Is this bad technique?

TheWhiteness · #1 03-19-2008, 12:38 PM

For some reason, when I'm playing my bass and playing the D and G strings...I tend to wind up in a weird hand posture like the following pictures show...

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...f/100_1589.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...f/100_1588.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...f/100_1587.jpg

I have the creeping suspicion that this may be bad technique and is possible hindering me more than helping me. Anyone able to confirm my suspicions or deny them?

Thanks in advance.

jnuts1 · #2 03-19-2008, 12:53 PM

Do you use your thumb? i almost always end up there. but it is by design. i have a three finger plucking thing i do with the thumb, index & middle fingers. plus i get killer tone in this postion as compared to the standard 2 finger style.

if you are comfortable with that & you can play well i don't see why you would change.

check out Hardien Feraud, Matt Garrison & Dominique DiPiazza. they kinda play that way.

TheWhiteness · #3 03-19-2008, 12:54 PM

No, I only pluck with my index and middle finger currently. And thanks for your response.

mothmonsterman · #4 03-19-2008, 12:57 PM

Looks ok to me, like the above guy said if you can play that way and it's comfortable.
only think i can suggest is maybe trying to straighten your wrist out to get an even attack on all the strings.

arcellus · #5 03-19-2008, 12:59 PM

Looks okay to me - your thumb, 3rd and 4th fingers are muting the strings you aren't playing, which is important.

The only thing I'd correct is the angle at which your fingers are resting on the strings - they're sort of hooked under, which will slow you down when you need to move them away to play on the lower strings.

Also, it looks like you're sort of "gripping" the strings, holding on pretty tight. Try to rest just the tips of your fingers on the muted strings.

jnuts1 · #6 03-19-2008, 01:01 PM

if i was not using my thumb i wouldn't play like that. i would try for a more straight ahead approach.

try checking out charlie hunter. he plays a bass/guitar hybrid & he still plucks that way when he is not using his thumb. his DVD "solo invitations" shows what he is doing pretty well.

but it takes TONS of practice to do it well.

TheWhiteness · #7 03-19-2008, 01:01 PM

Thanks, mmm.

And to Arcellus, you're right. I have a bad habit of hooking them underneath the strings. Which I'm trying to break myself of. I haven't been playing long at all, and I'm a complete noob, but I already have some bad habits I'm trying to get rid of.

Thanks to everyone that's replied so far.

captainmuscular · #8 03-19-2008, 01:06 PM

It might be worth your while to check out John Pattitucci's instructional video. I can't remember the title but it's available pretty much anywhere. The way you're resting your free fingers on the E and A strings reminds me of Pattitucci's right hand. Being a six string player he really has to mute with his right hand to keep the other strings quiet. I agree with the previous posts that you want to be careful not to "hook" your fingers under the strings because you want to keep your hand free to move. When contemplating technique it's always crucial to focus on comfort and freedom. You want to set yourself up in a way that allows you to move quickly, freely and painlessly. Economy of motion is also SUPER important because extraneous movements are wasted energy and slow you down in the long run. Good luck!

TheWhiteness · #9 03-19-2008, 01:07 PM

Thanks a ton, captain. I'll be sure to look it up here soon.

pedroims · #10 03-19-2008, 01:18 PM

you can also use the floating thumb tecnique, so ig you are playing the D your thumb will be in the A, if you are playing the G then your thumb will be in the string D.

I found that this technique is the one that work better for me, try it and check what your ring and pinky fingers do, in one picture looks like your pushing down the E with your thumb, I do not know if is just the picture, but I think that you should just to rest your finger just to mute the string , this is because I found that the less tension I have in my hands the better for me. Hope it helps

TheWhiteness · #11 03-19-2008, 01:22 PM

Yeah, I am doing that in the picture. Which was unintentional. I normally don't do that. At least, I don't think I normally do that.

And thanks, I'll give it a try and see how it works.

onlyclave · #12 03-19-2008, 01:43 PM

By looking at your pix you appear to have a right hand death grip going on. I wonder what your left hand is doing?

In the second picture I can't help but notice how far off the E string is deflected. Why are you pushing down so hard on that?

Try this: Place your thumb on the top of the E string and press into the body of the bass or the pickup, where ever it is you are resting your thumb. Using your index finger only just pluck quarter notes. Most of the motion comes from the big knuckle where you hand stops and your finger begins. If you notice that you pressing the E string down, stop, relax, shake your hand out and start again. Then switch to your middle finger and pluck the same way.

