About double bass foundations
Take advantage of this free course if you are new to the double bass! It takes you through the basics and gives you step by step instructions from the first time you pick up the instrument to playing simple musical exercises.
What you will learn from this course
- Tuning
- How to setup and hold the double bass
- Left hand technique
- Right hand technique in the jazz pizzicato style
- String crossing
- Double bass positions e.g. half position notes
What is included in double bass foundations
This course contains:
- 18 lessons
- 18 videos (totalling over 2 and a half hours)
- 12 sheets of accompanying music
Course structure
Introduction
Getting Started - A short introduction to the Double Bass Foundation Course.
Setting Up
Strings And Tuning - This lesson is a summary of the double bass strings along with a thorough explanation of how to tune the instrument with harmonics.
Setting The Endpin - This lesson gives you a detailed explanation of three different settings for the endpin.
Standing And Sitting - This lesson discusses how to secure/pin down the instrument and position it against your body and legs while standing.
Left Hand Technique
Left Hand Technique - This lesson gives you a detailed explanation regarding left hand technique.
Exercise 1 - This is the first of three exercises to develop individual movements of your fingers and strengthen your left hand.
Exercise 2 - This is the second of three exercises to develop individual movements of your fingers and strengthen your left hand.
Exercise 3 - This is the last of three exercises to develop individual movements of your fingers and strengthen your left hand.
Right Hand Technique
Basic Technique - This lesson explains the basic principles of using the right hand in the jazz pizzicato style.
Advanced Technique - In this lesson we take a good look at muting, posture for comping, soloing and the role of the thumb.
Simple Exercises - In this lesson we learn 3 exercises to start to establish our right hand. I share my own experiences of the effect an under developed right hand will have on playing and underline the importance of a consistent technique.
String Crossing Exercises - This lesson explaines string crossing/skipping. It introduces the method of practicing right hand pizzicato with a drone string.
Positions
Half Position Notes - This is a summary of the notes in half position on every string. There is an explanation of the musical term “Enharmonic Spelling” as it comes up during the lesson.
Double Bass Positions Explained - This lesson explains the acoustic bass fingerboard positions according to the traditional German method.
Bonus Exercises
Bonus Exercise 1 - This exercise develops independence between the first and second fingers of the left hand. It includes crossing and movement through all the strings.
Bonus Exercise 2 - This exercise develops independence between the second and fourth fingers of the left hand. It includes crossing and movement through all the strings.
Bonus Exercise 3 - This exercise develops independence between the first and fourth fingers of the left hand. It includes crossing and movement through all the strings.
Bonus Exercise 4 - Exercise #4 includes all playing fingers and is a culmination of the previous 3 studies. It takes you across the strings by using a nice simple phrase with a “Jazz-Bluesy” character.
And don't forget that enrolling on any courses also gives you access to all free content on Zoltan's Bass Lounge, and any new free courses and free lessons will be automatically available.
