Here’s something that sounds obvious but makes a huge difference with intonation: hearing the note in your head before your fingers play it.
I know, duh. But something I’ve noticed is that our ears are often more closed off than we realize. We’re reacting to the notes we’re playing instead of really hearing what needs to come next.
When you hear the pitch in your head first, two things happen. You can adjust quickly if your fingers land in the wrong spot, and your fingers seem to instinctively know where to go when you have a clear pitch in your head. Intention changes the physical act of playing.
The Exercise
Today’s exercise, The Horrors, is a shifting drill with a twist: it works down the scale instead of up, and it’s chromatic.
You can find this exercise in my free intonation exercise packet.
How It Works
The exercise starts at the top of the octave and shifts down chromatically. I recommend doing this with a drone on A.
Here’s what to think about when you’re doing this:
- A to G#: While you’re playing the A, hear the G# in your head before you shift. Then when you’re on the G#, hear the A before you shift back up. You’re adding a layer of intention to every single note.
- A to G natural: This is the first note outside the diatonic scale, so you have to be more deliberate. One approach: hear the G# first, then mentally step it down a half step. Whatever helps you land on the pitch internally before you play it.
- A to F#: Same idea. Hear the F# while you’re still on the A.
The exercise continues all the way down chromatically from there.
How to Practice It
Take your time. There will be intervals that are harder to hear internally than others, and that’s exactly where the work is. Sit on those, repeat them as many times as you need, and don’t move on until you can really hear the pitch before you play it.
The goal isn’t to get through the exercise quickly; it’s to build the habit of playing with intention. When that becomes second nature, your intonation gets a lot more consistent.
Want More Exercises Like This?
You can find The Horrors along with several other intonation exercises in my free Intonation Exercise Packet.
For more of Lauren’s insights, visit her Technique Tuesday series and sign up for the Double Bass HQ newsletter to have the series delivered to your inbox each week.
