Cello or Double Bass

[receiverofopiniongiver]

My dc wants to play the double bass. Or more precisiely the mini-double bass. They have no string experience.

Would it be better to start with the cello, which appears to have more music for the younger players?

Or start straight with the double bass?

Any advice gratefully appreciated.

Violin has been greeted with a definite no.

Have had Y2 children start both mini cellos and double basses. Both were joining in with simple parts in orchestra within 2 terms.

How big is your car?

Large estate - so can accommodate either.

Does double bass learning start in the same method as cello? Or is it different?

My dc can read music as plays the piano.

If no-one in the know answers before, I can find out for you on Wednesday!

Db is massive and have to cart around the stool to sit on too. Also more places for cellos in orchestras.

If he wants to play bass, he should play bass. There may be more places in orchestras for cellos, but there are far more cellists than bassists.

They are bloody enormous, though.

Not a lot of interesting repertoire for double bass.I'd go for cello.
But he can always swop later.

Double bass players are extremely hard to come by so always welcomed with open arms by school, university or professional orchestras to the
extent that they don'tusually have to reach the same standard as players of other instruments. Children who play the instrument will have the edge if applying to secondary schools that have a selective music ability intake.

The downside is that they are very large - the mini bass is handleable but as soon as your dc moves onto the threequarter size you will have to be seriously involved in carting it and the stool, around.

They are also essentially 'backing' instruments so there's very little music around just for the dble bass (simialr to the bass guitar). It is said that learning the dble bass is easier than other instruments. I don't know - you would have to ask my dc, who also plays the piano and the recorder.

Having said that children who play the double bass are usually treated as special and given lots of encouragement to continue so if your dc want to learn, let him/her. It's also a good jazz instrument if he/she wants to join a jazz quartet in later years.

Speaking as a parent, the double bass is a big pain to carry around. I wish my dc had chosen the piccolo but thankful the child didn't choose the aharp. that

If similar to play - like crystalglasses says both backing instruments - I may as well let the DB be played from the start.

I remember at a similar age being desperate to play the saxophone, and was told I couldn't and had to play the clarinet first. Eventually, I was allowed to play the saxophone.

I now have to see whether there is a db teacher at school.

Thanks for all comments.

How small do double basses go? My DD plays a 1/8 size cello (titchy 10 y-o), and is probably almost ready for a1/4. She'd love to play DB.

Pterosaur - there is a thing called a mini-double bass - which is recommended for 8-10 year olds.

I'm no expert though hence me asking the questions so don't know what the sound quality is like.

I'd go for whatever your child is asking for.

There is perhaps better cello music and IIRR the techniques of bass and cello are quite different (I could be wrong there), so it isn't easy to swap. The cello is also manageable by a teenager (and good for self-defence I used to find...). But the cello doesn't allow you to go on to play jazz etc (well - not usually).

Double bass is the easiest of the string instruments to play and it is very sought after both in terms of scholarships and music groups. It's pretty dull though!

Thanks receiver.

Chaotica, do you think I should make DD take her cello on the bus every day for protection when she starts secondary school??

Found this very clever and very funny