Hi Lynn,
I was hoping to get your opinion / advice.
I am a 20 year EB fretless player who has decided to take on the DB (wish me luck).:) I will be playing 99% pizz jazz as I have no interest (or hope :crying:) of being an orchestral musician starting the DB at 38 years of age.

My question is, is it a good idea to study the Rabbath method from the begining or is it necessary to start with Simandl or something else?

Thanks,
John

I think starting with the Rabbath method is a wonderful idea. It does help to have feedback from a teacher about the stance, rotations/pivots, fingerings, bowing, etc. I wish I had started with the Rabbath method, but got to it as soon as I could! The videos will help if you don't have a teacher to give you at least some fundamental help in the beginning of your studies of that method.
Good Luck.

Great! I just ordered the Rabbath books "A New Technique for Double Bass" Vol 1 & 2 and the CD-ROM where he demonstrates and discusses his method. Now I just need to find someone here in Phoenix to study with.

Thanks for you help!