If you’ve ever felt stuck with the instrument, and you’re the kind of person who thinks “oh nooo, not again” every time you see a treble clef on the page,this program is for you.
The truth is, it’s two programs. One shows you the way, and the other keeps you in shape.
The first, “Fingerboard: from position 1 to thumb, No fear!”: you get to know the whole fingerboard by playing real pieces with piano accompaniment from level one.
The second is my complete scales program, which I love calling “All the scales (without getting bored).”
In this story I’ll tell you why they go together and why you need both:
A while ago, one of my students let me know, a few hours before his lesson, that he wanted to record it.
His parents had made a decision: no music until his grades improved. No lessons, no orchestra, no double bass. That was going to be his last lesson for who knew how long.
I spent the whole morning thinking about what to give him in one hour. I had never been so angry and sad, and at the same time so eager to hold someone up.
Putting myself in his shoes stirred up too many emotions.
I didn’t want to overwhelm him with information, so I decided to give him time to simply enjoy: we finished his piece (we’d spent a couple of months on Koussevitzky’s “Chanson triste”) and he played it as if it were a recital.
At the end, I left him a summary of everything he had achieved during our time together: technique, scales, pieces. In one year he was already playing with ease and had joined a youth orchestra.
That way he’d have not just a guide to come back to, but the motivation of remembering something he already knew, not learning it for the first time. It’s different.
That afternoon I kept thinking: why don’t I have something like this for everyone? A complete, organized guide anyone can come back to — after a break, after a year, after whatever.
Honestly, it took me many months. Between students and orchestra, it was quite a challenge. But today I’m very happy to bring you this intensive program.
This guide is perfect if you’re getting to know the instrument from a beginner level or coming back after a break — you can always return to it. And if a question comes up along the way, it’s welcome: in the virtual classroom you’ll find a forum to ask your questions, and I’m with you through the process.
It’s designed so you learn to move across the fingerboard fluently, from first position to thumb, in record time.
Like everything in life, consistency will determine your progress — but from my side, I’m giving you all the resources you need to play fluently across the whole instrument in a few months.
And yes, thumb position too!
I find the collective fear of this position really funny. I’ll tell you very honestly: everything is easier in that register.
You don’t need to be afraid of thumb position. Be afraid of bathtubs — those are what should scare you. But that’s another story…
The thing is, the newer double bass teaching methods focus on starting there. I don’t want to bore you with details: my goal with this course is for you to enjoy every step. That’s why, in every region of the fingerboard, you’ll have a piece with piano accompaniment to play and put the technique into practice.
It’s designed so you don’t stay stuck for years looking at technique books. You can look at them, if that makes you happy, while you play in orchestras and ensembles and enjoy your instrument.
Inside this intensive double bass program you’ll find:
- A basic exercise that, by playing just 3 scales, helps you remember the notes of the whole low register of the double bass.
- Another version of the same exercise that helps you remember the notes of the whole low and middle register, playing just 4 scales. With this, you can already recognize everything up to thumb position. Simple.
- An articulation exercise that helps you understand the shape of the hand in thumb position. It’s not always the same; here you’ll understand why.
- Welcome to the treble clef: we enter the dreaded position. And how do you place the thumb? There are two ways: depending on whether you’re a superhero or not, one or the other will work for you.
- Can you use markers on the fingerboard as a reference? At first, yes, and here I explain why.
- We’ll work on pieces with piano accompaniment in every region of the fingerboard: Mahler, Marcello, and Handel. Making music from the start is the best way to develop your melodic ear.
- The piano accompaniments come in 3 speeds, so you can move at your own pace. No excuses.
- I answer your questions in the forum: this is a program that does come with ongoing, personal support.
And then, once you know your way around the fingerboard, the second program comes in: “All the scales (without getting bored).”
Scales. Many people hate them. We all need them.
I’m sure it’s happened to you: not knowing how the next note should sound, feeling you don’t have the strength to hold the position, not being able to coordinate the bow changing at the same time as the left hand, not understanding the metronome’s beat.
If you’re one of those people who thinks “if I listen to the metronome, I get lost!”, relax, we’ll sort it out. The goal is to develop inner rhythm and a harmonic ear little by little, without getting bored (there’s a reason the program has that name).
And what’s the fun part? The piano accompaniment. The piano in the background develops your melodic ear every day: you stop depending on the tuner, and you have an automatic metronome marking every beat for you.
HER-MO-SO.
The truth is, we all need to practice scales — all of us, whatever our level. And with piano, it’s so much more fun.
You can do it. All you need is consistency and the right guide.
This program is for you if:
- You’ve spent months — or years — in the same position without moving forward.
- You want to join an orchestra or ensemble, but you can’t move fluently across the fingerboard.
- You’re a jazz musician who doesn’t know thumb position, but you want to try solos and melodies that bring something different.
- You’ve come back from a break and don’t know where to pick up.
- Thumb position feels like a distant, slightly intimidating territory.
- You want to stay active on the double bass, with a clear guide.
This program is NOT for you if:
- You don’t know the basics of the instrument yet: how to stand, how to hold it, and how to keep good posture. If that’s you, I recommend my program “Double bass from scratch”: that’s where you’ll build solid foundations.
- You can’t read music: you’ll need a minimum of reading skills for the pieces and exercises.
- You don’t have time to dedicate to it. It’s an intensive course, but not a magic one: it requires a minimum investment of time. Remember, consistency is everything.
You don’t need to have studied at a conservatory. You don’t need to practice 8 hours a day. All you need is consistency — and the drive to move forward with the instrument.
You’re free to move at your own pace. I’m here to support you through the process.
What’s included
Fingerboard
Price
€240
Access to both programs is €240.
- “Fingerboard: from position 1 to thumb, No fear!”, complete.
- “All the scales (without getting bored)”, complete.
- Pieces and scales with piano accompaniment at 3 speeds.
- A forum for your questions: I answer them myself.
- The access is yours, no expiration, 24/7.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an advanced level to join?
No. You need to know the basics of the instrument (if you’re starting from absolute zero, my course “Double bass from scratch” is the step before). From there, this guide takes you progressively all the way to thumb position.
Is it really two courses?
Yes. “Fingerboard” and “All the scales (without getting bored)”, complete, both in your virtual classroom from day one. I decided not to split them because one teaches you to move around the instrument and the other keeps you in shape. They need each other.
How long do I have access?
The access is yours, no expiration, 24/7. You can come back to the guide after a break, after a year, after whatever. That’s what I made it for.
How does the support work?
Through the forum inside the virtual classroom: you ask your questions and I answer them. And if you feel brave enough to send me a video of yourself playing, you’re welcome to — I review those too.
Do I need a pianist?
No. All the accompaniments are recorded: you download them or play them from the classroom and play along.
Do I need to read music?
Yes, the basics. Each scale and piece comes with its PDF for your music stand, a reference video where I play it, and the piano audio.
How much time do I need per week?
Half an hour a day, on the days you can. Consistency does the rest.
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