Easily fatigued on the lower frets..

[5string5fingers]

I've been playing bass for about 4 and half years now,and I've built up good strength and stamina in my left and right hands. But lately I've been playing several songs that require the stretch between the 1st and 3rd frets,and 3rd to 5th and about half through the song it really starts to cause soreness in my forearm and wrist. Anybody else have this problem. I don't know if it's because my hands are a little smaller and its just a bigger stretch for me, or its the angle my wrist has to make to play though notes or what? Any questions,comments,tips,etc are welcomed.

[mileszs]

Are you using your ring finger at the third fret (in first position)? If so, try using your pinky instead (or, using both your ring finger and your pinky, with your pinky doing the actual fretting whilst your ring finger assists in pressing the string). Within the first 3-5 frets, using this method is often recommended, and seems to help a bit. It may take some re-training of your brain, though (as I've found).

I hope that helps!

[5string5fingers]

No, I'm using my pinky. I hardly ever use my ring because the stretch is too much.

[countrybassist]

So your having trouble stretching only 2 frets? Are you using you 1st and 4th finger? Are you hands small? I can't imagine that someone who has been playing 4 years hasn't had to stretch at least 1 whole step in any previous songs.

[5string5fingers]

haha yes, but it's only on the lower 3-4 frets,on the E and some what A strings. I think it's just the awkward angle my wrist has to bend. It's the only area on the bass where I have that problem. And as stated above I'm using my 1st anf 4th fingers.

[gregmerrill]

Use open notes when you can if it is a fast run even if not diatonic to the key. Jamerson was a master at that. If you check out his transcriptions he will play open notes when he is in the key of Ab ect. The note is not in the key but because the run is so quick the ear does not hear it. That tiny fraction of relief makes a huge difference for the left hand. Ask any upright player about utilizing open notes when ever possible.

[jarrhead]

Off topic post.

I see you live in valdosta! I lived there a few years ago, when I was 5 years old. (14 now)

Good place!

Anyways, Try raising your strap a bit higher, the same you would if you did tapping often, like I do.

[5string5fingers]

Originally Posted by gregmerrill

Use open notes when you can if it is a fast run even if not diatonic to the key. Jamerson was a master at that. If you check out his transcriptions he will play open notes when he is in the key of Ab ect. The note is not in the key but because the run is so quick the ear does not hear it. That tiny fraction of relief makes a huge difference for the left hand. Ask any upright player about utilizing open notes when ever possible.

Good idea,but there's no way to play F and G on the E string and play that note open in standard tuning.

[5string5fingers]

Originally Posted by jarrhead

Off topic post.

I see you live in valdosta! I lived there a few years ago, when I was 5 years old. (14 now)

Good place!

Anyways, Try raising your strap a bit higher, the same you would if you did tapping often, like I do.

Honestly I hate it here with a passion. I moved down here from atlanta to live with my girlfriend.

Strap is also a good suggestion but I get the same problem as I practice a lot sitting down.

[jarrhead]

Some things are easier standing. You're never going to show off (aka play gigs) sitting so why not practice standing? Some things like tapping and 1-7th fret riffs are easier standing, if they're fast.

[5string5fingers]

I practice standing as well,but if I'm just noodling or casually playing I just sit down for comfort. I've tried both sitting and standing and I run into the same problem.

The song I'm having most problem is Follow You Home.

Tempo is 140bpm and the bassline is mostly straight 8ths and the majority of the riff is G F G F G A# G F

or for tab people

G------------------------------------
D------------------------------------
A-----------1----------1-1--------1-3
E 3-1-3-1-3--3-1-3-1-3----1-3-x-----
B--------------------------------1-------

[cgnortheast]

If the scale of your 5er is 35 that might cause more problems than normal.
For starters, make sure you fret the c/f first fret stuff right at the fret wire. Also make sure you are loosening up and moving your whole hand to accomodate that long stretch, rather than sticking your thumb in the same spot and just trying to stretch your finger.
Also, relax and don't press so hard to try to gain speed. Squeezing too hard will slow you down and hurt you.
I woudl recommend starting with the tempo slow enough that you can do it easily and slowly increaing speed until you get where you need. Since you are playing straight 8ths the timing shouldn't be a problem...but starting slow and having to be patient will also help with your timing.

[klokker]

This was a big issue for me (well, in terms of bass playing).

I have small hands as well, but even after a few years of playing I didn't know that my fingers simply weren't strong enough yet. I had learned to play in a way that wasn't very "surefooted".

I'm self taught, so who knows? But I do a series of hammer ons and pull offs on the lower frets, all strings, to start every practice session with all fingers. I do it until I get it right. The goal is to get my ring and pinky finger as strong and independant as the other two. It never quite gets there perfectly. But I'm amazed at the strength and relaxation you can develop over time if you keep at it.

The key, or discipline, is to make a full compression of each finger on the fret board during the exercise and while practicing the part you're playing, while keeping a relaxed wrist.

Higher up on the fret board I also bar with my first finger and practice scales in a hammer on/pull off style with my other three fingers. You get a good "burn" and it helps a lot in all areas of playing.

Again, I've never had a lesson, maybe its all wrong, but its worked for me in terms of strength and endurance.

[neptoon]

dude, i feel your pain...i was in the studio doing this tune in over and over again studio fashion that is this pentatonic thing that goes from low C to D on the B string back and forth quite a bit, and it was pretty fatiguing...all i did was practice it a lot and got through it...there is no easy fix...it's like running a marathon - start off small, 5K's first

[5string5fingers]

The 5 strings a 34 inch scale. I don't know about you but I haven't seen many 5 string shorts scales...I guess I'm going to just have to play it more. I do keep my thumb in 1 spot on the back of the neck so maybe that's my problem. I just always thought moving it would be too much motion and more work than I needed to be doing. I used my pinky and index a lot in songs,since I have smaller hands I learned very early on I was going to have to strengthen that finger to allow me to play songs better and faster.

[jarrhead]

Try hitting an open A instead of one.

[5string5fingers]

That just sounds off doing that, that makes me play that note out of tune with everything else.

[azureblue]

strength exercises:

1- a major triad, the root played with the 2nd finger, the third with the first finger on the next higher string, the fifth played with the 4th finger on that same string

2- a minor triad, the root played with the first finger, the third played with the fourth finger on the same string, and the fifth played with the third finger on the next higher string.

3- a dominant 7th scale: played like this- one finger per fret: on the E string: 1, 3, 4,, on the A string, 1, 3, 4,, on the D string, 1, 2.

Play all exercises going up and down, in all positions. Play them slowly at first, and don't play one for too long, swap them around as your play. I suggest beginning this at the fifth fret, then dropping it down to the first fret as your hand strength builds. Stop when you feel like your hand is cramping or your forearm gets tight. When you can play from the first to the 12th fret without a misfret, and keeping in time with the metronome, then up the tempo and do it again.

[cgnortheast]

What you are doing for "strength" is giving you bad habits.
When you fret a note, you should be as close to the fret wire as possible and using the minimal amount of force neccessary to make the note sound clean. It really takes barely a touch...using more force, pushing the string all the way to the fretboard will actually make the notes inaccurate.
Anchoring the thumb is also a bad habit.
You just need to relax all this tension you are creating and you will be fine.
Playing the bass is like making love to a woman.....be gentle and create nice rhythm.

[5string5fingers]

I do fret close to the wire,and I don't press down that hard,but there is more tension on the string that close to the nut.