Every week I send out emails where I break down the mistakes that are stalling your progress on the double bass. They're so obvious they sound silly, but they're so common you might be making them every single day — without knowing it.
How to Build Left-Hand Strength on the Double Bass
In this email you’ll find a really important tip for improving your legato and getting more strength in your left hand.
Here’s the thing. The left hand in a C shape means power. It’s a famous line from the great Gary Karr, but he’s not the only one who says it.
In fact, every great bass player who teaches or has videos out there mentions it at some point.
A few days ago, watching a masterclass by Thomas Martin —if you just landed on this planet and don’t know who he is, well… he’s a legend of the double bass—.
Anyway, he says the best way to strengthen the left hand is with patterns.
Not scales. Patterns, you know?
Those exercises where you repeat a pattern in every position. For example: 1-2-4-1, move up a half step, 1-2-4-1, move again… and so on, going up by half steps.
And there are two ways to get something out of them:
- Play with separate bows, down-up on each note.
- Play the whole pattern slurred, one bow per pattern.
With the first one you work on coordination, which is great.
With the second one you work on strength, which is much better. At least right now, right in the month where we’re focusing on legato.
And yes, a strong left hand is essential for a good legato. Even the quietest pianos require a left hand pressing down very firmly.
Once, rehearsing for the Lucerne Festival, maestro Claudio Abbado told us:
“This piano should be thought of as a forte. A huge forte being played very, very far away.”
Anyway, that’s a whole other newsletter.
So: patterns, slurred, and let all the articulation come from the left hand.
Have you tried it? Almost every method book has them. You just have to try it slurred.
Un abrazo,
Emilse
P.S. Not on my newsletter yet? Sign up here. It’s free to get in, and just as free to get out.
P.S. 2: When you sign up you get a welcome email with a video. It’s an exercise where I explain one concept that’s going to change the way you produce sound. The video runs 4:04 and you almost certainly know the exercise — there isn’t a bass player alive who hasn’t practiced it. But 90% do it wrong, HA! Hardly anyone knows where that movement actually comes from. You won’t be in that 90% though. Not you. Not after you watch the video. You’ll have to let me know.