Finger per fret? Todd please help.

[hongjaemarch]

Hi Todd and other bass forum members. I have always seen you use a 4 finger per 3 fret guideline. yet, others cover one finger per fret. Which way do you use and why?

[louieeadg]

If you're starting out of your bass then one finger per fret is good for very many reasons...(which is what I do)
1) It will keep your hand a bit more relaxed and in one spot for longer.
2) You'll start out by using all your fingers, therefore, gaining dexterity, stamina, and s-t-r-e-t-c-h in all your fingers which you will need for playing bass! (when I started I could only play for about 15 minutes before fatigue set in)
3) Your major and minor scales, among a few others but to start with, are all within those 4 frets. Making patterns easier to learn and economy of motion is the name of the game!
4) And last but not least....this one doesn't sound nearly as good as the other three, sadly enough, but well...that's how I was told. But I later saw why I was told this...plus it just made sense...

To me 1 finger per fret makes sense and is simple. But after playing a while and really getting into the music, sometimes I don't know exactly how I played something. After a while if you feel it, your finger will find it.

good luck and cheers

[DocBop]

Both I use the Simandl fingerings low on the neck and switch to one finger per fret up the neck. There is no one answer because it depends on the size of your hands and finger span. I say like many things learn to do both and after awhile you switch as necessary without thinking about it.

[Todd Johnson]

Originally Posted by hongjaemarch

Hi Todd and other bass forum members. I have always seen you use a 4 finger per 3 fret guideline. yet, others cover one finger per fret. Which way do you use and why?

Hongjaemarch,

DocBop answered the question for me.....ha! Perfect!!

My main motive/concern is to play "NEXT TO THE FRET"....so I get the best possible sound with the least amount of effort. Make sense?

So.....(because I have small hands)

........In the first 5 or 6 fret area I use a combination of Simandl (1-2-4) and one finger per fret fingerings. That's what's most comfortable for me..... From the 6th or 7th fret on up I "primarily" use one finger per fret. Make sense?

Just use your common sense and pay attention to what your hands and ears tell you.....

Have fun.......and play slow!!!

[pizmeyre]

What about above the 12th fret? I can't really reach my pinkie up enough to use it on anything other that the G or maybe a string.

-Piz

[buddyro57]

I agree with the Simandl crowd. For my hand size, around the 9th fret it feels pretty natural to fan out to finger-per-fret. For some folks that point may come sooner (lower fret), later for others ( a higher fret), depending on the size of the hand/length of fingers etc. Jaco had ginormous hands but he used a modified Simandl approach for the lower positions. 99.999% of all upright bassist can't be wrong.
Jon Schwabe
University of Northern Iowa
School of Music

[Poop-Loops]

I have small girlish hands, but one thing my teacher taught me (who has small, but manly hands) is that you shouldn't really stretch the fingers low on the neck, but instead pivot the entire hand on your thumb. Works much better for me. A lot less painful.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by buddyro57

I agree with the Simandl crowd. For my hand size, around the 9th fret it feels pretty natural to fan out to finger-per-fret. For some folks that point may come sooner (lower fret), later for others ( a higher fret), depending on the size of the hand/length of fingers etc. Jaco had ginormous hands but he used a modified Simandl approach for the lower positions. 99.999% of all upright bassist can't be wrong.
Jon Schwabe
University of Northern Iowa
School of Music

Well you shouldn't compare an upright to a bass guitar just because they are similar. I wouldn't use guitar technique on a bass, either.

[Freddels]

Originally Posted by pizmeyre

What about above the 12th fret? I can't really reach my pinkie up enough to use it on anything other that the G or maybe a string.

-Piz

That sounds like you just have a weak, inexperienced pinky. Just keep working on it. Eventually, with persisitance and hard work, your pinky will be able to do it.

[metalstorm]

I use one finger per fret in every position. I have small hands but i do this on a dingwall. This includes the 37 inch B string. It just takes a bit of practice.

[buddyro57]

Poop Loops wrote:
"Well you shouldn't compare an upright to a bass guitar just because they are similar. I wouldn't use guitar technique on a bass, either."

I double on UB, EUB, electric basses fretted and fretless. I use the same Simandl fingering for all. This maximizes efficiency and minimizes the time it takes to transfer one idea to all of the basses i play. Your quote about guitar technique is also shortsighted I am afraid, if you watch any classical guitarist, their hand position looks almost exactly like Simandl.....as does cello hand position. Why? because that approach most closely resembles the posture of the hand in repose, in other words, the most natural position gives you the fewest problems down the road....the fewest encounters with carpal-tunnel, tendonitis etc.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Well you shouldn't compare an upright to a bass guitar just because they are similar. I wouldn't use guitar technique on a bass, either.

The finger per fret many bass players use came from guitar. Electric bass is an newborn in the world of musical instruments being about fifty years old. String instruments go back 100's of years and have 100's of years of developing technique and teaching methods. The Simandl "New" approach is almost a 100 years old and been re-edited a couple times over the decades. So it is very refined. There are other DB approaches, but you find most DB players started with Simandl because of the solid foundation it builds. They may switch to other approaches later on, but most have worked on Simandl at some point. Some BG teachers use parts of Simandl pages 104 and 105 are a great workout for DB or BG.

Bottom line people need to do what works for them. IMO to get to that point people should try what's out there and if looks workable even if for only a region of the fingerboard learn it. Learn multiple approaches, then forget about it and let your subconscious call the shots as you play.

[Todd Johnson]

Originally Posted by DocBop

The finger per fret many bass players use came from guitar. Electric bass is an newborn in the world of musical instruments being about fifty years old. String instruments go back 100's of years and have 100's of years of developing technique and teaching methods. The Simandl "New" approach is almost a 100 years old and been re-edited a couple times over the decades. So it is very refined. There are other DB approaches, but you find most DB players started with Simandl because of the solid foundation it builds. They may switch to other approaches later on, but most have worked on Simandl at some point. Some BG teachers use parts of Simandl pages 104 and 105 are a great workout for DB or BG.

Bottom line people need to do what works for them. IMO to get to that point people should try what's out there and if looks workable even if for only a region of the fingerboard learn it. Learn multiple approaches, then forget about it and let your subconscious call the shots as you play.

DocBop!!

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!

[sjb64]

Use one finger per fret. Practice chromatic scale in first postion. Work at it. If your hands are so small that it's really a problem, look for a shorter scale length bass.

[pizmeyre]

Well, the weird thing is, my hands are pretty large. It just seems difficult to get my hand in a position that will comfortably allow one-finger-per-fret. Although I have been fiddling with different thumb placements and it seem to make a least a little difference.

-piz

p.s. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback!