Lately I've noticed my fret hand pinky curling under my neck when I'm not using it (and I do use it, I just have to get it out from under there before I do). Anyone else have this tendency? I feel like it's something I should strive to correct, but it also seems to be the natural postion for my hand when holding the neck and not actually playing with the pinky. If I concentrate on it, I can not do it, but as soon as I get caught up in the music and not concentrating on my hands, there it goes again. Suggestions? Or should I not worry about it if it isn't preventing me from playing the music? I know it must look odd to other bassists.

I used to do this all the time as well. Play some exercises such as the spider exercise or run some chromatics while concentrating on keeping your fingers as close to the strings as possible without touching the strings when not using those fingers. Do this 15-20 minutes a day and you will be broken of the habit in no time.

lowsound

Although it may not be hindering your playing now, it may become a problem in the future. As the above poster said exercises would be good. I wouldn't worry about it in a performance setting, but i would definintely concentrate on it while practicing. (then it'll get better in performance.) One thing to think about is the relationship of the palm of your hand (at the base of the fingers) to the side of the neck, it should be basically parallel. The reason your pinky may be way off is because your hand is angled away from the neck on the pinky end..

hope that makes sense.

-jeff

Start by positioning your thumb under the center of the bottom of and perpendicular to the neck. This should naturally place your pinky on top of the neck, parallel to the frets.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think it's my hand position. THe thumb and palm are right where they should be. Might just be my personal physiology. I notice that even when I'm not holding something and with the other fingers relaxed my little finger tends to curl toward the center of my palm.

I'll try the chromatics and other exercises while concentrating on keeping my fingers closer to the strings in general. I do have a tendency to lift my fingers rather high off the fretboard when I'm not fretting a string which I know is a hindrance to building speed.

It's likely comes from my years as a rhythm guitarist trying to fit my big paws on those little necks.

Or maybe I'm getting arthritic in my old age. :eek:

I do that all the time, but it doesn't seem to hinder my playing any so I don't try to change it.

You can see it in this vid, a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVk2PeNeo6Y

I have this nasty habit too....I been doing excercises to try to break myself of having that pinky dangling off of the neck. I normally do it though when I'm on the D/G strings. I have a great book called "Bass Fitness" that is suppose to help with finger dexterity and finger strength.....so far so good. I would highly recommend this book.

it is a natural thing for almost all "shredder" guitarists I ever see videos of online. They have a great ability to bring it back out though, as well as keep close to the strings if needed. Their pinky usually hides when they do some fast runs with the index and ring finger.

So after reading your thread, I decided to pick up my bass and see what my pinky does, and what I found out, is that it never really has time to go anywhere because it's my second most used finger. I mean, things that are two frets apart, I'll use my index and then pinky to play it, thus leaving my entire hand near frets and ready to play them. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that keeping your pinky involved should help a bit.

But then again, I just woke up.