The thumb position on the double bass

The volume Thumb position is "a systematic, progressively structured collection with well-known songs and pieces as well as simple technical exercises for the high registers on the double bass". Charlotte Mohrs successfully summarizes what the edition has to offer with this first sentence in the introductory text.

The booklet is clearly structured, contains easy-to-follow explanations, easy-to-follow exercises and catchy melodies that invite double bass players to explore the thumb position from an early age. The focus is always on the joy of playing. The varied literature examples come from the solo and orchestral literature. In addition to excerpts, there are also longer pieces that musically summarize what has been learned. A detailed introduction is followed by eight chapters including diagrams of the basic patterns of finger positions; a piano accompaniment is available for download. The texts are written in German and English.

The third chapter, which deals with the 2nd upper register, is particularly successful. The pieces and exercises are easy to play thanks to two harmonics serving as a reference and fewer accidentals. The inhibition threshold of moving in this high register is overcome in a playful way. The fourth chapter, which is devoted in detail to harmonics, is also worthy of special mention and is usually a pleasure to play.

In a revision, it would be helpful to add a keyword index in the appendix. The volume also deals with bowing technique, which needs to be adapted in the high registers. An additional chapter with an overview of this would be valuable.

This booklet definitely belongs in the classroom of double bass teachers, and it is to be hoped that Thumb position will be a standard work of double bass literature in the future!

Charlotte Mohrs: Thumb position. Exercises and pieces to introduce the thumb position on the double bass, piano accompaniment to download, EC 23581, € 23.50, Schott, Mainz