Hi there,

I'm studying e-electric bass in a jazz school. I love it. But I would love to try the double bass. But I have small hands (it took a long time for me to be able to play the e-bass). Isn't there any hope for me to play the double bass?
Thank you
Anya

Hi there,

I'm studying e-electric bass in a jazz school. I love it. But I would love to try the double bass. But I have small hands (it took a long time for me to be able to play the e-bass). Isn't there any hope for me to play the double bass?
Thank you
Anya

Sorry for butting in, but the answer to your question is "yes". I'm 5'6" with tiny short fingers. I play on a large bass with a 42" string length, the ONLY thing that helps me play comfortably is a nut with a short diameter (strings close together), and a neck that is not too fat.

You may wish to start on a small instrument and work your way up.

Double bass is played by people of all sizes and shapes. The instruments are also made in a variety of sizes and can be set up by a qualified luthier to accomodate different people. This summer is the International Society of Bassists convention at Penn State. That is an excellent place to shope for an instrument because there will be numerous dealers with lots of basses for sale. Here is a link to the ISB website: www.isbworldoffice.com . Everyone should join and support this organization. They have very reasonable student rates.

Sorry for butting in, but the answer to your question is "yes". I'm 5'6" with tiny short fingers. I play on a large bass with a 42" string length, the ONLY thing that helps me play comfortably is a nut with a short diameter (strings close together), and a neck that is not too fat.

You may wish to start on a small instrument and work your way up.

Hi, you're not butting in. I'm impressed, playing on a 42" string length bass with tiny hands must be quite a challenge. Thank you for the support.

Hi, you're not butting in. I'm impressed, playing on a 42" string length bass with tiny hands must be quite a challenge. Thank you for the support.

It's not a challenge, I'm very comfortable. My bass with a 42" string length is more comfortable than my previous bass which was 40.5".

Once again string length is rarely the issue...you may think it is, but for people with small hands all you need is an excellent set-up. Be aware that in order to play the bass not only do your hands get affected by how far apart the notes are (string length), but it's also affected by how far away your fingers are from your thumb (neck width.)

Having a bass with a thin neck that's set-up with low action near the nut is imperative.

I've seen people with ridiculously small hands play big basses well...I'd say the only advantage a person can have when it comes to the bass is not height, or hand size (to a point) but ARM LENGTH!! :)

There is a talented young lady jazz bassist in Chicago who is around 5'2" tall. She is petite. I've heard her sit in on a large bass with a 43" string length and clubby neck and she did just fine. You need to develop dexterity in your technique and you'll be able to get around on the instrument.

I thought I was the only one...
5'5" here, 42.25" string length, and I get along just fine on the instrument
I'll tell you though, I can't hang with the Garbos, those things are thicker than my fingers...that would be tendonitis central
My understanding is that most important is the relationship between the palm and the fingers...the strength to play the instrument does not come from the fingers, but from further down the muscle chain. I have a thick palm with short fingers (relatively speaking) and have never had tendinitis, carpal tunnel, or any other issues after 15 years of doublebass at 4-8 hrs per day playing

Anya - I remember seeing Thomson play with Lynne Arriale a few years back and thinking how amazing it was to see someone his size get around like that on the bass. I sure didn't hear him playing flat because he couldn't reach. (Nice playing, Thomson!)

On another note, before I actually started playing DB I was a piano player who was thinking about picking up the DB, but worried that I might be too lanky for it, since most of the guys I was teaching with at the Aebersold camps were stocky giants like Rufus Reid and Lynn Seaton, both of whom have fingers about the diameter of my wrists. Then one year John Goldsby rejoined the party, and after watching him play I realized that you don't have to physically be a bear to play the bass really, *really* well. It's more about technique than brute size or strength. Go for it, and make sure you have a good teacher at first to help get your technique off to a healthy start.

Hey, Chris, where did you hear Lynne's group play? Trying to jog my memory if we've met...
and thanks for the compliment!

And Anya, definitely go for it...playing an instrument is about finding the right relationship between you and it. The way our bodies are will create certain strengths and certain handicaps, no matter where you fall in the size spectrum.
It's a god given fact that I can't play a fullsize bass with 44" string length, raise my action to 12mm and play Velvet Garbos, but there are plenty of ways to get a great sound and make great music.

The key factor for anyone is to listen to their body, avoid pain, use your body correctly (avoid tension, sloppy technique) and don't overstress muscles and tendons, to make sure you avoid injury. If you do that, your body will adapt as needed, within reason!

Thomson - it was at the now-defunct Jazz Factory in Louisville. We didn't actually meet. You were in the back on breaks with a very thick novel and didn't look as though you wanted to be disturbed (I can dig it... I'm sure I had the same look at lunch today in the little chinese joint near the U. with my Thai food and Dostoevsky novel). :)

I'm about 5'6" (maybe 7") and I have tiny fingers/hands as well. I haven't had any problems due to hand size with playing double bass.