Double Bass Q on practicing

[Andy Mopley]

Lately, I've been trying to concentrate on Beethoven's 9 recitative, trying to fix some pitching issues. As an amateur bassist, I can only afford to spend limited time on this so my question is by practising only this piece am I doing the right thing (until I get it right) OR am I better off practising specific pitch exercises that will help me later?

Thanks for reading!

 

[neilG]

I think the recit qualifies as a pitch specific exercise. Notes is notes. As long as your hand-position structure is clear in your mind, it doesn't matter if you play scales or actual music. You can always relate back to "pitch specific" exercises like scales, arpeggios and double stops if you need to clarify some move in the music that isn't quite making sense.

 

[Andy Mopley]

Thanks NeilG, makes sense...

 

[coldtrain]

Play it on piano or guitar, bass guitar, whatever. Get the notes and rhythm firmly planted in your head, then go back to the bass and hear each note before you play it. I've done this on a few different excerpts where I just wasn't getting it, and it helped a lot.

There's also the Amazing Slow Downer so if you can record yourself on something like piano you can then play along with it slowed down using the app.

Also, once you have a fingering keep it consistent.