1-2-4 Technique

[devast8or]

I'm a noob both here & with bass guitar. I'm currently learning how to play bass, & I've got a question that I could use help with. I've picked up a Hal Leonard book, & it's teaching the 1-2-4 technique. However, the more I read on this site, the more I get the impression the "1-finger-per-fret" rule is the norm.
Can someone let me know the pro's & con's about the 1-2-4 technique? Also, are there any beginner books you would recommend? I'm an old tuba player converting to electric bass, so reading music isn't a problem here.

[DocBop]

I don't know that book so I'm having to guess what its talking about is upright bass left hand fingerings. That is used by many when playing below the fifth fret. If you don't have big hands it reduced the stretching. Then as you move up the neck you go into the one-finger-per fret technique. So it boil down to what is comfortable for you.

I say its worth knowing and after awhile you switch back and forth between both without even thinking about it.

[devast8or]

Thanks for the info. Btw, here's the Hal Leonard book I'm using (bass method book 1). This volume does primarily focus on the 1-5 frets.

[Erick Lam]

Pros: less tiring
Cons: one less finger is used.

Finger-per-fret is something you use for practising and when you need one finger per fret (d'uh). Otherwise use 1-2-4.

[vision]

I actually use a 1-2-4 technique spread out on every other fret, and I adjust between this and traditional technique depending on the notes I'm playing. For example, if I want to play C, D, E, I'll use my 1st finger on C, 2nd on D, and 3rd on E. I find it easier to play licks in this spread out manner, so I can cover alot of ground on one string.

[Der Bluten Kat]

if you can use it in certain situations, it'll keep you left hand less tired throughout the night... i use it when im playing closer to the nut in the 1st-4th fret range

[The BurgerMeister]

Originally Posted by DocBop

I don't know that book so I'm having to guess what its talking about is upright bass left hand fingerings. That is used by many when playing below the fifth fret. If you don't have big hands it reduced the stretching. Then as you move up the neck you go into the one-finger-per fret technique. So it boil down to what is comfortable for you.

I say its worth knowing and after awhile you switch back and forth between both without even thinking about it.

+1,002! well said... especially the last two sentences.

this is exactly how i use it.

[Janss]

Since you are playing the electric bass I would recomend going with a finger per fret if you can. If you can play like that then it is easy to learn 1-2-4.
However, if you start playing Double Bass, switch to the 1-2-4, it is much easier and can help your intuneation.

[KayCee]

Originally Posted by DocBop

I don't know that book so I'm having to guess what its talking about is upright bass left hand fingerings. That is used by many when playing below the fifth fret. If you don't have big hands it reduced the stretching. Then as you move up the neck you go into the one-finger-per fret technique. So it boil down to what is comfortable for you.

I say its worth knowing and after awhile you switch back and forth between both without even thinking about it.

Doc's right on again, IMO.

I would add that even if you DO have big hands, it's nice to reduce the stretching whenever it's convenient.

[debozkurt]

Yea, the 1 2 4 approach is generally an upright method, up to thumb position; though not the only one as there are other methods out there.

With electric, I usually just go with whats comfy...I play both, so the 1 2 4 thing does carry over quite a bit with me to the electric, but I definitely do not limit myself to it.

.....On the other hand, I just got a fretless electric, and find that going utilizing the aforementioned method helps a great deal with intonation...at least up until the octave, where the spacing is much smaller.

...It all really comes down to what best suites you, experiment.

[dulouz]

I use a combination of three techniques. 1-2-4, OFPF, and extended fingerings. When I practice scales and finger ex's I always use OFPF or extend my hand to cover 5 frets. This strengthens my hand and improves my dexterity.

If I am on a gig with a lot of songs in a three fret area, lots of stuff in 1st position, or a lot of quick octave jumps, I use 1-2-4. Otherwise I use OFPF. Switching between the two also helps aleviate any cramping and seems to extend my endurance. Sometimes I will even play the same line in two different fingerings.

[xafofo]

i use 1-2-4 whenever i can. not only is it more comfortable, but it places your hand in a better position to mute strings. for example if you're playing slap-pop octaves, it's much easier to mute if you play 1-4-1-4 instead of 1-3-1-3

[nonfatmatt]

What works best is what is logical and what you can be comfortable with. For instance, I learn scales with four fingers on the electric, but still play a majority of my stuff with 1-2-4 because it's more comfortable, and I'm not playing huge scale runs most of the time. Once you know the notes of the neck they're interchangeable, as long as you take pains to know where you're going and if either method will cause problems in executing the music. Of course if you're on book one it might look a little bit daunting, but once you gain a basic knowledge of the fretboard you'll find that you can focus more on making music (which is the point of the whole thing, besides looking cool) and what follows from that is using various techniques to make the best sound possible.