Double Bass Intermediate solo pieces needed

[JayR]

Regarding the third suite bourrees, the notes themselves may be not too difficult to technically execute, but those damn things require a LOT of work to sound good. I mean, I played the first mvt of the dragonetti at gary karr tempo for my audition at UCLA, and the bourrees from the third suite, and while the dragonetti looks a lot harder on paper, I must have spent twice as much practice time on the bach because it's easy to make them sound okay but very very difficult to make them sound GOOD. All the big flashy stuff in the dragonetti only requires that you play the notes with good tone and respect the dynamics. You know what I'm saying? I mean, with regards to the suites, I'm gonna argue that some of the "harder" movements of the third suite are actually easier to execute well than the bourrees. I mean, the gigue to that suite is two pages of flashy runs and crazy string crossings, but I still find the bourrees more difficult to play well simply because you have to make each and every note count. Just my thought on the matter.

 

[jgbass]

Have you considered any of George Vance's books, and maybe his camp with Rabbath?

That would be a very supportive thing for someone who just started. A good foundatoin goes a long way.

George Vance has three beginner types of books that I have used. I actually started playing with Simandl, but, after I started studying with my current teacher, she suggested I go back and start with the Vance books.

The first George Vance book is totally appropriate for a beginner. Things I like about this approach is that recognizable songs are used and Francois Rabbath plays them, often with piano accompaniment on the CD that is part of the package. One starts playing songs from the get go. One also gets into the concept of thumb position almost from the beginning.

Working through these books with a good teacher has made a great, positive difference in my playing and I am glad to have studied the books.

Now, I am working with Francois Rabbath's Second Book. The Vance books are preparation for his books. I also had the honor of studying with him at a bass camp this last fall in Tucson, AZ. I do not think Rabbath is the person you would want to study with if you were at the beginning stages of playing. He is probably one of the top players in the world, English is not his first language, and he was sometimes way too advanced for this intermediate player, but the George Vance books entitled Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass, Volumes I, II and III have made a positive difference in my bass playing. The book are intended for "younger" students, but they work fine with adults as well.