Should i switch to 5/8th?

SirFunk · #1 05-21-2006, 06:19 PM

Hi,

For all who don't know me. I've been playing upright for about 12 years. I'm going to be a senior at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. I have a 3/4 sized Romanian 1/2 carved (top/back) bass. It sounds decent, the action (after i had it set up by the wonderful Guy Harrison in Ottawa) is AMAZING. Anyway, A community member in the town where i live suggested i switch to a 5/8th bass.

This woman from what i understand went to Curtis and played cello professionally for 30+ years. She studded bass for 10 years with someone who i had never heard of. She thinks my 3/4 bass is too large for my hands. I have to agree somewhat, In the lower positions its a real stretch for me to make a good 1/2 step between my index and middle fingers, middle to pinkie is fine. Where i live there are no luthiers nearby, especially ones who would have any basses (let alone a 5/8) in stock.

What do you all think about maybe driving real far and renting a 5/8th for the summer (i don't know how much good basses rent for but i'm sure the trip and the renting would not be cheap and I'm a 'starving' college student) and trying out a 5/8th with 4-finger technique? Or should i just suck it up and learn to stretch on a normal 3/4 bass.

Thanks for any advice,
Jeff

Snakewood · #2 05-21-2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirFunk

Hi,

For all who don't know me. I've been playing upright for about 12 years. I'm going to be a senior at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. I have a 3/4 sized Romanian 1/2 carved (top/back) bass. It sounds decent, the action (after i had it set up by the wonderful Guy Harrison in Ottawa) is AMAZING. Anyway, A community member in the town where i live suggested i switch to a 5/8th bass.

This woman from what i understand went to Curtis and played cello professionally for 30+ years. She studded bass for 10 years with someone who i had never heard of. She thinks my 3/4 bass is too large for my hands. I have to agree somewhat, In the lower positions its a real stretch for me to make a good 1/2 step between my index and middle fingers, middle to pinkie is fine. Where i live there are no luthiers nearby, especially ones who would have any basses (let alone a 5/8) in stock.

What do you all think about maybe driving real far and renting a 5/8th for the summer (i don't know how much good basses rent for but i'm sure the trip and the renting would not be cheap and I'm a 'starving' college student) and trying out a 5/8th with 4-finger technique? Or should i just suck it up and learn to stretch on a normal 3/4 bass.

Thanks for any advice,
Jeff

Well, Jeff if you're having difficulty getting a semi-tone stretch between your first and second finger on a 3/4 it will be almost unlikely that you could use a 4 finger technique on a 5/8. Afterall the string length isn't THAT much smaller, the body is much smaller. How tall are you? How large are your hands? I would stick with the 3/4 if I were you. I'm a small bassist, 5'7 (I have big hands though, so I guess it helps), but I've seen a woman of 4'9" play a 3/4 bass and she had tiny fingers. It's very do-able just takes time to make the adjustment. Afterall, this curtis lady is a cellist, even if she studied the bass she's coming from a much different perspective.

ToR-Tu-Ra · #3 05-21-2006, 07:32 PM

Last thursday I saw a very small (5'3'' tops) and slim girl with small hands playing on a normal sized 3/4 bass, no problems at all. Pretty cute by the way

What's the string lenght on your bass? On mine it's very close to 43'' and half position is a bit hard but manageable. If your bass has a similar string lenght, maybe you could try getting a new (or old) 3/4 but with a string lenght closer to 41''

jazzbassnerd · #4 05-21-2006, 09:35 PM

Especially if you like your bass, you could try getting an extended nut. I've heard it sacrifices a little volume, but that would give you a shorter string length.

anonymous0726 · #5 05-21-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirFunk

She studded bass for 10 years

Damn.

Anyhow, knowing how big your hands are would help talk more intelligently, but do you have an incredibly short index finger?

If you can't stretch it, then roll your hand on your thumb a bit to make the note.

