O492 - New Method for the Double Bass (English and Japanese Text) - Book 1 - Simandl

By F. Simandl

This edition of the highly acclaimed method features extensive editorial notes by Lucas Drew, in both English and Japanese. An indispensable resource for students of the bass. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0825801524
• ISBN13: 9780825801525
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: CARL FISCHER MUSIC DISTRIBUTOR
• Length: 149 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 12.3" x 0.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Must have!

Every bass player needs this book! I have used it for years with my students.

Useful for Electric Bass too...

I am working through a couple of books to learn electric bass. This is one of them and I am finding it very helpful. It's true that the explanations of finger and hand positions are rudimentary, certainly for upright bass where it is more critical (there being no frets and the strings are thicker.) The strength of this work, for me, is in the thorough grounding in reading and also in the emphasis that the melodic, classical exercises puts on the quality of individual notes. This can be overlooked if you jump in and start with fast rock bass lines. The exercises here give the hands a chance to develop. I set my effects box to fretless sometimes, to emphasise the classical sound. I was also intrigued by the various fingering patterns used. For example, playing a one octave scale on just two strings. Simandl uses classical bass fingering ie fingers 1,2 and 4, with 3 supporting 4 up to the 12th fret. He also names the positions in a classical way eg 3rd position is at the 5th fret. As the patterns of the various keys become clearer so does the justification for this method. Finally, I appreciate the entry into the world of 19th century classical music and the 'new' sounds it presents. Combine this method with say, Ed Friedland's books or other modern styles and you will have a thorough grasp of this sensual instrument.

The essential double bass book for many years.

This book is the essential bass study book. Every serious bassist I know has worked out of it, and all good teachers use it. There have been some advances since Simandl first published it, but for purposes of building a solid foundation, this is the way to go. I used it when I studied bass, and I use it now in my teaching at Vancouver Community College. It also is useful for electric bass. -LM

Not just for Double Bass - A MUST for Electric as well!

I had played electric bass for 8 years when I started work on my Master's degree. My professor required that I go out and buy this book. It was the best thing that EVER happened to my playing. This book changed my technique for the better in ways I can't begin to describe. I was finally doing things the right way AND for the right reasons. My left hand became a machine rather than just a tool after using this book for just a few months. I now use this book when I'm teaching my own students. ALL ages and experience levels need to check this book and method out. You won't be sorry!

This isn't the kind of book you read... you live it to learn

A basic study for double bass technique.. It is a book the double bassist should not pass up. The method systematicaly approaches bass technique from the first note - open strigs through Major and minor scales arpegios fingerings, bow exercises, up to VIIth position. Many of the etudes are very melodic and I've enjoyed coming back to the studies after putting the book down for 25 years. The second half of the book is full of classical excerpts.. and there is plenty of material to work with. As F. Simandl says at the begginning of Book II "In cultivating a technique for concert-playing the thumb positins constitues one of the most important features, for only by this means it is possible to raise the double-bass to the rank of a concert-instrument." F. doesn't really write much in the either book but what he does write is usefull consice and ... really ...... when it comes down to writing a etude method... all of the work really has to come from the reader.. Its an active sport... Great useful book on double bass method...don't miss it.. a Must for the double bass student/professional.