Introduction to the Bass: Left Hand Technique

Bassist and vocalist Nicki Parrott guides you through warm-ups to develop proper left hand technique on the bass to reduce injury and build intonation.

Nicki Parrott - Bass
Eric Suquet - Director
Bill Thomas - Director of Photography
Aaron Chandler - Sound Engineer
Seton Hawkins - Producer

Recorded November 4, 2014

[marcoleonardis]

The teacher is Nicki Parrott, one of the best contemporary jazz singer / bassist, with 28 albums in 2017

[starlightghometheater]

Gerard Stroh!!
Nicki Parrott!! Thankyou So Much On The Double Bass and I Got Back into Playing Double Bass!!!
I Played Double Bass in Junior High and High School and I Play Classical Music and After High School I had to Give it up Because of the Price of A Double Bass!!
About 2010 I Got Back into Playing Double Bass and First I got A Cheap Electric Double Bass and 2020 I Decighted To Get A Real Acoustic Double Bass and it is Awesome!!!
I Also Play Bass Guitar and Piano and Organ and Lead Guitar But I Never Learn The Thumb Fingering on the Double Bass so I am Learning It Watching Your Videos!!!
I am 61 Years Old and I never Lost How to Play the Double Bass and I was Born With Perfit Pitch So That Helps Me Because the Double Bass Does Not Have Frets!!! I know How to use the French and German Bow and I love Classical & Jazz and Rock & Country Music!! Thankyou Nicki Parrott!!!

[basslover]

Wow, I love this lady. The best teacher in YouTube

[TonyfromBham]

Man, I can listen to this woman talk about learning to improve one's jazz playing all day--and I don't play bass.

[williamayres]

Thank you Nicki, this was helpful. I started really concentrating about third finger at the octave this morning while practicing. We met about 20 years ago through Michael Moore, one of our common teachers. We've seen you often at Shanghai Jazz and WPU with Cat Russell and FDU with DIVA over the years. You are one of those players who is inspirational to those of us who are perpetual students.

[donaldswan]

Damn, your intonation is incredible. Watched some other vids too. You really give us noobs something to reach for!

[BradleyThomasbassman]

excellent demonstration on thumb position playing! I learned something!

[hhohn]

Wow, excellent intonation and skills.  Thank you for the instruction.  I really appreciate it.

[grizelda]

Thank you. My first upright arrives this week and I can’t wait to get started. I can see I’m going to be looking for a lot of your videos!

[gdbrabenec]

The fundamental warm-up and practice regimen I've been looking for. What a musician! ♥️

[egmedicus]

Excellent!! I got a teacher. Thank you. Please more beginners lessons.

[gonnfishy]

This is intoxicating. Wish i still played DB and had seen this during that time

[DKlassicsG]

I've learned more from this video, that I have from several ''lessons'' on youtube. Thanks for this!

[Carryon]

Great tone. Many thanks, Ms. Parrott.

[SeanVplayer]

So Much good information, So Much good advice on avoiding injury, Great lesson! Thank You!

[MichaelFClef]

Thank you for this video. Very helpful. And beautiful playing.

[olivierpachet]

Thanks a lot Miss Parrott. Interesting and clear.

[michallukes]

Wow, she is so wow. Her skill is so wow. Just wow!

[vasconcellosdecastro]

Great bass player and also a great teacher!

[PootaurStuff]

Nicki doesnt know it, but the very first electric contra double bass I am about to make will be named in her honor! I thinks she is the BEST player around, and she has a lovely look, and so talented. Nicky is just so incredible! If I lived near her, I would build her a custom made hollow body bass, maybe with rose, leaf, and vine patterns raise above the surface... not down into the wood like lazy talentless carvers do. And a lot of gold leaf work to go with it!!! Nicki is a total darling!!!