Switching to the Double Bass: Chapter 5 - 5th and 6th Positions, 2 Octave Scales

Let’s get started with the upper neck positions!

Now is a good time to point out that the position system that we’ve been referring to are called Simandl Positions - they were identified and developed by Franz Simandl in his method book New Method for the Double Bass (pub. Carl Fischer, 1904), aka “The Red Book.” This system is great because it clearly identifies hand placements from the nut to the octave harmonic.

There is another system that Jason Heath briefly mentioned in a video called the Rabbath and Vance Methods (1979 and 2000). In this system, the positions are identified by harmonic sections of the bass. Refer to the comparison chart below (Walker, 2008).

Now, let’s learn the 2 octave G and F major scales, and convert our existing 1 octave D major scale into one that can be played on just the D string!

Take what you know about Half through 6th positions, and the scales you’ve learned along the way, and apply them to this bossa nova.

Reflection Questions:

  1. What positions did you utilize in this song?

  2. Were any passages more adaptable for pivot positions?

  3. Did the fact that this is exclusively pizzicato (with a jazz pizz.) change your left hand fingerings at all?

When you’re ready, click the button below to go to the next lesson!