Fingerboard from Position 1 to Thumb, No Fear

A while back, one of my students messaged me a few hours before his lesson to let me know he wanted to record it.

His parents had made a decision: no music until his grades improved. No lessons, no orchestra, no double bass. That was going to be his last class for an indefinite amount of time.

I spent the whole morning thinking about what to give him in one hour. I had never felt so frustrated and sad, and at the same time so desperate to be there for someone. Just imagining being in his place was overwhelming.

I didn’t want to flood him with information. I decided to give him something to enjoy — we finished his piece and he played it like it was a recital. At the end, I gave him a summary of everything he had accomplished musically during our time together. In just one year he had learned to play with confidence and joined a youth orchestra. That way he wouldn’t just have a guide to come back to — he’d have the motivation of knowing he was remembering something he already knew, not learning it from scratch. It’s different.

That evening I kept thinking: why don’t I have something like this for everyone? A complete, organized guide that anyone can come back to — after a break, after a year, after whatever life throws at you. It honestly took me months to build, between students and orchestra commitments it was quite a challenge. But today I’m so happy to bring you my masterpiece.

This study guide is perfect if you’re just getting started or coming back after a break — you can always return to it.

It’s designed to help you move through the fingerboard smoothly, from first position all the way to thumb position, in record time. Like everything in life, consistency will determine your progress — but on my end, I’m giving you every resource you need to play with confidence across the entire instrument in just a few months.

And yes, thumb position too. I find it kind of funny how collectively scared people are of this — and I’ll be honest with you, everything is actually much easier up there. In fact, newer teaching methods for double bass focus on starting there. But I don’t want to bore you with details. My goal with this course is for you to enjoy every step. That’s why at each region of the fingerboard you’ll have a piece with piano accompaniment to play and put the technique into practice.

It’s designed so you don’t have to spend years stuck going through method books — you can read them if that makes you happy, while you’re already playing in orchestras, ensembles, and enjoying your instrument.

This masterpiece has three parts that complement each other — and that I decided to keep together.

First, the main course — the full journey from first position to thumb position, with progressive exercises, classical repertoire, and piano accompaniments. Mahler, Marcello, Handel — we work on musicality from day one.

Second, my complete course “All the Scales Without Getting Bored.” Twenty-four major and minor scales in two octaves, with piano accompaniment. I originally designed it with a composer and pianist friend just for my own practice, because I love studying this way. Have you ever tried it? With piano in the background, training your ear without a metronome or tuner. It works so well that I turned it into a full course — you’ll find it in your virtual classroom once you enroll.

And third, a one-hour individual session with me after you finish the course. To answer questions, leave you a study plan if you want to keep exploring double bass technique, or simply listen to how well you play now. That counts too.

If you’ve been stuck in the same position for months — or years — this course is for you. If you’re coming back after a break and don’t know where to start, this course is for you. If thumb position feels like distant, intimidating territory, this course is for you.

You don’t need a conservatory background. You don’t need to practice 8 hours a day. You just need consistency — and the desire to play real music.

You’re free to go at your own pace. I’m here with you every step of the way.