Basstudes: 16 etudes for double bass by Lauren Pierce
Basstudes: 16 etudes for double bass by Lauren Pierce
About the Etudes
I'm so proud to present this book of etudes! This project was very different from any other educational material I've created because it pushed me to explore a different side of my creativity: composing.
Etudes are a necessary tool in development because they aren't purely technical exercises, and they aren't pieces of repertoire — they're something in between. Etudes allow you to push yourself technically while also getting to play music.
How to Use This Book
I’ve organized the etudes in this book into three large sections:
1. Bowing
2. Left hand technique
3. Right and left-hand coordination
You can think of each of these large sections as miniature courses on their particular technique and the book as a whole as an entire course on the instrument. The etudes are ordered progressively within each section, so the first one is the easiest, and the last is the most complex.
Everything in this book is meant to compound, so everything you learn is cumulative. This is why I recommend going through this book in the order I’ve arranged, beginning with The Bow, then Left-Hand Technique, and finally, Right and Left-Hand Coordination. I arranged the etudes in each section very intentionally, as well as the order of these large sections.
I include a copy of each etude with my fingerings and a blank copy for you to explore with the fingerings you develop.
The book is in bass and treble clef.
The Audio Guide
I’ve also created an audio guide to go along with this book. While it isn’t required to be able to use and benefit from these etudes, I highly recommend it.
In the guide, you’ll find an individual track for each etude, where I discuss the techniques you can expect to focus on, what to consider while working through it, and tips for how to practice.
Listen to the etude’s audio track before you begin practicing, preferably with the music in front of you at least once. However, feel free to listen to it wherever and whenever – I love listening to podcasts and audiobooks while I’m cleaning, walking, or driving. Learning doesn’t always have to be tethered to the practice room.
Think of the audio guide as a set of mini-lessons to help you tackle this book.
A Note from the DBHQ Team
The meticulous detail and care in this etude book is obvious from a general perusal and becomes more apparent as you dive into each etude. We love Lauren's approach to learning double bass because it's practical and FUN! And with the accompanying audio guide, it's like she's personally teaching you the etudes.
About Lauren
Lauren Pierce is a double bass soloist originally from Atlanta and relocated to Chicago in 2022. She is one of the highest-viewed classical artists on YouTube, with over 1.5 million views on her channel. She has performed recitals worldwide, and her solo work has been featured in publications such as The Strad and Classic FM.
Connect with Lauren on YouTube and Instagram.
This book is delivered as an e-book
The e-book is 102 Pages