Recital Music Technique Collection

About the Collection

The Recital Music Technique Collection includes 4 books by David Heyes, full of technique exercises, drills, and etudes for intermediate to advanced bassists.

The collection includes:

1. Daily Exercises for Double Bass

These daily exercises are designed to build confidence and to develop and consolidate technique, primarily in the orchestral register of the instrument. Technique is simply a means to an end and music is the ultimate goal. Care should be taken not to put too much strain on the left hand and, much like an athlete, technique, strength and stamina should be built gradually. Do not work through the ‘pain barrier’ and ‘a little and often’ is a good maxim to follow.

2. Scaling the Heights | 24 Scale Studies for the Progressing Double Bassist

I enjoy writing music for my students and many friends and Susan Hagen has been an amazing friend and supporter, as soloist and commissioner. The most recent commission from Susan is Scaling the Heights. The brief was for music that moved into and out of thumb position, always challenging for young bassists, and I realized that a short piece in each major and minor key would be the right approach - 24 pieces in all. I started with C major and went through all the sharp keys, then the flat keys ending with D minor, my favorite key.

3. BASS - the Final Frontier: 24 Pieces in Harmonics for Double Bass

This book includes 24 pieces in harmonics - 20 are short and simple, featuring a limited number of notes, concluding with four concert works, which are more advanced and explore much of the range of the double bass.

4. Aiming High: 12 Thumb Position Pieces for Double Bass

Aiming High is a set of twelve melodic and inventive pieces in thumb position for the advancing double bassist, each in a different key. The challenges are musical and technical in equal measure, in a range of styles, with a few harmonics and false harmonics added to create variety and contrast. Scale and arpeggio figures help to consolidate a sense of tonality in the higher register and each piece can be played successfully with a range of fingering patterns and hand shapes.