Looking to advance your bass playing?
Our Top 10 Lessons for Double Bassists who are looking to move beyond the basics.
So you’ve got to grips with the fundamentals of double bass playing, and you’re looking to take your playing to new heights? Whether you need classical or jazz lessons, we have you covered. Our amazing artists cover everything you need to know, from thumb position and shifting, to intonation exercises and advanced bowing techniques.
This is such an exciting time in your double bass journey, where you can choose what kind of player you want to become, and we can’t wait for you to explore that with us and our artists!
1. Thumb Position Technique
Thumb position is an essential technique for accessing the higher register of the bass. In this lesson, Jason Heath walks you through the optimum approach to help those top notes sound cleanly.
2. scooping
This excellent lesson by the principal bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Joseph Conyers, covers his unique approach to bow control, scooping. The technique uses the natural weight of the body to create a rich, full sound.
3. Creating Melodic Bass Lines
Master jazz bassist John Goldsby teaches how to use lower leading tones to create melodic walking bass lines. It’s a simple approach that can make a big difference to your music.
4. Playing from memory
Katie Thiroux uses a foolproof ‘10x method’ to help you memorise your music. Download the lead sheet here.
5. Intonation
Playing in tune can be a real challenge for double bassists. In this video, Jason shares his top tips to ensure you’re playing with great intonation. There’s some superb advice here, so be sure to check it out!
6. The phantom hand method
L.A Philharmonic bassist, David Allen Moore, teaches an exercise that helps you build an internal map of the fingerboard to improve your intonation - so nothing too spooky! 👻
7. Soloing
Katie helps you to improvise melodic bass solos in under 10 minutes! It’s a simple approach, but highly effective!
8. bluegrass Bass lesson
Legendary Bluegrass bassist Barry Bales, teaches this short lesson on right hand technique when playing in a bluegrass style.
Fun fact: Barry is the proud recipient of 15 GRAMMY awards! 🏆
9. Vibrato
This short masterclass by the virtuoso soloist, Lauren Pierce, will help you master vibrato to make your double bass sing.
10. Full-Length study piece
Learn Geoff Chalmers’s composition, Bird’s Landing. Download the free transcription here.
READY to learn more?
Check out our courses designed especially for intermediate double bassists looking build on their beginner techniques!
My Approach to Bluegrass Bass by Barry Bales
Everything you need to get started with bluegrass bass.
INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED Classical Bass by Jason Heath
Techniques for bassists going beyond the fundamentals.
BANDSTAND AND BEYOND by Katie Thiroux
Jazz double bass lessons for intermediate and advancing bassists.