Andy Allen · #6 05-21-2006, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToR-Tu-Ra

Last thursday I saw a very small (5'3'' tops) and slim girl with small hands playing on a normal sized 3/4 bass, no problems at all. Pretty cute by the way

I would be in dead trouble even thinking about those petite Mexico City women if I hadn't already married one

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread...

Andy

SirFunk · #7 05-22-2006, 06:22 AM

Thanks for the replies...

Here's some measurements.

Vibrating length of my bass: a hair over 40.5"

My height: 5'9"

length of my index finger: 2.6" (from base between index and middle)

Span from index to pinky comfortably: 4.5"
uncomfortably: 5.5"

span from index to middle comfortably: 2.25"
uncomfortably: 3.5"

Also, my bass has an Eb crook, from what i gather, that's odd for such a short vibrating length?

So from the looks of it, the vibrating length of my string is as short as i would want to go. Although it probably doesn't apply anymore what actually is an extended nut? Is it just a nut carved to extend an inch or so over the fingerboard?

Any other ideas?

Should i get a tiny rack (like the torture device) and tie my fingers to it and stretch them out? heh

Thanks again everyone.

SirFunk · #8 05-22-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

I just measured my Bisiach Bass which has a string length of 42". From Ab to Bb on the G is about 4" or so. With your 40.5" sl, the distance is slightly smaller. If you are using guitar fingering, STOP it NOW. Simandl fingering is best for this purpose especially in the lower positions. Your Bass is fine for your stretch.

The Eb neck is fine and will only make it easier to get to the F# and into thumb position. I own 2 Basses with Eb necks and they are just fine.

Hmm.. yeah i don't use guitar fingering. This cello teacher suggested i get a 3/4 bass and use 4-finger technique.. but i guess i'll try to stick with this.

The real problem isn't between first finger and fourth. It's more getting a full half-step between first and second in 1/2 and 1st position. I can do it, it's just not very comfortable at all... therefore if i am trying to play relaxed I'll end up having my first finger sharp often.

Don Higdon · #9 05-22-2006, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

The Cello teacher may be the problem.

Is, not "may be."

nicklloyd · #10 05-22-2006, 05:32 PM

You are 5'9" and playing a 3/4 sized bass is hard? It must be the fingering technique you are using...?

uptonbass · #11 05-22-2006, 05:36 PM

Switch to 7/8, maybe that will do the trick. tell the cello teacher its 10/16+1/4

CamMcIntyre · #12 05-22-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirFunk

Hmm.. yeah i don't use guitar fingering. This cello teacher suggested i get a 3/4 bass and use 4-finger technique.. but i guess i'll try to stick with this.

The real problem isn't between first finger and fourth. It's more getting a full half-step between first and second in 1/2 and 1st position. I can do it, it's just not very comfortable at all... therefore if i am trying to play relaxed I'll end up having my first finger sharp often.

Like everyone else has said. Don't try 4 finger on a bass unless if it is a bass guitar. I feel your pain in trying to get a full half step between first and second finger in half and 1st position, but it gets better. I learned a lot of bad upright technique by not studying technique early [amazing how that one works out eh?]. However, after some practice-the stretch gets easier. I realize, you've been playing a lot longer than i have, but-stick with it. You might try doing finger stretches [not to the point of pain] every day to see if you can get that stretch to be more comfortable.

take it easy.

mje · #13 05-23-2006, 06:14 AM

Interestingly, after learning the 1-2-4 Simandl technique on UB, I found that it worked much better than 1-2-3-4 on fretless BG. I even use it in the lower positions on fretted BG.

Ben Joella · #14 05-23-2006, 08:52 AM

Jeff,

Also make sure to stretch properly before your practice sessions. This has significant bennefits as far as the long term health of your hands no matter what type of bass you play and should at least start to make your hand more flexible. Again, as everyone else has suggested, a seasoned pro BASS player should be able to help you with stretching too.