Double Bass Finding Position

[trajectory fish]

So, I'm working on something that might be mistaken for a bass guitar question, but I am working on this on the double bass. I'm working on learning Tool songs and kind of re-arranging them for solo double bass. Right now I am focusing on Schism, and it involves being able to find the right position for the main "hook" riff of the song pretty precisely and quickly from other positions on the instrument, like the 2nd position on the 4th string immediately to the 6th position on the 2nd string. So, my question is this; what have you been able to do to practice/establish this ability?

It is a lot of fun working on this, and I'm sure I can get some open-minded responses from you guys. Here's a quick link to the YouTube video (of the Tool video, not me) if you're unfamiliar with the song:




Thanks!
Bennett

Couldn't decide on the classical or Jazz forum. . . The overall project is more of a contemporary classical improvisation/elaboration on the ideas that Tool presented in the original piece.

 

[David Potts]

The three main tools I use and recommend are Position-to-Position, measuring the shifts using thumb and finger contact with the neck and strings, and prehearing the notes.

Position to Position - Best done in a dark room so that your eyes are shut down This will highlight your other senses. Set your hand in each position and think about your arm and LH hand feel. Play a note in tune in one position, shut your eyes and think again about the setting (like a 3 dimensional place in space),drop your hand and put it back on the same note. Correct the pitch and repeat the process over and over again, with your eyes shut and bringing your hand from different places, eg scratching your head, from your right shoulder, from your pocket, etc. Then do the same for the destination position, Then repeat, moving from position to position. With many careful accurate repetitions, backwards and forwards, it won't take long until you will convince yourself that there is a "muscle memory" for each position.

Measuring the shifts - Don't lose contact between at least the thumb and back of the neck as you shift. Also keeping a finger in contact with the string helps you feel the distance your hand moves, like a tape measure. You can either shift with your destination finger already in contact with the new string or shift up/down on the original finger and string, dropping across to the new finger/string as you approach them Again, lots of careful repetitions backwards and forwards.

Prehearing the destination notes - after all the careful repetitions above you should have a pitch memory for each note. Play the notes only thinking musically of the pitches, not of the techniques of how you get there. This is you final measure of success.

"Constantly repeating mistakes is learning mistakes" - get pitch and technique sorted out ASAP before you try lots of repetiton.

Best wishes,

DP

 

[trajectory fish]

Thanks David!

I have been kind of sloppy with things like keeping my thumb on the neck; always been just moving my arm in a dramatic arc from one place on the fingerboard to the other. I'm sure that will be really effective for this.