What's the best beginner DB book?

Lorenzo · #1 07-04-2007, 06:34 PM

Hi all. Can someone recommend a solid starter instruction book for DB. I'm new to the upright (coming from EB), and I'd like to set a solid foundation. I'll be starting with a teacher in Sept, but I'd like to get a head start. Someone recommended the Simandl book, but other have told me it's too complex for beginners. Any advice? Thanks!!

ClassicalBass · #2 07-04-2007, 07:11 PM

As far as solo repertoire books go, the George Vance books are pretty decent. They progress in a reasonable manner, but I myself frown on some of the technique he introduces (namely fingering choices). I like the Sturm 110 Studies book for etudes, but there are no explanations, just progressively more difficult exercises. The best advice I have....is the usual advice. Get a teacher, and do whatever he (or she) says. Anyone else who comments will probably repeat that last part. It's sort of a theme here on the DB section of TalkBass.

mcnaire2004 · #3 07-05-2007, 05:47 AM

The Simandl Book is pretty standard.

zaghy · #4 07-05-2007, 06:49 AM

Well it would be best if you ask your teacher what method is he/she using and than you grab that book

Personally, i study Streicher and think that it's more interesting than a Simandl who is a bit of old-school and a bit dull ... but that's based on my walkthrough on few Simandl books.

Bruce Lindfield · #5 07-05-2007, 07:50 AM

Double Bassist magazine gave a good review to a new book by Peter Tambroni, called "An Introduction to Double Bass Playing" ... available at www.lulu.com

Any ideas about this...?

damonsmith · #6 07-05-2007, 05:56 PM

The Simandl book is great for beginners and very solid. It works. I use it everyday for teaching and my own study.
The best plan is to work through it and then check out other methods. Most people who have worked through find the experience worthwhile.

Eli_Upright12 · #7 07-06-2007, 10:51 AM

I started with the George Vance and then proceeded with the Nanny which work well for me.

damonsmith · #8 07-06-2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eli_Upright12

I started with the George Vance and then proceeded with the Nanny which work well for me.

-Those are good if you have a teacher familiar with them. I think Simandl is a safer bet if not. Agian, none of the arguments against Simandl have to do with it not working, most are leveled by those who never went through it.

Eli_Upright12 · #9 07-06-2007, 09:15 PM

Yeah my teacher was very well acquainted with the two, and I've never tried the Simandl, I suppose I should at least look through as its one of the fundamental method books.

TomGale · #10 07-07-2007, 08:53 AM

The best one is mine - Practical Studies for DB. Skip Simandl. Very boring and old, old techniques.
This should stir up some responses!!
Tom Gale
asodb.com
PS - Summer session of the American School of DB starts next Fri.!!!

mcnaire2004 · #11 07-07-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomGale

The best one is mine - Practical Studies for DB. Skip Simandl. Very boring and old, old techniques.
This should stir up some responses!!
Tom Gale
asodb.com
PS - Summer session of the American School of DB starts next Fri.!!!

It isn't about being exiting. Simandl is the best book for beating it into your brain how to play properly. I wouldn't say old techniques, just basic and standard.

Doesn't Morton Base his technique book on Simandl?

TomGale · #12 07-07-2007, 10:27 AM

[quote=mcnaire2004;

Doesn't Morton Base his technique book on Simandl?[/QUOTE]

Mark calls his approach "Simandl Plus" In other words, beyond Simandl.

I believe his workbook is still available for a free download at;
ASODB.com
Tom Gale

damonsmith · #13 07-07-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomGale

The best one is mine - Practical Studies for DB. Skip Simandl. Very boring and old, old techniques.
This should stir up some responses!!
Tom Gale
asodb.com
PS - Summer session of the American School of DB starts next Fri.!!!

