Double Bass Student Resources

We have a tremendous amount of informative, interactive, and downloadable resources for double bass students here at doublebassblog.org. If you are having trouble locating a specific resource, or if you would like to suggest a new resource for the blog, please e-mail us at jasonheath@doublebassblog.org or fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page. A list of complete double bass blog resources is available at doublebassblog.org/features.

Articles for Students

These articles focus on educational issues and information for double bass instructors. A complete list of available articles is available at doublebassblog.org/articles.

Auditions

Want to find out the latest double bass auditions, news about recent winners, and more? Just visit our audition index to learn more.

Audition Requirements

Get the skinny on what material is required for auditions at various major music schools, and add to the body of knowledge by leaving additional information here!

Collaborators

We have a diverse set of excellent collaborators contributing content to doublebassblog.org. This page features biographical information for our writers and a link to all of their contributions.

Double Bass Interviews

Check out our constantly evolving archive of double bass audio interviews with luminaries from all musical genres. Once on this page, individual guests may be selected (each is pictured next to their name and occupation). We add to this archive on a weekly basis, so check back frequently for more content!
Take me to the archive >>

Selected Interviews:

Double Bass Performances

Visit our Contrabass Conversations archive for weekly performances from double bassists across the globe! Classical, jazz, bluegrass, and electric bassists are all featured, and available offerings may be searched by guest or keyword.
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Double Bass Posts

Want to look at just bass-related content? Just click here!

Double Bass Videos

Listing of all videos available on DoubleBassBlog.org.

Double Bass Video Lessons

We have several multi-part video lessons available. These may be viewed online or can be downloaded. Links are available to download each individual video (viewable on your computer, iPod, or other portable media device), and all available videos can be downloaded automatically by subscribing to our Contrabass Conversations feed.
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Crazy Gig Stories

Would you like to know what life is really like as a professional musician? We’re constantly turning out new stories about the wacky things that we musicians run into on a daily basis. Ever have a car explode while coming home from a gig? Ever have a plane taken over by the musicians? It’s happened, and it’s covered here.

Contrabass Conversations

Weekly audio and video episodes featuring interviews, performances, virtual lessons, crazy gig stories, and much more.

Downloads

Click here to visit the DBB.org download archive and pick up hundreds of PDFs, MP3s, and other resources.

Links for Students

General Bass Sites:

International Society of Bassists
Talkbass
MostlyBass
Bass Club Chicago
Lemur Music
American School of Double Bass
Bob’s House of Basses
Bob Gollihur’s Double Bass Links Page
Double Bass and Violone Internet Archive
Polyphonic.org
The Online Double Bass Guide
Harmony Central Bass Resources (great for electric bass)
The Double Bass Page (UK)
DaXun Zhang’s Website
Sigi Busch’s Website
Gary Karr’s Website
Encyclopedia of Bass Logic
The Online Journal of Bass Research
Bottesini.com
Rufus Reid Homepage

Staff Paper:

click here to download some staff paper (free PDF download)

Rosin:

Pop’s Bass Rosin (fresh!)
Oak Bass Rosin

Wheels:

Gaines Bass Wheel
Bob’s Bass Buggy

Stools:

Concert Design Bass Stools

Cases (soft):

Professional-Quality Soft Bass Cases
Bob’s Bass Bag
Mooradian Deluxe
Soundwear
Reunion Blues (very expensive, but the best)

Cases (hard):

SBS flight case

Misc. Gear:

Bass Bib
Humidifier (Dampit)
mute
practice mute
string winding crank
bow quiver

Strings:

Bob’s House of Basses – check my string article for advice on what to choose

Pickups:

Bob’s House of Basses has a very comprehensive listing

Music Publishers for Bass:

Discordia Music
Slava Publishing (Progressive Repertoire by George Vance)
Liben Music
BassPlace.com online distributor
Thomas B. Gale publications
Aebersold Bass Publications – jazz

Career Websites for Performers:

MyAuditions
Musical Chairs
American Federation of Musicians

Summer Festivals to audition for:

Aspen Music Festival
Tanglewood Music Festival
National Repertory Orchestra
National Orchestral Institute
Pacific Music Festival
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
American School of Double Bass
Brevard Music Center
Sewanee Music Festival
Birch Creek Music Performance Center
Hot Springs Music Festival
MYA Summer Music Festival
Interlochen
Bradetich Master Classes
Karr Kamp
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Pine Mountain Music Festival
National High School Music Institute
Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI)
Crane Youth Music Camp
Sarasota Music Festival
Youth Orchestra of the Americas
Frenchwoods Festival of the Performing Arts

Free Scores:

Neue Mozart-Ausgabe: Digitized Version This site provides a complete and freely accessible and downloadable catalog of the same source material used in the Bärenreiter edition of Mozart’s works.

The NMA Mozart project places restrictions on the use of material on the site, making you click through a license agreement that restricts you to personal use (not public performance use).


Practice Tools:

Audacity – a great FREE sound recording and multi-track editing program
Classicalmusicarchives.com (comprehensive MIDI orchestral repertoire)
Violinmasterclass.com – an excellent educational resource for all string players with videos, practice charts, and more
MusicTheory.net – great online music theory compendium
Online Ear Training
Practicespot.com – great site filled with practice tools, games, downloads, exercises, articles, etc.
Getting the Most Out of Your Practice Session (Bill Koehler)
Inner Game of Music
MIDI Library for Solo Bass
more solo bass MIDI
more MIDI files
MIDI World
Hans Sturm’s Double Bass Audition Resources (audio and text bass resources)
Finale Notepad (basic free version of Finale)
Electric Bass Downloads Page
Douglas Yeo Trombone Home Page
(not a bass page, but full of valuable career and practice info.)
FlexiMusic (offers a set of great music software, including FlexiMusic Wave Editor, Generator, Composer, Orchestra, Composer, and Kids Composer)

Orchestral Audition Audio Study Guides

Listen to and follow along with double bassist John Grillo as he takes listeners through the standard orchestral audition repertoire for the double bass. Includes both audio double bass excerpts and dialogue.
Take me to the study guide >>

Opera Audition Audio Study Guides

Listen to and follow along with double bassist John Grillo as he takes listeners through the standard opera audition repertoire for the double bass. Includes both audio double bass excerpts and dialogue.
Take me to the study guide >>

Practicing Resources

Hundreds of MP3s are available to work with online or download for student practicing. This page also features a list of useful online tools for practicing and musical development.

Podcasts

Learn more about the double bass and hear great interviews and performances from leaders in the field through the Contrabass Conversations audio and video podcast series!

Recitals and Performances

We offer an ever-expanding set of full-length performances of double bass solo and chamber repertoire. This page lists our current offerings. You can find many more live performances in the Contrabass Conversations archives, and feel free to submit a piece or suggest a feature through the form at the bottom of this page.

Luthier Directory

Our list of shops that sell, repair, or construct double basses and related gear. View our listings or add your own for free!

Virtual Master Class Project

Submit your own tracks anonymously for evaluation from the community. You do not need to be a bass player to participate!

To get in touch, email jasonheath -at- doublebassblog.org.

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