How to build strength on the double bass

When starting to learn any instrument, the feeling of playing it is pretty strange and each instrument has its own beginning difficulties that are specific to it. With the double bass, the first problem someone starting might encounter is the strength needed to hold a string down. The thick strings that are used on the bass have quite a lot of tension in them so that they can make the pitched sound that they do but this shouldn't put anyone off - you'll find that you quickly build up the strength you need with regular practise and a few easy but very useful exercises. 

An exercise that I like to give beginners to quickly and easily build strength is commonly known as ‘finger press-ups’. I ask the student to put all four fingers down on the top ‘G’ string (the thinnest and therefore less strenuous string) in the same place and shape that they would do to play the notes in first position and I get them to repeatedly hold down and lift up their fingers on the string. At first I might get them to do 5 in a row, then 10 and so on as it gets easier and then they can do it on the other strings too, working from the top down to the more difficult lower strings. Then as this becomes easier the hand can move further up the string towards the bridge where the tension starts to become greater, again starting on the top string and working down towards the lower strings. ‘Finger press-ups’ work very effectively and their simplicity makes them a good warm-up exercise that can be used at the beginning of lessons and practice sessions to get the student feeling comfortable with the instrument before they play. Why not give it a try?!