Bass Etudes
Some etudes are pure exercise. Some are musical examples with specific technical objectives such as bowings, shifting, and fingerings within a movement or excerpt of a movement from a Bach 'Cello Suite.
Everything has alternate possibilities. All text comments are suggestions. Many of my students follow the suggested guidelines for a few hours of practice. We then decide to either continue within those parameters, or explore alternatives. Ultimately, most of the material is fully fleshed-out when the practicing has included thorough exploration of alternative fingerings and shifting. In time, careful teaching and investigative practice should guide players to personalize fingering and shifting solutions. Nothing herein is intended as the sole definitive "how to."
NEW! Four Parts Descending Diatonically: Step, 6th, Step
NEW! Sarabande from Suite 5 trans to e min
1 octave major scale fingerings.pdf
2 octave scales and arpeggios E, F, G flat major.pdf
Scales 1 octave, 2 strings.pdf
Scales 1 octave, 1 string.pdf
scales low e up to 6th position wo fingering.pdf
High through Low Register Leaps 1, Descending.pdf
Middle and Low Register Leaps 1.pdf
Perfect 4ths and 5ths in Modern Improvisation.pdf
Violoncello Suite #2 Minuet #1.pdf
Middle and Low Register Leaps 1.pdf
1 octave major scale fingerings.pdf
Simple Groove Studies (Electric Bass and Double Bass)
Walking Bass, 1 chorus of Bb Blues, #1
Walking Bass, 1 chorus of Bb Blues, #2
Walking Bass, 1 chorus of Bb Blues, #3
Additional studies in groove are located on the Odd Meter Fluency page.