Blog and News!
Ukulele Things
Aloha all my cyber ‘ohana! I have been ‘uking around’ lately and thought I’d post some links to some ukulele pages for you. I also recently, after a long delay, finished building my own cigar box ukulele and I will finish up part 3 of my How to Build a Cigar Box Ukulele series of posts.
Below are some links to my other more detailed uke pages.
Bass Lessons Update
Just a quick news release to update you that I have not forgotten about continuing the double bass lesson series. My last lesson post was on February 26th. I was preoccupied and/or traveling for business (I have a full time day job other than music to keep me busy!) for most of the month of March. Then in the first week of April I managed to break my thumb! And I’ve been struggling with the VA healthcare system ever since trying to get properly treated. (See “Dear VA – Sorry, but you still suck” post for details!)
Anyway, stay tuned because once the thumb is better I will be continuing the DB series of double bass lessons and videos. The next lesson will be on beginning to play open string notes, learning to control the bow and then moving on to fingering notes from, as Simandl calls it, the “usual” or “half position”, or as I call it from the open strings through the third position (equivalent to the 3rd fret on the electric bass).
Dear VA – Sorry, but you still Suck
Dear Congress and the VA:
I’m not a dying vet (yet) that you have abandoned. But I am a vet (Navy) and I did have a medical issue and you did abandon me.
You gave me VA health care coverage under the Veterans Choice Act because they are not accepting new patients at my local VA facilities. In theory you said I can go receive care by a non-VA provider. Sounds great right?
WRONG
I managed to break my thumb by smashing it between a sledge hammer and a steel fence post. (OK my bad….but stuff happens, you know?)
I went to my primary care doctor who cleaned and examined the wound and had it x-rayed. He told me, “You broke your thumb. You need to go to orthopedics to get it treated. We already have an appointment set up for you this afternoon.”
Not long afterwards his office called me back and told me I couldn’t go to orthopedics because the VA has to approve the referral first.
I called the Veterans Choice program and asked them if the referral had been approved yet. They told me, “No. It may take up to 14 days.” I said, “You have got to be joking? I can’t wait two weeks! I have a broken thumb.” They told me to go to my nearest hospital emergency room because the VA would pay for that.
How stupid is this?
They are trying to save money by having some moron in a cubicle who doesn’t know me or my doctor decide what kind of medical care I should receive. Instead they send me to the ER. I’m sure that saved them tons of money.
So I went to the ER. for the privilege of having a trainee ER tech fit me with a gigantic fiberglass splint that went halfway up my arm. The ER doc said I should see an orthopedic hand surgeon as soon as possible.
In the meantime, I called Veterans Choice, VA patient advocacy, and the VA non-VA billing department multiple times to try to get the orthopedic referral approved. Everyone told me how sorry they were and thanked me for my service. But no one said “you’re approved”.
So, it has now been nine days and still nothing. Still waiting on whoever to finish their box of donuts, or come back from a smoke break or whatever and do their job.
Again, my issue was a minor one, so I feel really, really sorry for any veteran out there who has serious health problems that is dependent on the VA healthcare system.
People: This is an example of socialism, socialized medicine and central control. It’s been tried. It doesn’t work. It sucks.
Well, what do you think? Am I being too critical? (I don’t think so!) Are you a vet or do you know a vet who has had a bad experience with the VA?
Sunset over Puget Sound
DB-12 Left Hand Form and Fingering on the Double Bass
Watch The Video Lesson
This is lesson DB-12 Left Hand Form and Fingering on the Double Bass, and is a continuation of my journal of things I have learned as an adult double bass student. See the video for a few pointers about the unique aspects of left hand positions on the neck of the double bass compared to electric bass. Be sure to check out my Double Bass Lessons page for a complete list of all of my lessons!
Key Points:
- Use your finger tips, not the flat part.
- Be careful to not bend your wrist too sharply. Excessive playing with a bent wrist can result in physical problems like carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Finger spacing. Due to the distance between notes on the bass (except when you get to thumb position) the left hand can only cover three semi-tones without shifting. Keep your fingers spaced as shown in the picture.
- Thumb location. Don’t hold the neck like a baseball bat. The thumb should about opposite the second finger.
- Angling the bass backwards helps gravity apply your arm weight to the fingerboard.
DB-11 Position Numbering on the Double Bass
Watch The Video Lesson
This is lesson DB-11 Position Numbering on the Double Bass, and is a continuation of my journal of things I have learned as a beginning adult double bass student. See the video for a few pointers about the unique aspects of left hand positions on the neck of the double bass compared to electric bass. Be sure to check out my Double Bass Lessons page for a complete list of all of my lessons!
Being a convert, coming from electric bass and guitar world, to the double bass, I had a tough time understanding the Simandl position numbering system. It seems illogical and hard to remember to me. I decided upon a compromise. Since I expect that I may come across Simandl numbering in some orchestral arrangements, I studied his system enough to know the major landmarks, half position, ……etc.. But when I am playing, I still think in half step terms and visualize the fret arrangement on an electric bass. See the video for more info!
Here’s a cross reference table.
