One of the key elements of playing in tune is your technique. Your ear is obviously a huge part of intonation, but your technique is what allows you to place your fingers consistently in the right spot. That’s exactly what we’re focusing on today with an exercise called Trigger Fingers.
You can find this exercise, along with many others, in the free intonation exercises packet.
What Is the Trigger Fingers Exercise?
Trigger Fingers is a chromatic pattern that gradually ascends the string by half steps. The focus of this exercise is twofold: your hand shape and your finger spacing. The pattern repeats over and over — essentially in perpetuity, or at least until the exercise is finished.
Step One: Focus on Finger Spacing
Start by placing a tuner in front of you and try to find the center of each pitch. Pay close attention to what that spacing needs to look and feel like in your hand. For example, your second finger might require a bit of a reach, since it needs to land right in the center of a whole step. Meanwhile, your second, third, and fourth fingers might sit quite close together. Take the time to notice these differences as you move through the pattern.
Step Two: Refine Your Technique
Once you’re comfortable with the finger spacing, shift your attention to technique. Keep these principles in mind:
- Curve your fingers
- Play on the tips of your fingers
- Avoid popping your fingers up when they’re not in use
- Avoid squeezing with your left hand
Instead of squeezing, try pulling the weight of your left arm back so you can sink the weight naturally into the string. Squeezing creates tension, tension causes fatigue, and fatigue makes it much harder to play in tune.
Practicing the Exercise
Work through the pattern slowly and in time. You can slur four notes, slur two, play eight slurred together, or use all separate bow strokes — whatever works best for you. As you practice, keep your focus on finger spacing and maintaining good hand shape throughout.
Taking It Further
Once you’re comfortable, the next step is to add a metronome. Start at a very slow tempo and gradually increase the speed. The real challenge is maintaining that beautiful hand shape as you get faster, so keep that focus front and center as you build speed.
Final Thoughts
If you enjoyed this exercise, Trigger Fingers, you can find it along with many others in my free intonation exercises packet. I hope this helped, and I’ll see you next time!
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.