How very objective of you, and not entirely within the rules, I would have to say.
Unless a young bassist is in close enough proximity to study with you, Dr. Morton, Dalla Torre or Diana Gannet, or someone else with that techinque under their fingers I would say your advice is dangerous, self-serving and commercial.
It is really not something a person can get with a book, and it is just too easy for it to be interperated as "Bass Guitar techinque works". You have to keep in mind the broad range of people who post here.
I am not unconvinced by the technique, but I am unconvinced of it as a
beginner method.
Anyway, I'll go ahead and make a public vote for the mods to have you register as a comercial user.

TomGale · #14 07-07-2007, 02:02 PM

I am not unconvinced by the technique, but I am unconvinced of it as a
beginner method.
[/quote]

If you ever saw the never-again to be named book, you would know that it uses the standard 1,2,4 - closed hand - same as Simandl. At the very end of the studies, the open hand (4 finger or Karr technique, etc.) is introduced only as an option - depending on the teacher's advice.
After 55 years of playing and teaching, I know what I'm doing.
If anyone would like to see reviews, I can send them off line.
Tom Gale

damonsmith · #15 07-07-2007, 08:05 PM

Nobody is saying you don't know what you are doing.
However, reccomending you own method constantly is not objective and against the rules.
I am sure it works great but Simandl is proven by a lot more time than 55 years. Simandl works as a basic across the board method and it is the partyline for a reason. Nobody is pretending it is fun or interesting, or even up to date, but it works and it has worked for many years.
I would hazard to guess you went through it at sometime and if you are honest you are probably downplaying it's impact on your own playing and teaching.
When your method is ready to unseat it as the standard, basic bass method we will hear about from others besides yourself.

Lorenzo · #16 07-08-2007, 12:07 AM

Thanks for all the replies to my initial question. I'm sure all these recommendations are worthwhile. For me, the answer came after I contacted my soon to be teacher and asked him what he recommends I use. His answer.... Simandl.

TomGale · #17 07-08-2007, 09:54 PM

When your method is ready to unseat it as the standard, basic bass method we will hear about from others besides yourself.[/quote]

You are absolutely right - I quit. Everybody play Simandl forever.
Good luck on your next audition.
Never more.... TG

damonsmith · #18 07-08-2007, 11:33 PM

It isn't that myself or anyone else doesn't think you are a valuable member of the forum, but if you want to push your method at every discussion you need to register as a commercial user, it is just fair to the luthiers and others who are held to that rule.

Simandl can be reccomended without reservation as a basic method across the board for nearly any genre, certainly classical and jazz.
It is also a safe bet most teachers are famliar with it.
It it is a responsible reccomendation to a young player.

We should all explore a wide variety of fingerings and methods as we progress.

Although I have not heard your music, I would bet you are a far more advanced musician than I am. I appolgize for any disrespect, that was not my intent.

I still think people will be more receptive if you present your ideas as an addition to the long standing traditons rather than a wholesale replacement for them.

anon_6j591b0 · #19 07-09-2007, 06:19 AM

The particular method is very much secondary to the teacher behind it and should be chosen by the teacher not you...at least not any more than by choosing a teacher you know is a proponent of a particular method.

shwashwa · #20 07-09-2007, 06:43 AM

tom gale's methods are great. they present the very best of simandl and the very best of modern techniques that are expected in today's post simandl era. he does not ignore simandl, he expands on it. when simandl was written basses had gut strings , super high action, and bassists were not expected to be the virtuosos that they are expected to be today. tom gale and mark morton have improved upon simandl. their method is more relavant to the modern player. if you want to sound like a 100 year old bassist then study a 100 year old method. i expect more from my own playing, but if you're happy with that then you need look no further than simandl. it will contain all you need for your playing. i think the fact that it's the "party line" doesnt mean anything. it says nothing to it's effectiveness and relavance. all it shows is that people are lemmings and are unwilling to change. i did study simandl in the beginning, and have spent alot of years trying to unlearn those habits. i wish someone had turned me on to a more modern method when i was young. i do agree that simandl has influenced mr gale in a significant way. it has shown him the shortcomings of modern methods and has caused him to create his own. id say that's fairly significant. having said all that, it might not be a bad idea for mr gale to register as a commercial user. then no one could flame him for trying to help create better bass players.