disco octaves

Oric · #1 10-20-2008, 09:56 AM

On one of the songs my band plays, I'm slapping disco octaves- eighth notes, going from A, to G, to F, then back up. But holding that octave down that long, my pinky does not enjoy. What can I do technique-wise to make it easier? It's kinda hard to do it with my ring finger.
I also have fairly high action, and heavy gauge (.50) strings.

Woofenstein · #2 10-20-2008, 09:57 AM

I want to know as well - my band plays "You Spin Me Round" and the disco octaves are KILLING ME!

awakefie · #3 10-20-2008, 10:03 AM

I'm confused. Are you playing them with just your fingers then?

I use a thumb smack and an index finger pic for disco octaves. Slap the low note with your thumb, while you are doing that hook the high note with your index finger and pluck the high string.

Bear in mind, I'm not a real bass player but I do play one on stage.

4bpauly · #4 10-20-2008, 10:05 AM

use your pinky... it's great excercise to work out your pinkie and it's easier on the rest of your hand.

RCCollins · #5 10-20-2008, 10:08 AM

Just keep doing it, bass players need strong pinkies!

SuperDuck · #6 10-20-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oric

On one of the songs my band plays, I'm slapping disco octaves- eighth notes, going from A, to G, to F, then back up. But holding that octave down that long, my pinky does not enjoy. What can I do technique-wise to make it easier? It's kinda hard to do it with my ring finger.
I also have fairly high action, and heavy gauge (.50) strings.

Your last statement says a lot right there - lower action and lighter gauge strings would make things significantly easier. You're approaching it the same way I do (using the pinky), and it mostly just comes from practing it regularly.

Mushroo · #7 10-20-2008, 10:09 AM

No shortcuts, you've just got to practice!
At the risk of stating the obvious, if your high action is hurting your hands, lower your action.

OK, there is one shortcut I can think of. Try using your ring finger to back up or reinforce your pinky. This is sort of how upright bassists do it.

Good luck!

paganjack · #8 10-20-2008, 10:14 AM

pinky pullups or pinky curls. attach some weight to your keychain and do it. you must be strong if you want to play with high action and heavy gauge strings.

disclaimer: this may be terrible for you

**bassman_al** · #9 10-20-2008, 10:24 AM

[quote=Mushroo;6420522]No shortcuts, you've just got to practice!
At the risk of stating the obvious, if your high action is hurting your hands, lower your action.

OK, there is one shortcut I can think of. Try using your ring finger to back up or reinforce your pinky. This is sort of how upright bassists do it.

+1 on that one

Montsegour · #10 10-20-2008, 10:29 AM

Play it 100 times 10 times faster, over and over again =)

awakefie · #11 10-20-2008, 10:48 AM

LOL! I figured out where I got confused.

You were talking left hand, I was thinking right.

clayton · #12 10-20-2008, 11:04 AM

If've had this problem before and found the following things helpful: (i) make sure your fretting hand thumb is firmly positioned in the middle of the neck; (ii) try not to use more force than necessary to press down the note with your pinky. Stay relaxed; and (iii) lift your hand completly between notes and strech your fingers upwards. You don't have to keep the fingers in fretting position all the time and move it like that. Every now and then you can pluck the open e string as pick up note to buy some time and let your hand relax a bit.

bkbirge · #13 10-20-2008, 11:12 AM

Practicing holding whole note double stops will build your strength for this. Do octaves, 5ths, and major/minor 14th's (octave + the third) for example. Lift your fretting hand elbow up so that you aren't bending your wrist when doing these.

mambo4 · #14 10-20-2008, 01:47 PM

When I finger an octave with my left hand, i try to make sure every finger is on the fret board ...borrowed form upright technique...

index finger on the root, pinky on the octave, but backed up by middle and ring fingers. I don't let my pinky go it alone, as a rule of thumb I always use 'backup' fingers

coolrunner989 · #15 10-20-2008, 01:51 PM

i think it's a bigger problem that it hurts to use your ring finger for the octave. I dont think I've ever used my pinky/index to play an octave, its always index/ring. I think. I'll go home and double check...

Calebmundy · #16 10-20-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkbirge

Practicing holding whole note double stops will build your strength for this. Do octaves, 5ths, and major/minor 14th's (octave + the third) for example. Lift your fretting hand elbow up so that you aren't bending your wrist when doing these.

Dude, octave+3rd=a tenth.

bkbirge · #17 10-20-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calebmundy

Dude, octave+3rd=a tenth.

Hah hah, so it is. Mixed up 7th and 3rd.

If you can do an octave + a 7th then you probably wouldn't have probs doing octaves. Doh.

Calebmundy · #18 10-20-2008, 02:29 PM

I would like to see the guy who can do an octave + a 7th on a four string.

Oric · #19 10-20-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolrunner989

i think it's a bigger problem that it hurts to use your ring finger for the octave. I dont think I've ever used my pinky/index to play an octave, its always index/ring. I think. I'll go home and double check...

as far as I know, different people use different fingers. Using my ring finger just feels kinda cramped. But I definitely will try using both pinky and ring on it. And maybe even lower my action... I probably won't go for lower gauge strings though, I like 'em heavy.

RCCollins · #20 10-20-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oric

as far as I know, different people use different fingers. Using my ring finger just feels kinda cramped. But I definitely will try using both pinky and ring on it. And maybe even lower my action... I probably won't go for lower gauge strings though, I like 'em heavy.

don't forget the most important point that's come up in this thread (besides "practice"): LOWER THAT ACTION!