Technique Tuesday is a collaboration by Lauren Pierce and Double Bass HQ that explores techniques from Lauren’s best-selling books, Scales, Scales, Scales, Please Play in Tune, and Basstudes.
What Are Drones and Why Do They Matter?
Drones are a powerful practicing tool that can help with playing in tune. A drone is a sustained note you can program on most digital tuners. These sustained tones serve as a reference point to help you play in tune.
Find Your Tonic
The most straightforward approach is to set the drone on the tonic (home note) of the key you’re playing in. For example:
- Playing in C major? Set the drone to C
- Working on a piece in G minor? Use G as your drone note
Problem-Solving with Hyper-Focused Drone Practice
Sometimes, you need a more targeted approach to tackle specific intonation challenges. Here’s a practical strategy:
Isolating Problematic Notes
When you’re struggling with a particular note’s pitch, try this technique:
- Identify the specific note giving you trouble
- Set the drone to that pitch
- Practice the surrounding notes while listening carefully to the drone
- Focus on matching the problem note to the drone
How I use this method in the Sweet Pea Etude
In this case, I struggled with an A note using my thumb. By setting the drone to A and isolating those few notes, I could:
- Train my ear to recognize the pitch
- Develop muscle memory, so I located the A accurately
- Build my confidence in playing that note in tune
Why This Technique Works
This hyper-focused approach allows you to:
- Break down complex musical passages
- Develop a more acute sense of pitch
- Build confidence in your playing
- Solve intonation problems methodically
Pro Tip
Start with small, focused practice sessions. Once you’ve mastered the specific note or passage, gradually expand your focus to the broader musical phrase.
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.
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