The Cole Davis Etude Collection

About the Collection

Cole's collection of best-selling etude books will introduce you to the fundamentals of double bass technique through the eyes of one of the most exciting jazz bassists today. Cole will guide you through a re-fingered version of the classic Simandl Method, expanding your palette with shift-free scales and arpeggios, his approach to thumb position, and utilizing this technical approach to bring your music to life.

Who are these e-books for?

Beginner to advanced double bassists will benefit from Cole's books. Scroll through the sample pages to get a more detailed look inside the publications.

What You'll Receive

1. The New Simandl

The New Simandl is a re-fingering of the original Simandl method to fit a more modern context of playing. As opposed to the half-position to G string method, the New Simandl utilizes the entire bass. Backing tracks are available on Spotify! 

2. Lines (includes audio backing tracks)

My mission with this book is to open up the fingerboard through an expansive method of fingerings. “LINES” has a double meaning: the concept is not only about developing 8th note lines, but it is also about drawing lines between the positions. With this book, you will find yourself moving freely across the fingerboard to clearly express the sounds you hear in your head.

3. Freedom of Movement (bass and treble clef editions with backing tracks)

My mission with this book is to evolve the standard technique of thumb position. Many standard methods teach thumb position as one singular position, as opposed to a series of positions that allow for freedom of expression and movement. My goal is for you to use the full extent of the upper register to express what you are hearing and feeling.

4. Shift Free Scales and Arpeggios

These are the scales and arpeggios that I use to warm up every day, as well as the foundation for my improvisational ideas.

You’ll notice that I don’t really think in terms of modes (although several of my students do). I have no problem with modes, I prefer to deal with arpeggios and the extensions themselves, as opposed to the scales that encompass those extensions.

In the Dominant Arpeggios, I deal with each extension separately. Each page of Dominant Arpeggios is dedicated to a different extension (#11, b9, #5, #9, respectively). In the Major and Minor arpeggios, there are only 3 extensions, which simplifies things. Unless you are Thelonious Monk, in which case a b9 on a major7 chord is somehow the right choice.

The purpose of this packet is not only to simplify the harmonic information but to show how these scales and arpeggios can be played without shifting. Many upright bass players tend to shy away from extended harmony because of all the shifting that is often involved. With these scales and arpeggios, there is no shifting, just practical use of the open strings so you can move around the bass more freely.

5. Understanding Thumb Position

This is a complete guide to Thumb Position. Understanding Thumb Position is a book designed for all levels, starting from the beginning and taking you on a technical journey to fully understanding how to play in Thumb Position.