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  #1  
Old 02-13-2009, 05:08 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: richmond, va
do i need to change how i finger my scales?

hi, i've been playing electric bass for about thirteen years and i've just started on the upright. i got ahold of the todd phillips dvd and he shows all of the scales generally starting with the index finger on the root.
i've always started with my middle finger, thereby freeing up my index for the third of the scale on the next string, with my middle finger hitting the fourth and the pinkie with the fifth. obviously this is different from what he is showing.
is this something i need to change? will keeping my current fingering have negative effects on what i can do later?
thanks guys!
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  #2  
Old 02-13-2009, 07:48 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
depends on the scale. if I'm in, say F or Bb, my index finger is on the root. If I'm in C, my middle finger is on the root. If I'm in D, I'm back to the index finger.
  #3  
Old 02-15-2009, 05:13 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wadhams! NY (Adirondacks)
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When I switched from electric to upright I shifted to mostly (what I believe to be) first position scales. In short, I use as many open strings as possible and rarely go far up the neck. This is due to the larger scale of the upright, and what I now know was rather high action on my instrument above the fifth.

So an "e" scale would start with the open e string and would include an open a as well. I almost never thought of that on the electric. all those open strings would be hard to control on an amplified instrument with such potential for sustain. An f scale starts with index on the f on the e string, then g with the pinkie, open a string, b flat index, c pinkie etc.
G major can start with middle finger on g on the e string, then open a, index on b on the a, middle finger on c on the a, open d, e on the d etc. I just never played like that on the electric. Now when I do pick up a bass guitar I have to rethink everything in the other direction.
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