g-11-----11------11------11------11-----------
d---12------12------12------12------12-----12-
a------14------14-----14-------14------14-----
e---------------------------------------------

This shouldn't be too hard to finger but I just can't get it my hand cramps up. I've tried putting my thumb in different areas, the most annoying part is that I get a LOT of fret buzz from bad technique, and here's the kicker. I need to get to that position fast, but it takes a few seconds for me to set up.

Anyone got a technique or some way of wrapping their fingers around this quickly? The easiest way for me gives me a habit of pulling the G string off the fret, which I can't have >.>

It looks ridiculously easy to fret but it's just killin my hand and my thumb area is really sore just from tryin it yesterday.

It's supposed to be without the hand moving BTW.

Try positioning your thumb so that it is about between the 9th and 10th frets (maybe closer to the 10th depending on the size of your hands), and have it angled slightly towards the headstock –*that feels comfortable for me.

Hmm what I've had to do and what doesn't kill my hand is bring my thumb up to the side rather than rest on the butt end of my neck. Also im not playing with with my pinky because it just isn't long enough compared to just using my ring finger.

This shouldn't be too hard to finger but I just can't get it my hand cramps up. I've tried putting my thumb in different areas, the most annoying part is that I get a LOT of fret buzz from bad technique, and here's the kicker. I need to get to that position fast, but it takes a few seconds for me to set up.

Anyone got a technique or some way of wrapping their fingers around this quickly? The easiest way for me gives me a habit of pulling the G string off the fret, which I can't have >.>

It looks ridiculously easy to fret but it's just killin my hand and my thumb area is really sore just from tryin it yesterday.

It's supposed to be without the hand moving BTW.

I assume you are playing this as an arpeggio. From your post the big mistake you are probably making is playing it too fast to begin with. Slow it right down to a fraction of the time you are playing it.

Now for the thumb position. You should be playing that exercise with your index, middle and pinky. The first thing you do is put your index and pinky in their respective positions simultaneously. Once you have this position, let your thumb fall onto your neck in it's most natural feeling position. It should be somewhere midway between the two fretting fingers. As long as your wrist is in the right position this should be comfortable.

Now start practicing the exercise at a slow pace and build up speed.

[edit]You really should be using your pinky for this. Your pinky can reach further than your ring finger unless you have some kind of physical deformity or injury. You need to practice the stretch I just mentioned, pinky and index, but make sure your thumb is the last thing you engage.

When playing that, my thumb's located exactly behind the 11th fret with my fingers fanned, index longest, pinky shortest. pinky on B(11), middle on D(12), index on F#(14).

Are you holding your bass out from your body? If you were standing in the middle of a giant clock, with 12 being directly in front of you, the neck should be angled at about 10:30. And angled up a tad.

How's your right hand looking on this?

g-11-----11------11------11------11----------
d---12-9----12-9----12-9----12-9----12-9----
a---------------------------------------------
e---------------------------------------------
(ring, pinky, index)

Do you have to use that fingering, or can you play it like this instead?

Well when you say arpeggiated you seem to imply that im picking up and fretting with each finger each time the note is played. My hand should stay in one place, fingers unmoving.

And wether or not this is a physical deformity or not my pinky's just short man it doesn't even reach the upper knuckle of my ring finger.

Back to the matter at hand, I don't have my fingers angled across my fretboard, ther are perpendicular with the strings. That being said, i haven't set the thumb but where my first and middle finger rest comfortably on their respective notes on their respective strings, my pinky doesn't even reach the F# at all, and if I were to curl my wrist (which gets it a little sore) then I can reach it but my pinky kinds rests on the other strings, which is a problem. So what I then do is angle my fingers down towards the bridge, dont even let my thumb rest on the neck, I have it on the side of my first finger, and play the F# with my ring finger. This is the easiest on my left hand.

I however know this is probably a bad practice to get into, I want to do it the right way but put simply, if ****ing hurts to make that stretch. Over the past 2 days my left wrist and thumb are hurting from this.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=alJiMrr7azM <--- that's the song im trying to do BTW, however he has his thumb on the other side of the neck, I can't even do that comfortably, I have to rest it on my first finger

Here's the poop: If you're slinging your bass as low as this guy, you're asking for limited left hand agility, cramps, and wrist problems.

Actually my last post was probably more deirected towads playing further down the neck. In that position my thumb is where Andrew.Glose says his is. If you have to hold the notes it does add a degree of difficulty, but I think you really need to work on stretching that pinky. I have small hands but I still find it more effective to use my pinky for that exercise.

