I got one of the bass gambas from China. It came with an endpin, which is weird, but is actually kind of a nice feature in retrospect, since I have some issues with my knees and hips. The nut is either too shallow, or the bridge too short, or the angle of the fretboard too high. I wasn't able to fret it even with the finest gut because the strings wouldn't clear the fret. I ended up moving the bridge way, way high in order to get the angle of the strings high enough to be able to put on frets. It's almost to the top of the C holes. I think I will try to get a custom made taller bridge to compensate. All that being said, it sounds lovely.
Well it maybe more difficult to get started with this instrument then the cello but it seems more related to the instrument I already play ( bass guitar) . I will look up the society in the US , hopefully they know where instruments can be found in my area.
Interesting advice. However, where do you find beginner viol sheet music to practice? When I search the web, I barely find any music for the gamba, and what little I find is super advanced and difficult.
I think this has been answered already, but I love the viola da gamba, but also love the cello. I am in Mexico City, so it's definitely hard to find violas de gamba here or teachers. It's easier to find cellos and cello teachers. If I start with cello, how difficult would it be to learn viola da gamba?
So bass is the way to go. Would you recomment a 6 stringed bass? I have the opportunity to get a used one that fits my price expectation for a beginner. But will I be disappointed in the future when I miss the 7th string? I would mostly play for accompaniment eg the base line for a small consort or singer.
I definitely recommend a 6 string. It's perfect for accompaniment and for consorts. I know many professional gambists who favor a 6 string even for later repertoire
Hi, I am new to the Viola Da Gamba and I have a few questions, if you don't mind. Can you please confirm why the gamba has only 7 frets? Is it possible to play without frets? How many semitone (notes) does the neck have for each string ? Thanks!
I’m starting with a tenor... Is that bad..? I’ve basically hunted down and purchased as much tenor viol solo music as I can find.. (Maybe I can learn to transpose up a fourth?)
I would like to use the Viola di Gamba in one of my songs, but that is the only time I would use it, where could I find someone who can play the notes for me?
Is it harder to learn the viola da gamba or the cello, when i have not played any string instruments before? I am interested in both instruments, but i don`t know what is right. I am playing the piano since 8 years and i can read notes...
I would say it might be harder to learn the viola da gamba, because there are more cello resources available on the internet (if you are going to be self taught). This is all my perspective though so I might be wrong.
It sort of depends. If you understand *AT LEAST* the basic theory for string instruments, like the "correct" bow hold, you have the basis to sort of discover things on the way
@@NDNdivergent yes while that is true I would say that depending on where you live it might be harder to find resources to learn said instrument. I was not taking away from the fact that the cello might be harder to play technically.
@@wist8278 oh ok, haha I was just trying to prove my cello bias. I have a hard time finding a cello player close to me let alone Gamba. Its a rare instrument so its going to be a challenge to find someone to teach that for sure. :)
