That bit about being terrified of thumb position is too true! It took me years to even dare being up there just because of the anxiety over the unknown that Simandl implanted on me
My teacher had me work through Simandl, though I didn't get far, and I also had (have) trepidation about thumb position. I only got through Simandl as far as I did because I was simultaneously given a jazz standard, various "jazz scales" and exercises each week.
I tune in 5ths, following Quarrington which also works well in 4ths. If I were teaching I would use like Vance followed by Rabbath. I really like what I hear here.
Putting a Pops rosin container between your 1st and 2nd finger to get the distance between fingers for a 1,2,4 Simandl hand shape in the lower register.
Thanks for posting this interview. Since a few month I'm in the process of changing my fingering to the Rabbath system, because a lot of typical phrases are too complicated (for me as amateur) when playing them with Simandl system. E.g. if I had to shift fast and frequently a semitone up and down, I always ended out of tune. I use the three Georg Vance' Progressive Repertoire volumes, these are really great, but some questions remain, especially about the downward motion. The videos of Jason, in which he played the Progressive Repertoire pieces, help a lot, but contain no explanations. Why not asking Hans Sturm for making a course in Discover Double Bass, explaining and exploring the Rabbath fingering system by some of the Progressive Repertoire pieces, aimed at beginners and intermediate players? His interview dates from 2007 and is only a nice introduction quickening the appetite. Such a course would be very valuable, I think.
Great to hear you're enjoying the Rabbath method and the wonderful books by George Vance. Best of luck with all your playing and thanks for watching :-)
This is still the common method in Italy - albeit my teacher advocates 1-2-4 (and the German bow!) - and I find it easier and anatomically proper. Furthermore, you don't need the pop's rosin thing!
