As a newbie, I decided this is not a good challenge for me. I’ve liked other technique exercise videos that BassBuzz has provided, and this is very different.
Other videos were focused on one technique concept (perhaps with a bonus secondary). They went up through different levels of complexity based on the same exercise allowing for a very progressive leveling up. They also were pretty simple patterns that didn’t require splitting my mental processing to read sheet music. I could just focus on the technique at hand.
These exercises cover five different techniques; ramp up in difficulty quickly; and build complexity with wholly new elements instead of variations on the existing theme.
I like having one or two technique exercises in my practice. I want them to be a physical technique challenge, not a mental challenge. This was too much of a reading challenge. I’m reserving that mental energy for figuring out fiddly fills or bridge sections in songs I’m trying to learn.
If the goal is to publish this more widely, I would simplify it and break it into smaller bites. Probably do two or three sections as separate challenges. (I am new to bass, but am an experienced instructor in several other disciplines.)
I’d probably make Part A just Levels 2 and 3, because there are already videos on flying fingers, and you can throw in a comment on Level 2 to the effect of, “This will also help with Flying Fingers, because you’ll notice that it’s really hard to press softly with your other fingers far away. You’ve got to relax your hand and that will naturally bring your other fingers closer to the fretboard.”
This would also be a great video for us beginners because it gets us thinking about dynamics, contrast, being soft and quiet, etc.
Then Part B is Levels 4 and 5 and just focuses on Octaves, with bonus nods to plucking technique and building speed.
Yes, I know this technically works out to the same information covered over the same period of time, but breaking sections up would make it less daunting. It would give novices the accomplishment of being able to hit one definite completion point. You successfully ran a 10k race instead of failing to complete a marathon.
On review it was more me staring at my bass like I’d never picked one up before.
