Double Bass Practing and key changes

[Andy Mopley]

Hi all

I am spending a bit more time of my practice routine on scales. I have limited practice time, so I've been spending part of this time running through all major scales (circle of 5ths) one day as a straight scale, one in thirds, one day in fourths and so on. My primary objective is to improve my ability to hear/play in tune, so the scales are supplementing other exercises (etudes, vomit etc.).
My question is: is there more value in staying in the same key for a few days / or 1 week even - or running through the cycle, daily, is just as effective?

Regards to all

 

[PaulCannon]

I think it’s good to have some variety in your routine. Think deeply and specifically about what you’re trying to accomplish with your practice. Cycling through all the keys serves a different set of purposes from focusing on just one for a longer time.

You could easily spend your whole life on one key and never exactly finish the work. There are literally hundreds of fingering patterns for a three octaves scale, and a virtually infinite number of bowings in combination. That’s the whole point of Rabbath book 3.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

Hi all

I am spending a bit more time of my practice routine on scales. I have limited practice time, so I've been spending part of this time running through all major scales (circle of 5ths) one day as a straight scale, one in thirds, one day in fourths and so on. My primary objective is to improve my ability to hear/play in tune, so the scales are supplementing other exercises (etudes, vomit etc.).
My question is: is there more value in staying in the same key for a few days / or 1 week even - or running through the cycle, daily, is just as effective?

Regards to all

Probably, the best thing is to focus on one key for a while, but switch to different keys for short periods often. That will make sure you're brain and ears are constantly working to keep up.

Backed up with science:

Why You're Not Making Progress On Your Instrument... and How To Fix It

 

[Andy Mopley]

Thanks Fredrik - indeed, is there is one thing I would suggest to any future method book writer would be to include more etudes / study in the same key, rather than only a few examples. But this is the lazy way out. What I should do is transpose the etudes, really

 

[neilG]

Thanks Fredrik - indeed, is there is one thing I would suggest to any future method book writer would be to include more etudes / study in the same key, rather than only a few examples.

A good idea. Then we could deal with 10 volume method books. But, as a digital book, that would be easy enough to do.

 

[Andy Mopley]

A good idea. Then we could deal with 10 volume method books. But, as a digital book, that would be easy enough to do.

And that's exactly what've been doing, Neil - cutting and pasting exercise from different methods that are in the same key - and combining into one digital file. I take your point, though, impractical in the "old" days.