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Double Bass Franco Petracchi Simplified Higher Technique

If you can't play that far back comfortably and in tune, then start at G and slowly work your way back. This book is a wonderful addition to our pedagogy but like the Zimmerman book, many people get caught up in the pedantry and try to just go cover to cover. Work on some Petracchi for ten to fifteen minutes a day. If it hurts, stop. This isn't a book to "master..." It's a book to add to your technique for many years to come.
 
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If you can't play that far back comfortably and in tune, then start at G and slowly work your way back. This book is a wonderful addition to our pedagogy but like the Zimmerman book, many people get caught up in the pedantry and try to just go cover to cover. Work on some Petracchi for ten to fifteen minutes a day. If it hurts, stop. This isn't a book to "master..." It's a book to add to your technique for many years to come.

100% agree. I have also heard that it was published out of the order that he wrote it, but people "say" these things all the time so I can neither confirm nor deny such statements.

I plead the fifth!

eerbrev
 
If you can't play that far back comfortably and in tune, then start at G and slowly work your way back. This book is a wonderful addition to our pedagogy but like the Zimmerman book, many people get caught up in the pedantry and try to just go cover to cover. Work on some Petracchi for ten to fifteen minutes a day. If it hurts, stop. This isn't a book to "master..." It's a book to add to your technique for many years to come.
I agree. When I started on the book my teacher told me about a player in the LA area, I think, who had incorporated the technique in lower positions. He said it looked unorthodox but pointed out that the player had really put the technique to good use. What I took I away from that was that it depends on the player and that the Petracchi book was to looked at as something to augment one's technique.
 
As chicago mentioned, this type of work is work that happens over a very long time, oftentimes months to years. The exercises are more like ingredients than prescriptions; you don't start with something you absolutely cannot do otherwise you run the risk of hurting yourself. Instead, slowly acclimate to the feeling; the spacing between the d (lower) and G (the 4th) is the same size as the G to D (higher, a 5th). With work like this, it's not about its immediate practicality but something that you can utilize as a tool when you need to.
 
Yes, it starts on D on the g string. He is basically just adding the chromatic and semi-chromatic thumb positions - they are more compact and thus more mobile than a diatonic position tied to the harmonics.
The simplified idea is just those positions and the fact that you can put them anywhere.
He starts with them in the key of D dealing with each major and minor third.
The exercises themselves are less "magic" than Simandl, Rabbath, Billie, Bottesini or any of the comprehensive methods.
If you have avoided Simandl for any reason, make sure it is in your library. It is a great, effective book.
 
So I got a copy of this technique and just want to make sure I am interpreting this correctly. Looks like he applies thumb position staring at "D" on the "G" string?
Thoughts?

I looked over all the thumb positions and started writing with the thumb on G and then going up AND down and only down without pain! I also combined the thumb positions with what a called the 'open hand' tech - that's using the 1,2,3,4. I started out with those two techs and the books - one on each tech - but eventually combined both them with the closed hand - 1,2,4 into one book. It blends all together and does make playing life easier.

Tom Gale
 
Is my copy broken? Mine seems to start at E on, what I assume is the G... I have been have suspecting that it is written for solo tuning as the second bar starts of F#... Can anyone clarify this for me? The first page... is it written for an instrument tuned in 4ths, or solo or fifths tuning, and is it starting on the G string?
 
Vito is always a good source of information, see specifically this : Link Removed

Agree with what has been suggested by more knowledgeable folks here too, btw. But to add to another thread, which we covered previously, Simandl White Book never seems to get a look in!!
 
Thanks! In another thread, it was written that the first excercise started on D... which is what threw me...
He has you go as low as D on the G string, you can go lower, but, the idea is to get you off the octave harmonics and move a more compact position wherever you need it. So, yes, that E is on the G.
He has you go as low as D on the G string, you can go lower, but, the idea is to get you off the octave harmonics and move a more compact position wherever you need it. So, yes, that E is on the G.