By your included pictures it looks like you are hooking for fingers under the strings and pulling them away from the body with a severe hook in your plucking fingers. By doing that you are limiting your plucking strength and fatiguing yourself quickly because that is a smaller muscle group than the "Big Knuckle".

matthewbrown · #13 03-19-2008, 01:48 PM

You look as though your fingers have way too much meat on the strings, and it looks like you're working too hard. Just my opinion. Less friction gives more speed.

mutedeity · #14 03-19-2008, 05:01 PM

I don't know how anyone can say that those pictures show good technique.

You are really limiting what your fingers can do there by curling them under the strings. What I would suggest is that you start by straightening your hand and anchoring your thumb on the pickup for the time being. You can incorporate "floating thumb" technique later, but for now I think you need to get your fingers out from under the strings.

Rest your thumb on the pickup and relax. Once you have your thumb in position place your fingers along the strings at a 90 degree angle with your fingers elevated about 20 degrees to the strings and practice raking your index finger along the G D A and E string in order, and then alternate with your middle finger. Make sure you use the tips of your fingers and allow your ringfinger and pinky to float freely without touching the strings. As you do this allow your thumb to pivot on the pickup but only allow your thumb to open away from your hand. Make sure you don't bend your thumb inwards.

Once you have this together start practicing your scales and so on making sure that your fingers continue to stay out from under the strings.

pedroims · #15 03-19-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mutedeity

I don't know how anyone can say that those pictures show good technique.

You are really limiting what your fingers can do there by curling them under the strings. What I would suggest is that you start by straightening your hand and anchoring your thumb on the pickup for the time being. You can incorporate "floating thumb" technique later, but for now I think you need to get your fingers out from under the strings.

Rest your thumb on the pickup and relax. Once you have your thumb in position place your fingers along the strings at a 90 degree angle with your fingers elevated about 20 degrees to the strings and practice raking your index finger along the G D A and E string in order, and then alternate with your middle finger. Make sure you use the tips of your fingers and allow your ringfinger and pinky to float freely without touching the strings. As you do this allow your thumb to pivot on the pickup but only allow your thumb to open away from your hand. Make sure you don't bend your thumb inwards.

Once you have this together start practicing your scales and so on making sure that your fingers continue to stay out from under the strings.

+10000

Rob Mancini · #16 03-20-2008, 05:19 AM

Quit curling your fingers under and relax a little. OK, relax a lot. You're not far off from good technique but your lack of relaxation is causing you to choke your strings with the right hand.

TheWhiteness · #17 03-20-2008, 01:12 PM

To mutedeity, everyone that said the technique was fine also said to not curl my fingers under and release the tension a bit. But thanks for your input nonetheless.

Rob, thank you also for your input, I've been working on that.

spindizzy · #18 03-20-2008, 01:47 PM

These folks are correct in pointing out your obviously too intense grip on the strings. I see no reason to not use FT though and working your way through old techniques to get to the one you think is best for you isn't my kind of input. A ramp might help you to train those fingers to be lighter and more efficient but again I have never used one and managed to learn a softer approach without one.

The pictures do not show enough of you to properly analyze your technique though as several other aspects need to be correct as well. I point you to the Gary Willis instructionals available on YouTube (and don't feel bad that they are free as Gary will be happy you got them that way...you'll have to trust me on this). I think it is part two (or post two) that has a lengthy piece on how to put these together into proper technique. I would follow that to the letter (including the advice about using clasical guitar position when you are sitting down).

Spin

spindizzy · #19 03-20-2008, 01:51 PM

Also Mute, usually I am with you all the way and find your insights (and your strictness) to be very good advice indeed. However on planting the thumb anywhere I must respectfully disagree and see no long term value to bothering with that for this novitiate.

Spin

mutedeity · #20 03-20-2008, 09:29 PM

I think that planting the thumb in a place where it is relaxed is a good thing to do at first because it trains the begginer to bring the fingers to the thumb. I think that floating thumb technique is a secondary consideration and is more a muting technique than a positioning technique. I believe in the OP's case the having his thumb rested on the pickup will prevent him from mauling the strings the way he is in the pictures. Note that his thumb presses into the string as well. Also having his thumb rested will prevent him from curling his hand over and his fingers curling under the strings.