Hi !
I would like to know how you play 10ths, 1 & 3 or 2 & 4 for major 10ths ? 1 & 2 or 2 & 3 for minor 10ths ?
I would like to know how you play 10ths, 1 & 3 or 2 & 4 for major 10ths ? 1 & 2 or 2 & 3 for minor 10ths ?
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Double Bass How do you play 10ths
- Thread starter Lionel Albert
- Start date
I play 1&3 for major 7ths and 10ths, but other great players I know - including Lynn Seaton - use 2&4 for the major shapes instead. I think it all depends on the ability of the hand to flatten the 3rd finger down into the guitar “bar chord shape”. I also play 2&3 for the minor 7ths and 10ths. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone play the minor shapes as 1&2.
In my experience as a teacher for the past 20 years, students who are double jointed have more trouble with the 1&3 fingering, whereas students with more normal tendon structure tend to prefer 1&3. As long as you can make the stops and play in tune, it’s all good.
In my experience as a teacher for the past 20 years, students who are double jointed have more trouble with the 1&3 fingering, whereas students with more normal tendon structure tend to prefer 1&3. As long as you can make the stops and play in tune, it’s all good.
Please help me understand (I've never had a lesson from a real teacher); here are my questions:
1. Are we talking about DB or BG?
2. Do the numbers refer to strings or positions on the fingerboard?
3. If positions on the fingerboard, are those scale tones or chord tones?
Thanks for helping to educate me.
1. Are we talking about DB or BG?
2. Do the numbers refer to strings or positions on the fingerboard?
3. If positions on the fingerboard, are those scale tones or chord tones?
Thanks for helping to educate me.
1. DB
2. Depends on which numbers you're referring to.
- The 10th is an octave plus a 3rd. For example, the G on the E string with a B on the G string for a major 10th. Flatten that B to a Bb on the G string to make it a minor 10th.
- The other numbers are fingers of the left hand used to play the two notes of the interval.
Thanks Lee. I think I understand. I understood the reference to 7ths and 10ths; it was the 1&3 and 2&4 that was confusing to me. Your example describes quite a span to play both notes. Now I understand Chris' point.
I think its important to be able to play 10ths in tune with either 1st or 2nd finger on the bottom, to have flexibility regarding where you're coming from and going. I would also use 1st finger for both notes of a minor 10th in some circumstances
I think 10ths are among the most beautiful sounds a double bass makes, when you get both notes singing and in tune there's nothing better!
I think 10ths are among the most beautiful sounds a double bass makes, when you get both notes singing and in tune there's nothing better!
You are welcome!
If it is more comfortable, then it is not weird.
There are far too much dogmatic views about how to do things on bass. What works (for you), works. What sounds good (to you), sounds good.
If you use the bass as a chordal instrument, it is totally obvious, to use fingerings like a guitarist or viola da gamba player would do. At the same time, it is not advisable, to use guitar fingerings for passages that use the bass as a melody instrument, especially, if you are striving for a bel canto like sound.
2nd and 3rd finger work very well together. You just should expect 2nd, 3rd and 4th finger to work together as well as 1st, 2nd and 4th. 2nd and 3rd works great for all kinds of parallel fingerings, you just have to rotate your wrist a little bit. Also try it for fourths across two strings and minor sevenths across three strings.
Major sevenths and tenths I usually do 1-3 or 2-4 (I think I prefer 2-4), minor sevenths and tenths I usually do 2-3; sometimes you can get away with 1-2 for major and 1-2 or 2-4 for minor, but they’re not my first choices since they’re a bit more awkward (although like most fingerings, sometimes “bad”/“weird” fingerings are the best option for a particular musical context or sound).
For minor 10ths I prefer to bar with the index finger. For major 10ths I default to 1 and 2. This goes for DB and BG. The music may force other combinations; I find the result is degraded accuracy.
For DB I use Simandl finger. For BG I used one finger per fret.
For DB I use Simandl finger. For BG I used one finger per fret.
John Goldsby
Supporting Member
- Mar 4, 2003
- 1,172
- 2,160
- Disclosures
- Bassist @ WDR Big Band Cologne, Discover Double Bass, Conservatorium Maastricht, NL
Here’s a “double-stop” blues etude I did for Discover Double Bass. There are lots and lots of double-stops here, including major- and minor-tenths. I use 1 & 3, and also 2 & 4 fingerings for the M10th intervals. For the minor 10ths, I use a bar with the first finger — for example playing both the A on the E string and the C on the G string. (Disclaimer: I also might use 1 & 3 or 2 & 3 for a m 10th depending on the situation).
You can download the free transcription from the link in the description if you want to dig deeper
Goldsby—Double-Stop Blues Etude—Discover Double Bass
You can download the free transcription from the link in the description if you want to dig deeper
Goldsby—Double-Stop Blues Etude—Discover Double Bass
Last edited:
Not 10ths, but similar type of double stop excersises that strenghten and precise the hand can be also found in Frantisek Cerny technical studies book. To be played with the bow. See attached.
