Left Hand Techniques (Fretting Hand Angle)

[BillyIVbass]

Janek,
First thanks for doing what you're doing in the bass community, second my question:

When fretting a note: should my fingers be curled enough to where I'm fretting the note with the top of my fingertip or less curled fretting the note with more of the lower inside portion of my fingertip?

A friend suggest I try the first way to get a better sound out of the note, but it is extremely awkward to play like that.

Also anyone else feel free to dive in.

Thanks!

[pretaanluxis]

Using the top is too difficult, just use whatever feels natural and gets a clean sound.

[janekbass]

I use the tips of my fingers as I come from a classical guitar technique. It's really a matter of what you feel most comfortable with, and if you're been playing for a while it might be hard to break habits you already have.

My advice is comfort, sound, time, and feel. If you have those things prioritized you can't go too far wrong. And fun should come up there pretty high in the list too!

Janek

[BillyIVbass]

Thanks! Just off of the fingertips seems to work best. Right on the fingertips really tenses up my wrist and arm.