You should place your thumb on the BACK of the neck, around fret 11-12 for this position, as Andrew said (consult other threads on proper left hand position) and allow your hand to rotate a little around it for your pinky to reach the 14 fret properly.

And the guy from the video has awful awful technique, really DO consult threads on hand position, because I don't think he's a nice example.

BTW, you don't have to fret hard in order to get a nice sound, just fret at the right place. This might cause some pain too.

So is that pain going to subside, is it going to lead to arthritis?

And I know his technique is bad, but I'm showing that the song is played without the hand moving, not fretting each note individually.

How long have you been playing for?

bouta year and a half.

After two weeks and two teachers examining, I doubt there's any physical way that I can fret this well. My Pinky is curved towards my other fingers and to play it perfectly flat I'd need to twist my wrist but then my first and middle finger won't be able to fret the strings and I'd get buzzing.

The only way I've done it with my pinky is by pretty much fretting with the side of my pinky but there's no speed or practicality in that.

Well that ****ing sucks

I imagine that you are playing with the bass strapped really low (like by your knees low) which is a no no.

Try sitting down and playing the bass between both legs like a classical guitarist with the bass supported on your left leg not your right. Keeping the neck positioned up you should be able to do this. At first try to have the neck up higher than usual where your left wrist does not bend as much.

If you have problems getting the right "feel" at first play your bass like and upright with it perpendicular to the floor. You should be able to get a better grip this way. Then start playing the bass more in a classical style.

If your wrist or hand is really hurting stop practicing this until it is better. You won't get arthritis but you could get a real good case of carple tunnel syndrom or worse. Playing should never hurt! Period!

Also, your action may be too high and/or you are using strings that are too thick (or combination of both!). Playing chords on the bass takes time. The most important thing is to stay loose and relaxed with good hand positioning. If you are tightening up your doing somthing wrong.

All the best!

Its not strapped to my knees. The bottom of the guitar is brushing right at the top of my thigh. No matter how I fret it with or without my pinky my wrist keeps getting sore. This is getting really ****ing frustrating. :rollno:

-----7-----8-----5-----6--
--------------------------
--5-----6-----7-----8-----
--------------------------

ANother example, I can't get the bolded parts at all. If I'm resting my pinky comfortable on the 8th I can't spread my middle finger to that 6th, and If I do happen to fret the 6th with my middle finger then my pinky starts to rest against the G string so the note won't come out.

Am I the only one with problems like this? No other bass player around me seems to have this physical problem. I'll buy one of those tension grimasters if it'll really help me, however that's more of an endurance building accessory, doesn't help stubby pinkies.

I'll buy one of those tension grimasters if it'll really help me, however that's more of an endurance building accessory, doesn't help stubby pinkies.

Don't do that! Think about it. Using one of those is probably one of the worst things you can do.

You want to be loose and flexible not tight and ridgid.
For endurance who is going to run the furthest? A wind sprinter with large legs or a marathon runner that is lean and thin?

I wish they did not sell those things promising increased speed etc....

It's counter productive...

For the main question, try the guitar exercise of fingering the shape, releasing it, placing your fingers back on the frets, releasing, etc. Do that until you can hit the shape exactly every time. That'll get your muscles used to it and you should be able to relax more.

Oh, and it should be played with index, middle, and ring. Don't worry about trying to use your pinky.



-----7-----8-----5-----6--
--------------------------
--5-----6-----7-----8-----
--------------------------

ANother example, I can't get the bolded parts at all. If I'm resting my pinky comfortable on the 8th I can't spread my middle finger to that 6th, and If I do happen to fret the 6th with my middle finger then my pinky starts to rest against the G string so the note won't come out.

Why would you play those with pinky and middle? Try playing the octaves walking up with index and pinky then play the 1-b6 with ring and index.

OK, after going home and trying it, you play the Tool line by gripping the neck the way SRV gripped his guitar. The thumb is over the top (like your muting the E string with your left thumb) with your hand grabbing the back of the neck, i.e. your palm is pressed into the back of the neck. It's almost like you're picking the bass up by the neck. Your wrist shouldn't hurt any more than it does when you pick up a baseball bat by the big end because your hand's in the same position.

To do it fast, you'll need to practice hitting the chord position. If you just try transitioning into that position for a few minutes each day, you'll get it in no time.