Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB)

Go Back   Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB) > Double Basses > Music [DB] > General Double Bass Music and Playing

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-22-2009, 07:00 PM
Matthew Heintz Matthew Heintz is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 12-22-2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 20
Matthew Heintz is on a distinguished road
Default Karr/Dimoff vomit exercise

I recently downloaded Dimoff's warmups on doublebassblog.org. I was wondering if ya'll could explain how Karr and/or Dimoff do their "vomit" exercises. Specifically, Dimoff's exercises use various finger combinations 1-1, 2-1, 2-4 etc... But also 1-3 and 2-3. Does he use the third finger in the lower octave or is that only in the upper octave?

I only briefly saw Gary perform these exercises at a master class in 1994 or '95, and he was focused primarily on bow speed and placement. Faster bow, nearer the bridge on higher notes. Slower bow, further away from bridge on lower notes. Anything else that he emphasizes during these exercises?

Re the (unfortunate) description of the exercise: it comes from Gary himself or at least I personally heard him describe it as such on at least a couple occasions. I believe that it originates from Gary's class where he has a group of students performing the glissandos at the same time. You can also see the term used on Max's exercises and in his interview at doublebassblog.org. See http://doublebassblog.org/wp-content...ff-warmups.pdf.

Last edited by Matthew Heintz; 02-23-2009 at 01:03 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-23-2009, 05:23 AM
Joel Larsson Joel Larsson is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-10-2009
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Posts: 67
Joel Larsson is on a distinguished road
Default

I played that exercise (but not as much as I should have) under a teacher who generally used 1-2-4 in the lower octave. He did nevertheless advocate playing with the third finger as well, during this exercise, point being that the more you know, the better you get. He even made me start with the 4 on low A.
Good and reasonable point or no, I must say I liked the man. He's almost bald and pretty wise.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-23-2009, 01:05 PM
Matthew Heintz Matthew Heintz is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 12-22-2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 20
Matthew Heintz is on a distinguished road
Default

Thanks, Joel. Somehow I feel vaguely Italian when using the third finger in the lower octave. I've been working on the exercise a bit and I find that it has really helped my standing posture, particularly the glissandos down.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-24-2009, 01:10 PM
Joel Larsson Joel Larsson is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-10-2009
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Posts: 67
Joel Larsson is on a distinguished road
Default

You're a standing player? I had a brief period when I wanted to start standing again, and that's when I played the vomit exercise. It's true that it helps you find a position that lets you access every inch of the fingerboard; when I try to stand I have great difficulty going from low to thumb positions and back. In the end, I sat back down again; it felt like it'd take ages to get as good while standing as I was sitting, like having to tread a too familiar path when you could explore the vast wilderness instead!

I felt that the exercise served its most obvious purpose of making huge left hand leaps seem less threatening, and it also made me more aware of the importance of the bow speed. It IS good for your overall sound! But I see what you mean about feeling Italian. Maybe it isn't so important playing third finger down low.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:42 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)