If you are tuning for a child and don’t know how to use the bow, just pluck the string about halfway down the fingerboard: again, not too hard or too softly. Ideally, you should bow a long, clear note not too loud as that can sharpen the pitch, but not too soft either. How to check if your double bass is in tune For these reasons, it is normal for the pegs to only be used if the string has gone too far out of tune for the fine tuner to correct. Using the pegs slowly and gently will ensure you don’t cause any unwanted damage to your strings or peg box. It is easy to overtighten the string by tuning too quickly, so you want to avoid going too quickly. Machine heads make your life easier when it comes to tuning! Unlike violin, or cello, you don’t need to worry about over tightening strings with the peg. We turn each peg end so the strings come over, not under it. Each string is threaded through a hole its respective peg and winds around the peg end as we tighten it. How to use your double bass machine headsĪt the top of your instrument, the strings come up the fingerboard and over the nut (raised piece of ebony with grooves carved in it) and into the peg end of the machine peg, in the peg box. It is costly to replace and can last several years in perfect shape only if we maintain it correctly while tuning. Changing the tension of your strings, up or down, also changes the pressure on the bridge. When tuning we also need to keep an eye on the bridge. We’ve added some basic tips below to help with preventing some likely causes of breakage. This is due to the number of variables that can cause a string to weaken, unravel or simply snap. All strings, regardless of brand, are sold without a manufacturer’s warranty. It’s important to be very careful when tuning or fitting strings. We turn each peg so the strings come over, not under it. The strings come up the fingerboard and over the nut (raised piece of ebony with grooves carved in it) and into the peg box.Įach string is threaded through a hole its respective metal peg and winds around the peg as we tighten it. Your double bass is tuned by special screws at the top end of the neck, where they are fitted to the pegbox just below the scroll. All sorts of damage can occur to the double bass if you don’t.) Where do I start? If it falls, loosen the strings immediately, don’t play the double bass, don’t pass go - but do bring it into our Makers Studio or to a luthier near you ASAP to be re-fitted correctly. (Just an extra note here: If your double bass is bumped or dropped, sometimes the soundpost can move or fall down. Carrying the double bass in your car boot can also deliver jolts that are unhelpful. If it gets dropped or bumped hard, you will find the same thing. If you have accidentally bumped or knocked your instrument against your stand, chances are you’ll need to re-tune your double bass. Wood expands and contracts with the weather, just as your front door can sometimes be sticky and sometimes might not even stay closed.īumps. Remember, the double bass is made from wood. For us in Brisbane, we see a spate of broken strings and even broken bows at the end of Autumn and through early winter, when we have a really dry period. So can a change in humidity, especially when the air dries out. Even a small change in atmospheric pressure can do it. Weather can have a massive impact on your strings and instrument. If you want to speed up the stretching process, practice and play! You’ll just need to tune more frequently. With most modern double bass strings this is usually fairly quick, one or two days, but strings with a synthetic core or gut will sometimes take a week or two to settle. If you’ve fitted new strings to your instrument, they will take some time to stretch and settle. But, don’t worry - it really isn’t unusual for basses to go out of tune - it’s a part of daily double bass life. There are a few different reasons why your double bass may be out of tune. If you are learning at home, via the internet or simply can’t get anywhere to have it tuned, here is a little guide to help. When you start learning to play the double bass, usually your teacher will tune your bass in your weekly lessons.
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