Double Bass Thumb Position Method

Double bass thumb position technique is one of my most commonly requested topics, so I’ve put together a series of lessons to explain my method. In this second video I give you an overview of the three main hand shapes that I use, as well as the techniques you need to know to play into thumb position. If you want to play higher up the neck without worrying about your intonation then this lesson is for you!

This is the second part in my series of lessons covering thumb position and if you haven’t seen the first one please check it out after this video. I recap at the start of this lesson, but many of the most common problems in thumb position are caused by not knowing how to correctly position the bass and transition up into thumb position.
If you’re unsure on the best way to do this I strongly recommend watching the first lesson in this series which you can view here: 'Double Bass Thumb Position Part 1 - The Transition'.

The upright bass can seem like a hard instrument to play up high, but if you use the simple fingering patterns described in this lesson you will soon be able to play solos and bass lines in thumb position just as easily as you do with the low notes.

I hope you enjoy the video and it helps you improve your thumb position technique. If you have any lesson suggestions or feedback, please let me know in the comments section below.