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PaperclipPerfector  9d ago (text post)   2669 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for June 12, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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I have finally nailed a piece on a string instrument (somehow I don't want to reveal which one) that took me ages; Bach really tormented my dreams. The way that it finally worked was listening to it every night before bedtime like a lullaby to finally incept the time signature and melody into my brain so that I could wake up in the morning and play it.

PS: it's NOT a violin, those are just a bit too whiny for my taste

Congratulations. Which piece?

I understand the joy. I play bass, and Bach pieces are not written for instruments that are tuned in fourths. Finally getting it feels good.

Haydn Concerto n. 1 but definitely mine isn't as polished as a professional would play it. However Haydn is such an interesting person so it feels good to play something of his somewhat well. I like his surprise symphony too!

How hard is it to play the bass? It always seems so physically intensive.

Bass isn't too bad if your technique is good, but it's definitely much more physically intensive than other stringed instruments. I think my DB's string tension is probably 2.5x my guitar for any given string. When you couple the tension, the high action, and the sheer physical size of it, it can feel more like a sport rather than an instrument.

Are you able to reduce the distance between the strings and the fingerboard? I got that done for the vibrato so that I wouldn’t have to press so far down especially on the thicker strings

You can do that, but most of my repertoire these days is bluegrass or rock, so it's not the right call for me particularly.

What are some bluegrass pieces for the bass that you like to play?

It's going to sound odd, but I don't like to play bluegrass so much as be playing it. The bass mostly functions as a rhythm instrument that occasionally leads chord transitions in case people get lost, so it's not complex. That said, the overall experience is wonderful.

I'm particularly partial to up tempo versions of ain't no grave, like this one.

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