The Lowdown with Dr. D Page 3
Left Hand Dexterity Drills on Three and Four Strings
After mastering the exercises on one and two strings, you will be ready to challenge yourself with some three-string exercise, like the ones below. Some Notes: These exercises can be done pizzicato or arco. If done pizzicato, I suggest beginning each pattern using the second finger of your right hand, followed by the first (i.e.... »
Left Hand Dexterity Drills on Two Strings
After you feel comfortable with the single string exercises from last time you may want to challenge yourself a bit more with the two string exercises below. Two String Left Hand Dexterity Drill Notes: These exercises can be done pizzicato or arco. If done pizzicato, I suggest beginning each pattern using the second finger of... »
Single Position Left Hand Dexterity Drills for Bassists
Although scales, arpeggios and repertory are necessary for any musician’s development, etudes and exercises such as the ones below should also be part of any instrumentalist’s diet. Such exercises allow us to focus on a single aspect of technique. Single task left hand drills are essential if we desire to have true dexterity in the... »
Thumb Position: Major Scale Fingering for Bass
There are a multitude of fingerings for any particular scale, and no single fingering is appropriate for every situation. In fact, the most effective fingering for any specific passage will be related to musical issues, not technical ones. Some scale fingerings, however, prove to be useful in a great many situations and are worth having... »
Strategies for Better Intonation
If you are an upright bassist, then intonation is on your mind. I’ve talked in the past about using drones to help solidify intonation, but this is just one of seemingly innumerable strategies to improve pitch. Today we’ll touch on a few other approaches. You can do all of these exercises with music you are... »
Bass Strings: Tips for Finding the Right Sound
This week’s column comes thanks to a question from Maria G. Maria asks: I’m a pretty new player, but I’m not happy with my upright bass strings. I know I need something different, but there are so many different kinds of strings out there I don’t know where to start. They are also expensive (!)... »
Audition and Performance Preparation: Recording Yourself
One very enlightening way to prepare for an audition or performance is to record yourself prior stepping on the stage, or into the audition room. Expensive equipment is not required to gain benefit from recording yourself. Although better recording equipment means you can listen back in greater detail, the fact is that free recording software... »
Bass Technique: Shifting and the Feeling of Lightness
Accurate shifting is extremely important on an upright bass. It may even be the one technique we use the most often. Most other string instruments can play a few two-octave scales without shifting, while we can play a grand total of zero, even if we “pivot.” Despite how often we must execute flawless shift, for... »
Better Soloing: An Introduction to Key Center Improvising
There are many methods we can use to come upon satisfying note choices when improvising over a predetermined set of chord changes (i.e. a tune). One common way to approach note choice is using chord/scale theory, equating every chord to a scale. For example: A minor 7 = A dorian. It’s this approach that has... »
In the Studio: Part 3 – Aural Communication
Today, we continue where we left off in this “In the Studio” column series. Be sure to check out part one and two of this series. Mixes In my experience, (unless you are all in the same room and not using headphones) it is extremely beneficial for each musician in the studio have their own... »
Fabienne Gilbert: Come On Come Over 
Eric Avery Quits Nine Inch Nails 
Mr. DanZ: Proto Cosmos 
Bass of the Week: KR Guitars Ursa 
The Bass Solo: A Guide to Soloing More Freely 
Tom Pesch and his Ric: Rush Play-Along 
Capturing Your Ideas: Transform Your Musical Inspiration into Reality 
Andrea Lombardini: By This River 
James Brown: Brother Rapp (1971) 
Funk Bros: Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart 
Franck Hermanny: Jump Start 
