Double Bass A little fingering help

[Stuart.C]

I am having a hard time deciding on the fingering for this passage:

I feel like there is nice pattern going up the E, A strings up to the G (on bottom) but then I have a awkward jump for the A (4th beat). or I just use the open strings in 1st position and then up the G and D string, but this feel less pattern like and I am not a fan of the sound of open D and G.


This is from Beethoven consecration of the house

Thanks

 

[David Potts]

To refresh my memory I looked up the passage in a score with sound on Youtube. At that speed and with a big crescendo I would work across to the G and D strings ASAP and not worry about the niceties of avoiding two open strings in succession. The fingering gets complicated in the third bar for the third and fourth beat before settling down to play out the last bar of your example fairly easily. In the third bar use open G in the second beat to jump the 1st finger up to C for the first 3 of the next beat then jump the 1st finger from C to A to set up up E and D. Jump from D on 1 to B on 2 to begin the patterns in the 4th bar.

By jump I mean shift and am employing the ideas that (1) you never have to play the same note twice with the same finger, and (2) you can occasionally shift and change strings simultaneously with the same finger. Minimise the bow lengths to find a balance between the two hands and make rapid string crossings with power and clear articulation by bowing near the balance point. If you are note-sure and finger-sure you will be the last man standing.

Good Luck !

 

[Stuart.C]

Thanks @David Potts

 

[ILIA]

If it's the high A in m. 64 that is hanging you up, then go into thumb position sooner rather than later and go into thumb position on beat 2. Here is a case where the harmonic is your friend and gives you just enough extra time, so that the jump into thumb position for the G is not awkward, and so the high A is right there for the taking.