Welcome to “Louis’ Double Bass Hacks,” where we unveil the secrets to optimize your double bass playing experience. In today’s episode, we dive deep into the expertise of Louis Levitt, who has accumulated a wealth of tips and tricks during his years of touring with his group, Sybarite5.
From changing strings efficiently to warming up and playing under pressure, Louis has got you covered with these cool bass hacks. In this blog post, we will explore his valuable insights into changing strings efficiently, warming up, and getting an energy boost before a performance!
Lessons Learned from Life on the Road
Louis has acquired these handy tricks and shortcuts through his extensive touring. Being always on the road, either alone or with his group, has given him a multitude of opportunities to face real-world challenges head-on, and Louis has developed innovative solutions that aren’t found in your typical double bass method book!
These experiences have allowed him to navigate challenging situations. Let’s dig in!
Efficiently Changing Strings: Louis’ Step-by-Step Guide
Changing strings can be a time-consuming task, but Louis reveals his secret trick to streamline the process. By wrapping the string around itself three times, using a string winder, and changing one string at a time, he demonstrates how to change a string in just a matter of minutes, ensuring you can keep your strings fresh!
Whether you prefer doing it by hand or utilizing a string winder or a drill, Louis’s tips will speed up your string-changing experience!
An excellent solution to speed up your string changes if you already have a drill!
A great option for manually winding your strings.
If you need a separate drill, this is a great option!
Warming Up and Playing Where You Can’t Traditionally Warm Up
If you’re in a situation where time is not a luxury, yet you’re looking to get your bass ready to play quickly, check out Louis’s rosin hack. Louis scrapes the bow vertically on the strings, and it gets the rosin warmed up and grips the string quickly!
These tactics are designed to be both efficient and impactful, providing great results even when you’re short on practice time. If you’re looking for double bass rosin, try out Upton’s!
The icon of double bass strings is used by Louis Levitt and countless other double bassists.
Bringing Up Your Energy Before a Performance
Before a performance, it’s crucial to get your energy levels up and ready for the show. Louis Levitt has a few exercises to achieve this. Louis’s pre-performance routine is designed to get your blood flowing and to bring you into the right mental state.
In the video, Louis will show us a pose, a breathing exercise, and some additional thoughts about using these techniques to get you open and focused on your performance!
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