I got the following question from podcast listener Josh Zimmer a few weeks ago, and I passed it along to our podcast community group. Nearly 60 comments came in over the next couple of days. I love this topic, and I decided to go through and organize the responses...
The world of double bass technique is constantly shifting as we discover new ways to tackle this large and noble instrument. As strings, setup, and instrument construction have made playability easier, new thumb position opportunities have opened up for bass players....
Every time I’d grab my bow on a jazz gig, I’d cringe. My swing would suddenly get awkward. I could never figure out how many notes to put in a bow. My vibrato felt forced and unnatural. My sense of pulse went out the window. As a result, I’d pick up my bow less and...
I’ve always considered myself an amateur-level jazz bassist. Even though I played in various jazz ensembles through high school and college, I never did much gigging beyond that, and I’ve never spent much time developing my skills in this genre. As a bass teacher,...
As a longtime French bow player, the specifics of German bow have always been a bit mysterious to me. While there’s much more in common with both French and German bow holds and mechanics, the nuances of truly sophisticated German bow playing have always been a bit...
