Crossing strings on same fret

[Hedgehog_SBM]

Hi all,

My first post. Consider me someone just learning bass. Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

This seems like such a simple and basic "problem", and I'm curious what different people do to solve it.

Trying to play certain patterns or songs at relatively fast tempo, sometimes you have to play notes that are on the same fret, but are crossing strings (fretting hand). This sounds like it's not a problem, but I'm finding it pretty hard to do sometimes. For instance, switching pinky from a higher string to a lower string at a fast tempo and getting a good clear sound on the second note.

Actually, if the tempo is fast enough, this is hard for me to do with any finger, not only the pinky. It just seems to take time picking up the finger, moving it just one string same fret, and pressing accurately to get a clear note.

I've cheated some ways to solve this - for example, by having the ring finger come in to play the second note on the say fret but lower string. But I see how that might lead to problems later. It's not "one finger per fret" technique.

What do experienced players do? Are there exercises for this?

Thanks,

Hedgehog

[maxgrant]

It would really help if you could tab an example out. Usually when I am playing for example D on the 7th fret of the G string and my next note is an A on the 7th fret of D string I use my left ring finger for the first, my middle for the next. In other words, I generally use two fingers close together.

If I have to sound the notes at the same time, I bar across the fret with one finger.

I don't ever try to jump between strings with the same finger, I don't think. It makes the articulation sound choppy and jerky.

[Tupac]

Just use an adjacent finger, don't try to do it all with one.

[jabsys]

I don't really believe in the whole strict one finger per fret thing so I just use another finger or if its just one note a higher string I'll roll the finger back and use the finger joint to fret.

[Hedgehog_SBM]

Perfect! You all answered my question clearly. MaxGrant - you gave a perfect example. I've used the "rolling", or bar across the fret techniques, and they are good. I just wanted to make sure that doing this wan't going to bite me later.

Thanks all. Great forum. I'll have to post bass photos, and join the "clubs" on the forum.

Hedgehog

[Buxtehude]

I bar my fingers for all but pinky unless I need a different articulation on each note (eg short note to longer note). Then I use simplest other finger (eg index and middle. Baring takes strength but it can be a useful tool.

[Jinro]

I also roll my fingers when going up a string. I'm relieved that others do it, as I thought it was poor technique.

[FretlessMainly]

Nah, barring the pinky and/or index finger isn't poor technique at all. But because of the way the hand is constructed, it's better to avoid barring with the second or third fingers. The third finger is generally the weakest, and while it can be strenghtened, the ulnar nerve runs up the forearm to the thirds finger and is an area that can be damaged (trust me - been there, done that).

I suppose you could invent all sorts of odd techniques that could be considered to be poor technique, but most of the basic tools like one finger per fret or barring or sliding or hammering-on/pulling off are fine. The two main areas of potentially bad technique involve wrist angle and fingering with your fingers flat to the strings rather than curled and over them.

To avoid these problems, keep both elbows up and away from either your body (fingering hand) or the bass body (if playing pizzicato/plucking). I can't comment on pick technique.

[Jinro]

By the third finger do you mean the ring or middle? Some people consider the thumb to be a finger some don't

[sammyp]

that's a tough thing for someone new to bass ....don't have to do it all the time but occasionally you're forced to ....you have to play bit more flat fingered and prepare mentally for the finger roll .....but as someone else pointed out use an adjacent finger if possible ...it generally feels and tones up better.

[Russell L]

Sometimes I can roll one finger over to the next string on the same fret. It's easier down low, though, where the strings are closer together. I like a Jazz neck over a Precision neck for that very reason. Other times I use an adjacent finger for the second note. And then, sometimes it just works ok to go over with the same finger, it just depends on the line.

[Hedgehog_SBM]

Great answers - thanks all. Perhaps the simplest situation is going from pinky on one string, to a lower string, same fret, with fast tempo.

For me, the easiest technique that sounds just fine is to play the next note with the ring finger. My fingers are fairly long, and the ring finger juts out way past the pinky, so I can easily get the ring finger to the next string, same fret. It's comfortable, and sounds good - so I'm really glad it's not horribly wrong.

Thanks again,

Hedgehog

[FretlessMainly]

Originally Posted by Jinro

By the third finger do you mean the ring or middle? Some people consider the thumb to be a finger some don't

Ring finger.

[Skitch it!]

I posted this little exercise sequence I use sometimes for rolling 4th's a while back:

Your pinky on the 9th fret of the G string (E), play the note, next note is 9th fret of the D string with pinky (ala roll) play, drop to 8th fret of the D string to your ring finger, play the note, then roll to the 8th fret of the G string, play, then drop to 7th fret of the G with your middle, use the pattern above, (your assigning a finger per root and it's 4th), get down to your index, then swap down strings, move your pinky to the 10th fret of D, play the 4th below (10th fret A string), slide hand down 1 fret back on pinky for 9th fret A string for the rest of the pattern, rundown chromatically to keep the exercise continuous, (when you run-out of postion, reverse and ascend back the way you came.

To get that consistent up to a good tempo is quite tricky but basically you practice rolling on the Index, Mid, Ring and Pinky with that chromatic 1 finger per fret movement/shift descending then reverse back up.

[Cristo]

There is no reason you have to use your pinky, so use another finger.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by Cristo

There is no reason you have to use your pinky, so use another finger.

Yeah, what a nuisance they are, the Pinkys must die!

[kr0n]

OPFP is a guide, not a rule. Fingering is all about the combination of notes and tempo so there's no hard MUST-DO rules.

G string is easy to fret with pinky joint so "inverse Finger Roll" would be sufficient as well, I bet.

[Skitch it!]

As stated by kr0n, one finger per fret is not an absolute, as far as fretting those particular intervals I will either use rolling or independent fingering depending on which accomplishes best. Independent fingering affords more control but is not always an option, rolling has it's own benefits too. That little exercise for rolling above isn't that easy to get around fluidly, but works toward a little more of an automatic rolling reflex for each finger.

[bassnj]

Try different ways of doing it, then practice each way slowly to a metronome.