Customer Reviews

New Method for the Double Bass/Book 1 (English and Japanese Text) (English and Japanese Edition)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There's so much technique in this book, it's a must for anyone who wants to learn the doublebass. It's a little dry and there are no melodies (reason for 4 stars rather than 5 stars) so I also got the book "The ABCs of Bass for the Developing Student" Book 2, which went "Beyond My Expectations." It has 57 melodies and much more. You can read my review dated 10/16/05. It matches this Simandl book really well. I recommend getting both books!

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.

An excellent book for non-beginners: you have to be able to read notes and rhythm, and you should be able to hear when you're playing out of tune. In that case, it's a very good book that will take you to a higher level of playing in no time. Even for the more experienced player's it's worth having this book, either for relearning the basics or for teaching.

Little downsides are that the excercises don't sound very musical, and the fact that the level increases quite quickly (which i personally quite like, but could be a problem for some people).

Overall, i'm very happy having this book.

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

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!

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

It is basically the text book for learning double bass and many, if not all, instructors for the double bass will use this book with all new students, no matter the age of the student.

It is a great book full of bass music and a little, simple instruction.

I am a professional, educated musician that plays seven instruments. I really needed something to teach me the particulars of this instrument. This book is not what I really needed, it only has a few pages about technique and practical information. But it is a good practice guide if you have a teacher that will go over those fine details with you.

This is the book that most every double bass player starts with. This is not my favorite edition though. I like the Stuart Sankey International Music Company edition (light blue cover) edition much better. You can avoid all the Japanese translation, better cover, and it lays much better on the stand. It seems to be more readily available at many suppliers recently.

A classic and encyclopedic method for playing the double bass used by bassists universally. A must for serious bassists from middle school through college which can be followed by Book 2 (thumb position and etc.) for double bass majors or conservatory students. Originally written by F. Simandl (Author); compiled by Fredrick Zimmermann, New York Philharmonic assistant-principal and principal (1930-1966) who taught at the Juilliard School, Mannes College of Music, Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music, and New York University (Editor); and updated by Zimmermann's student and Professor Emeritus at the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Principal Double Bass Emeritus of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra Lucas Drew, who composed, edited and published many works for double bass (Editor). I also recommend exploring publications by pianist and Juilliard-trained double bassist PhD Mark Morton that add useful musical pharase concepts and open hand techniques to the classic Simandl fingering concepts.