One fingering for all major scales on the double bass

Chris West, Professor of Double Bass at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, explains how to play all major scales (one octave, two octaves or three octaves) with the same fingering pattern.
0:25 One octave
4:05 Two octaves (up to D flat) (Grades 6 & 7 ABRSM)
5:34 Three octaves (and the second octave of D and E flat) (Grade 8 ABRSM)
Reaching The Heights - Thumb Position on the Double Bass is available from Amazon.
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[@michaelanderson001]

I'm nowhere near the standard your videos were aim at (only ABRSM grade 4), but I had a lightbulb moment earlier this year. I started saying the notes out load as I played them. This was something I wish I had the confidence to do when I first took up the bass (started in middle-age after I left the RAF). It has made it easier for me to navigate around the top half of the fingerboard. Your method seems easy, but when trying it, I was more concerned about fingering than the notes I was actually playing in each scale. Currently only learning Ionian Mode scales at the moment, as I'm still trying solidify what I've learnt/am learning (no current teacher at the moment).

[@chriswestbass]

That’s interesting. I think it’s good to reinforce all the connections between how the note sounds, what it looks like on the page, what it feels like under your fingers (both hands!) and what note it is. Your method of saying the note out aloud seems to be a good way of building up those connections.

[@victorwong9622]

SO helpful, thank you!!

[@roblegg3983]

This is a great tip!!! Much appreciated. I play a half size DB tuned in 5ths like a cello and it works well. BTW....just got your book - The Paganini of the DB - Bottesini

[@davidbahr9612]

This is gold! Just subscribed.

[@themusiccovenant]

Master bassist

[@guzonier]

Great and helpful content! Makes scales less scary and systematic.. can you share some tips on sitting with double bass? Especially bowing on the G string... Thank you alot, great channel!!!

[@chriswestbass]

Thanks! I’m glad you are enjoying the channel. Are you sitting with both feet on the floor, or with your left leg raised? I have my left leg raised, but it’s important that doesn’t then tip your posture over. I could do a quick video on this some time.

[@guzonier]

@@chriswestbass wow what an express reply! I am so thankful for people like you, no ego no show off, and wonderful approach. I tried resting te left foot on a block but start to feel uncomfortable in lower left back...so i got both feet down.a short video would be veery helpful. Once again, thank you!

[@chriswestbass]

guzonier No problem! Most of us musicians have some time on our hands right now. I will do a video to explain. It’s possible your stool is a bit too high.

[@hjalmarmalcusmartner629]

Thanks for the great video! I just wonder what fingerings you would use on when playing a two octave E flat major scale. Should you start on the A or D string?

[@chriswestbass]

For E flat major I would start on the D string and do the fingerings usually used for the first and third octaves - 14241424 1313123

[@ositoCastro]

Hi Chris. I'm so thankful for your excellent lessons, very precise and easy to understand. btw what methods do you recommend for the first years. I discovered Dehant I found excellent for my students, not boring, fast, musical. As student I learned with Bille, Nanny. Thanks again. Johnny

[@chriswestbass]

Hi Johnny, you are very welcome. I don’t teach beginners so I’m not up on the best new books. I learnt with Simandl which is thorough but very dry. I’ve seen beginners’ books that are more fun for the student but give a less firm foundation. Thanks for the recommendation. I’m sure people will want to check out Dehant.

[@mircomeniconi]

This is a very useful video. Would you generally prefered this to a open string fingering? or are there case when you prefer one or the other? Thank you very much for this video. Best wishes.

[@chriswestbass]

There are several reasons why you might use different fingerings in different situations but these are the ones I tend to use as my defaults.

[@mircomeniconi]

@@chriswestbass Thank you.

[@gianfrancorita9504]

Hi Chris, do you know some book with all the fingering for major/minor scales?

[@chriswestbass]

Hi Gianfranco, I think there are a few scales books around, but I don't know if any of them have this systematic approach to the fingering. Perhaps I should produce one!

[@mark-stefaniw]

@gianfracorita9504 Chris is correct that there aren't any books that layout his approach. I also study my scales like this -- in tetrachords (4 step over the span of a P4) actually. If you study the one-string 4-note tetrachords of Ionian (1424), Dorian(1414) and Phrygian(1214), then you can combine them into 1, 2, and 3 octave major, natural/melodic/harminic minor and mixolydian scales. See also Bornoff finger patterns. That said, if want to study all permutations of scale fingerings, for all keys, check out Rabbath's book Nouvea Technique vol 3.

[@williamclark9973]

I"m a bit confused about the third octave. You say you can use 13 13 123 if you can use the diatonic hand shape for the top three notes, the you hold you hand in a way that look like you will play 4 notes, for example thumb on G, the 1,2, 3 on A,B, and C respectively. Sorry to sound picky, but I'm actually confused. Rest of video is fantastic.

[@chriswestbass]

Hi William, thanks for your question. When shifting in thumb position, it is more secure to move your thumb to a note that lies within your current hand shape. So, using your example, at the top of a C major scale you would play F-G with 1-3, then move the hand to diatonic hand shape with thumb on G. So in your new hand shape you have thumb-1-2-3 on G-A-B-C, but you’ve already played the G so you don’t play that note in this position. I hope that answers your question.

[@williamclark9973]

@@chriswestbass Yes it does. Very clear. Thank you. By the way, I love your book. But I've only begun to "climb the mountain."

[@chriswestbass]

Great! If you have the book, then that fingering for major scales comes at the bottom of page 26. So if you work on everything up to that point it should come naturally. Good luck with your journey!