The Basis

Most compendiums of studies and exercises suffer the same fate as the infamous home-trainers: one sets out full of good intentions but after a few weeks of blood, sweat and tears they are left to gather dust in a corner. Why? Any athlete prefers a proper cross-country run to a stint on the treadmill. If there is variety and a chance to make decisions, all the senses become involved. May this set of studies be spared the fate of the exercise-machine; rather they should serve as the equivalent of a cross-country run with people feeling liberated, 'with-it' and keen to set and achieve their own targets. Exercises for the left hand • Waking up the fingers • Double stops in the neck positions • Double stops in thumb positions • Changes of position on the chromatic/diatonic scale • Changes of position in free fall on the chromatic/diatonic scale • Extensions on the chromatic/diatonic scale • Octaves on the chromatic/diatonic scale • Thirds and fourths • Natural harmonics • Artificial harmonics • Exercises for the right hand • on one string • on two strings • on three strings • on four strings