Double Bass Low Register Chops

[brianh]

I'm mainly a jazz bassist but I practice a ton with he bow. Since I'm not an "orchestral" bassist and have never really been on that path, my classical teachers have always had me working on Bach and the solo rep. I'm starting to notice that I'm weaker in the lower register of the bass and obviously would like to change that.

I've been doing lots of scale exercises which help but is there anyone whose been through the ranks and can suggest some good etudes, exercies, pieces, or even excerpts that will focus specifically on the low register and building chops down there. I'm not really interested in building my audition rep, but won't shy away from it if it will help my technique either. I'm also way more concerned with the left hand, so anything with an untra complicated bowing would probably be besides the point.

Thanks,
bh

 

[mcnaire2004]

If you don't care for auditions or standard rep, nothing beats Simandl.

*** Warning *** You may get bored out of your brains.

 

[quenoil]

Well, I think the first volume of the Rabbath New Technique will be great for you - the etudes will work you hard, but they're also beautiful and will not bore you.

Also, of course, many orchestral excerpts will fill the bill: Beethoven 5 trio, Mozart 39 mvt 4 (well, mvts 1 and 4 of most of the late Mozart symphonies), Brahms 1 and 2...