Classical Etude Book Recommendations

[mikedyermusic]

I love learning classical etudes to improve my technique, hand position, and musicianship. The books I've worked out of are:

Jim Stinnett's "12 Keys to Success". This helped me develop my technique and I learned about different shapes that are common in most music. I worked up a few of the etudes to fast speeds to improve endurance and chops. Like this:
Fast Electric Bass Classical Etudes - Mike Dyer - YouTube

The other one I work out of is John Patitucci's "60 Melodic Etudes for Acoustic and Electric Bass". These seem more to focus on playing melodies accurately and developing more dynamics and articulation. I've only done these on electric bass as I'm not a great upright player. These have helped with hand position a lot too.

What classical etudes are ya'll working on? I've heard good things about Simandl and I have one of his books but have never dove into it a whole lot. I would love to get some advice about these and also get other recommendations for etudes that improve technique and hand position that are also fun to work on...

Thanks!

[famousbirds]

Wow, major chops dude.

Also interested. I've worked through some of the Simandl etude's but would love to know what else is out there.

[colcifer]

Dotzauer Cello Method. There are either three or four book, IIRC. Great stuff. Also, the Bach Cello Suites. Really, anything written for violin or cello is good for electric bass. The big intervals give you a workout and they make you learn melodic phrasing which most bass method doesn't get into.

Bonus: Modern Electric Bass (Jaco instructional vid). The DVD comes with transcriptions of everything played and the DVD itself is Jaco and the Groovemaster hangin' and talking shop. Also great stuff.

Keep us posted!

[Blake Bass]

+1 on Dotzauer exercises for violoncello Book 1..I have been working out of this book off and on for twenty + years. The etudes are challenging, and work well for 5 or 6 string bass..if you are playing a 4 just play those notes up an octave.

[Clef_de_fa]

I have the John Patitucci book which are very fun on bass but take a new dimention on DB with a bow.

I also use Bach Six Suites For Cello, a lot of stuff. I also have Simandl 30 études for DB.

I forgot that I also use classical guitar music from time to time

[mikedyermusic]

I didn't even think of learning cello suites. That is an awesome idea!