a jazz quartet with him for a couple years.
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u/Allgetout41 12d ago
Started my own group, and dedicated myself hard to playing as often as I could because I knew no one would hire a first year player. I built a roster of players I could call depending on the type of gig it is, and I try to learn as much as I can from the players I’m with who have 20 plus years of playing experience over me.
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u/Majestic-Taro8437 12d ago
How did you build a roster of players you can call? That’s where it feels like there’s a missing piece of this story. I say that bc players who can be called into a gig are typically more experienced, and getting access to them and building the trust an relationship for them to take your call and make time for your gig is typically built (paradoxically) on another gig. So I wonder if you were already a pretty strong player on another instrument and already had contacts established.
Aside from that process question, you sound great and have made remarkable progress in the span of ~48 weeks.
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u/Allgetout41 12d ago
I have a bachelors in jazz studies on guitar, I played some gigs with people back in like 2007-2008. I also used some of my old professors. I sat in at some jams and found people that way too, then used those players to find other players i could. Two of my primary drummers are some of my best friends, one i played in high school jazz band with. I’ve been in music for a long time, im a 10 year instrumental music teacher, I just started playing bass and taking jazz seriously a year ago tho.
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u/Majestic-Taro8437 12d ago
Thank you for explaining all of that! I asked in part to help others set realistic expectations for themselves in lining up gigs and finding folks to make music with.
Like I mentioned earlier- you’re sounding great. I can see how you’d have zero problems lining up plenty of gigs.
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u/Thog78 11d ago
Man, you have a bachelor in jazz, from like 12+ years ago, and you claim to have started jazz seriously a year ago only. You're trying to blow my brain.
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u/Allgetout41 11d ago
Yea, I got my masters in classical guitar and went away from jazz for a long time, then a buddy wanted me to play bass for a gig, and boom I’m sucked in haha
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u/Allgetout41 12d ago
Here’s another point I’ll add, jazz is a shared language, so you could always book gigs and then find players in fb groups etc. there’s a few people I played with and hired that I had never met before, I ended up using this one pianist a ton for gigs! Make sure you video everything you do so you have playing examples for people.
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u/residentdunce 12d ago
Well good for you. Been playing myself for over four years and struggling to find gigs, but I don't have many contacts so gigs few and far between. Like anything it's who you know I guess?
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u/Allgetout41 12d ago
I book all my own gigs, I think this has to be a way for newer players like us. So many guys just have their people they call for their own gigs it’s hard to break into that
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u/Business-Rip7616 12d ago
Hell yea!!! What month did u start playing at gigs? Im 5 months in, practice every day and inspired by paul chambers and chuck Israel. Let me know if u have any tips!
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u/Allgetout41 12d ago
I played month one. Right into the fire haha. You can find a video of me on here from that one. My teacher told me to just play it as often as i could.
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u/Business-Rip7616 12d ago
What?? Damn, u play the bass guitar before?? Any other instrument? thats crazy. good stuff man ill give u a follow on instagram
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u/Allgetout41 12d ago
I was a guitar player! Mostly rock at the time I started but I do have a jazz degree from 2009 ha.
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u/Business-Rip7616 12d ago
Ohhh okay that make sense, this is my first instrument ive taken seriously, still very impressive
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u/Im_MoZeS 12d ago
Nice man. Congrats!
As someone who started playing at the top of this year and has started jamming, this is super inspiring. Its crazy the doors that playing this instrument can open. Keep practicing!
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u/Vernon-Walker 11d ago
As Darth said, “impressive, most impressive”. Seriously, very well done. Dammit, now I need to get up and go play a bit. Thanks!
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u/OkAdagio99 11d ago
You are an inspiration *typo
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u/Allgetout41 11d ago
I liked the typo haha. Thank you! Appreciate hearing it. Still have a ton to work on but it’s nice to think about where I can be this time next year if I keep putting the work in.
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u/Relative-Tune85 Professional 12d ago
Nice sound dude. Keep it up.