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Double Bass hand position in second octave

#21
Well Tom has to call it something in order to to talk about it...and as I said, at least a handful of pros are on it already.

Rabbath gets this sort of treatment too when he talks about his "new technique".

Really it's fine by me how you want to take what Tom says here. I'm not really worried about that. I just feel bad for Tom having gotten his feelings hurt, when all he's really trying to do is help the bass community at large step up to a bigger plate, technically. :bassist:

PS and yes I even think Levinson's book is a worthwhile contribution also
 
#22
I completely disagree that Tom needs to use terms like "Triangulation" in order to say "I blend three systems." I also think his tone is very salesman-like, which bothers me. I think there should be a forum on TB specifically for discussing his Way, so those who want to join in can, and those who are irritated by the constant evangelizing can stay away.

Look, technique is only there to serve music. The music tells us what is required. It presents this to us as problems, which we solve via technique, either aquired or self-invented. Before Beethoven, bassists didn't need to ponder fingering systems so much. Music has changed, and so techniques change. I am glad that relatively visible teachers like Tom promote the idea that one system is not enough, and that flexibility is key, but there's a big world of ideas out there, and the price of admission is a library card and an inquisitive mind.

And yes, I'm also a pro.
 
#23
I don't see what you have to lose, Reuben, by letting Tom evangelize his method books anymore than you have to lose by hearing, say, Chris Fitzgerald stressing the importance of being able to sing what one plays on the bass...or pages and pages of flowery comments on AES basses...or the superiority of the French bow...or the idolizing of Ray Brown or Edgar Meyer...or Belcanto strings...

It's not like you have to buy anything.
 
#28
Tom addressed the thumb position question in his first post...which, to my understanding, doesn't contradict pnemeth's offering in any way.

Yeah maybe Tom is a little more enthusiastic than most of us participating here when it comes to doublebass technique. But I think attacking him for it doesn't do anyone here any good. His method will stand or fall on its own regardless.

Why can't that be enough punishment for him (or any of us) if it fails to attract others...not to mention fail to elevate bass technique? :hmm:

Or maybe I'm just too soft
 
#29
Johnny L said:
Tom addressed the thumb position question in his first post...which, to my understanding, doesn't contradict pnemeth's offering in any way.

Yeah maybe Tom is a little more enthusiastic than most of us participating here when it comes to doublebass technique. But I think attacking him for it doesn't do anyone here any good. His method will stand or fall on its own regardless.

Why can't that be enough punishment for him (or any of us) if it fails to attract others...not to mention fail to elevate bass technique? :hmm:

Or maybe I'm just too soft
Click to expand...

For starters I feel we need to be objective and responsible when offering advice to those asking.
We need to offer solutions they can manage, that will be accepted by their teachers. Tom's methods do have some high-profile players and teachers behind them, but they are far from common. If the poster is near by him or a colleague, he could offer a contact or a lesson, but suggesting every person needs his books is not productive.


Second, the zealot approach is a huge turn off. Constantly stating how much better his method is than all others does not help either, even if it might be.
 

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