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Cello, Bass, or Another Solution?
I’ve been playing the cello for what I count as 3 years now. I was never any good, mostly because it didn’t really interest me, but last year I was inspired and really started to enjoy it. I now take private lessons, and though I’m not as good as the other kids in the orchestra (some of whom have been playing and taking private lessons for more than 7 years) I still like it. Here’s the situation. Our school is small, and in our orchestra we now have 9 violins, 3 violas, 7 cellos, and 1 bass. Since we’re so unbalanced, I often get put on the bass part and some of the cellos who can easily read tenor and treble clef get put on violin 2 and viola parts. Next year, our bass player and one cello will be leaving and we might get one new violin, but we’ll still be unbalanced, so I thought it might be neat to play the bass. I tried it at camp a while ago and enjoyed it. What do you think? Would it be easy for me to learn? In songs where the bass & cello parts are the same, I’d still play cello
but I thought really learning the bass would be cool since I’d probably be playing that part on the cello anyway. I doubt I could take lessons if I wanted to continue the cello, so do you think it’d be easy to learn? or should I stick with the cello?
Tags: Solution, another, Cello, bass
The main problem with playing String Bass is transporting it back and forth so you can practice. If you keep one at home and use one at school, you also have to have a way to tune it at home (usually with an electronic tuner) and if you bring it back and forth, you will need wheels on the case. School buses often balk at allowing them on board, and even if they do getting it on and off will require the help of the driver or a friend.
I am not trying to discourage you at all, believe it or not. I just think you should be aware of some of the logistics involved with playing such a formidable instrument. I think that it is noble to support the needs of your ensemble and it will certainly make you a more valuable asset. Best of luck, no matter what you decide. Also remember that the strings on a Bass are tuned in perfect fourths, so you may want to ask your teacher to use one over the summer, to catch up with the fingerings.
I say go with the Bass, even if it’s for one year. The bass and cello have pretty much the same parts and you will be the “backbone” to the Orchestra. I had a orchestra of about 15 1st Violins, 6 2nd Violins, 9 Viola’s, 10 cellos, and 1 Bass. A cello ended up going to bass, and still plays both to this day!! I say go for it, it will just be ANOTHER instrument for you to play and experiment with. Who knows, you might get truly inspired and there is no one to compare yourself too, you’ll be great. I say go for it.
Both of the above answers are good but the important thing is:
Which one do you like the most ? Which one produces a sound that gives you goosebumps when you hear it ?
That is what you have to ask yourself. You should not change from an instrument you really like just because there are too many other kids who play it.