Beginner Melodic Music?

[aonindy]

Hi all,

while Simandal is great for working through and getting the positions
worked out etc, I am being a bit driven around the bend with the lack of...
well melody in the stuff. I fully appreciate the aim of the book and will
continue to work though it (slowly) but am wondering if anyone has
recommendations for a beginners based DB book that one could plod through
and play some interesting snippits / semi-recognisable melodies etc?

Thanks all.

Allen.

[i]ps: I recently upgraded my Shen all ply instrument to a solid "Christopher" model
setup by Tom Barrett (Galway, Ireland) ... what an amazing differance in the sound!
... will throw up a few pics as soon as I have a camera handy.[/i]

[Mike]

Hey Allen. Ive been thinking exactly the same thing recently! So I looked at what was out there and [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004XPG1P6/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0825833272&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1DQEVF3KHRHHK5ZRXMVP"]THIS[/url] was out there - the Vance method for double bass. A few different books, but gets you playing melodies right away and all over the fingerboard too, even thumb position rather then the Simandl way.

I haven't seen the books yet so can't review you them for you but I should be getting them soon.

One book I got recently that is just jazz melodies with fingerings is [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazz-Bass-Top-Left-Hand-Technique/dp/1423489535"]Jazz bass on top by Andy McKee[/url]. Starts with easy melodies and moves on up. Great stuff!

Good luck and let me know if you find anything good!

[Hector]

Can recommend both of those, although only the latter though personal experience. Would also recommend looking at Billè's Nuovo Methodo - I've used the etudes in there for years, since they're pleasant on the ear and progress in difficulty nicely. I have volumes 1&2, I think, and while they're both useful, I'm not sure which volume has the etudes in. I'm working today (exam on weds and my brain doesn't have anything except neuroscience in it, so sorry for being hazy with the details), but will have a check and update you this eve.

[Major-Minor]

Keith Hartley has published a couple of books of solo bass tunes which I've used with some of my students. Excellent material to work with, all well known tunes transcribed for solo bass.

[url="http://www.doublebass-solo.com/Book1.php"]http://www.doublebass-solo.com/Book1.php[/url]

[aonindy]

Great suggestions all - many thanks.

Allen.

[27 frets]

[quote name='Major-Minor' post='1266246' date='Jun 12 2011, 04:13 PM']Keith Hartley has published a couple of books of solo bass tunes which I've used with some of my students. Excellent material to work with, all well known tunes transcribed for solo bass.

[url="http://www.doublebass-solo.com/Book1.php"]http://www.doublebass-solo.com/Book1.php[/url][/quote]
+1 on that book: I've been working on some of those pieces, and because many are well-known, I think it's easier to get a handle on how they should sound
Don't always agree on the bowings though - some pieces shown as separate bows seem to sound better slurred, e.g 'Jesu Joy' (Bach), or maybe that's a deliberate challenge for playing legato without slurs

[aonindy]

Teacher (before we broke for hols) asked me to get the Simindal "20 studies in all keys"
... I dont seemt o be abel to locate same and am wondering if he got it wrong and he
is referring to this?

Franz Simandl - 30 Etudes

[url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1967-FRANZ_SIMANDL_30_ETUDES_WITH_4_ACCOMPANIMENT_CDS.html"]http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1967-...NIMENT_CDS.html[/url]

thanks!