Finger Spread

[netgeist]

Ugh...I am so frustrated I need to vent and get some TB advice.

Been at this for over a year. I am taking lessons. I am running finger drills. And yet my fingers CANNOT span 4 frets...not even at frets 7-8-9-10.

At what point should I really be able to comfortably stretch my fingers to get a one-per-fret ratio? Are some people just not capable of it? If that is the case, can you still be a decent player?

Thanks,

- netgeist

[SlingBass4]

I have small hands, but my first bass was a 60's P-Bass. It's a process and takes time. In answer to your question: yes, we're all built differently...BUT, with time you'll discover ways to make progress and also find that there are others that can't do what you can because of the methods you've used. Stiff upper lip and all...

[netgeist]

Thanks, Sling. Just a bit discouraged tonight. Been working on some Red Hot Chili Peppers songs lately and I just don't have Flea's hand spread.

[skychief]

I was gonna suggest trying a short-scale bass (frets are closer together), but if you cant do a 4 finger spread @ frets 7,8,9,&10,,,, well that wouldnt help much, im afraid.

Maybe a technique coach could help.

Keep pluggin away; dont give up. Even if you could never do the 4 finger/4- fret stretch, that doesnt mean you cant be a good bass player.

95% of being a good bass player is knowing what to play, IMO.

[fearceol]

First, trying to copy Flea's playing after just a year of playing bass, can lead to frustration, even for more experienced players. Keep your goals realistic, and increase the difficulty by degrees.

As for the OFPF, as part of your warm up, spread your fingers apart (don't force anything) like a ladies fan, for five seconds, relax for five seconds, then clench your hand into a fist for five seconds, relax for five seconds, then repeat the process. Do this four or five times before you pick up the bass.

On the bass itself, after warming up, starting on say the 7th fret, try slowly placing a finger one at a time, index, middle, ring, and pinkie on frets 7-10 respectively. Again, don't force it. Just do what feels comfortable, even if you are not covering all four frets.

In time, if you do these exercises as part of your warm up routine, your hands/fingers should begin to adapt. Bear in mind though, that everyone is different, and you may not be able to do the OFPF comfortably. As has been said previously, even if you don't archive OFPF, it does not mean you cant be a good bass player.

[ysand]

Try moving your left hand's elbow a little bit forward, and having your thumb at the back of the neck. Helps a lot.

[netgeist]

Fear....thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, the exercise you describe is the one I am practicing with no payoff. The stretch is new...I will try that.

As for Flea....that's my song to challenge myself...not one I expect to play like a pro. It's Californication, which isn't one of his harder songs. Been playing a lot of Ramones and stuff...need to try something a little less bound to the root if I want to grow!

- netgeist

[Russell L]

Don't worry too much. You don't have to have your fingers spread like that so much. I never do it unless there's a run that requires it for just an instant. I mainly play 124 with 3 helping 4, covering only three frets at a time. If you really need to do it putting your thumb on the center of the neck will help. Also, don't have your strap too low. That will only hinder you. But, you can play stuff without having to have a finger on each fret. Just takes a bit more movement. Actually, that way feels more relaxed to me.

As for Flea, I don't copy anyone.

[lfmn16]

Shift and pivot. You can only stretch so far. Shifting is when your thumb actually moves behind the neck. Pivot is when the thumb remains in the same place, but your hand moves up or down the neck slightly.

Don't worry; you don't need big hands to be a great player. You can develop speed, accuracy and good taste with any size hand.

[Ron G]

I remember reading a technique that "shifts the thumb" when playing with fingers (3,4).
You start with your normal left hand position playing fingers (1,2) then as move to fingers (3,4) you move your thumb forward slightly. You use the same technique when going from (3,2). I'm trying to look it up.

Hope this helps.

[Mayers]

It can take time to open your hand enough to cover 4 frets. I can't remember how long it take to feel confortable but it take times.

Unless you try to play some extrem type of metal, jazz fusion or some experimental prog you won't need that much ... in rock/pop/punk/reaggea etc type of music guitar and bass player only use 3 fingers onf the finger board and put their thumb over the neck ... so don't sweat it.

As for RHCP, I did't play one of their song before my second year of playing... but I quickly went through their music catalog.

[PDGood]

I have the same problem. After 40+ years of playing I still can't stretch them like most other people. In my experience, exercises don't help. You just have to learn to adjust your playing style. The good thing is, a unique playing style (however it comes about) is a big plus. (When you think about it, that's what tapping is.) You will learn to slide, support with other fingers, and play patterns differently. Nothing wrong with that.

[fingerbun]

There are always things you want to do but can't. If you are having fun, just keep plugging away and don't stress.

[jabsys]

I think there's more to this than just finger spread, Californication isn't that hard to play, how low have you got the bass hung? any photo's of you left hand position?

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by jabsys

I think there's more to this than just finger spread, Californication isn't that hard to play, how low have you got the bass hung? any photo's of you left hand position?

This is what I was thinking. Raise the bass up and be sure to have your thumb well behind the neck if you're not already.

[jsbachonbass]

If the base of your thumb or the inside of your palm is touching the neck, so that you thumb can easily wrap your thumb over the top, then you are holding it wrong. Your fingers and thumb should form a "C" shape, and the end of your thumb should be the balance point opposite of your fingers.

Here is another approach. Without your bass in hand, hold your palm upright, then simply touch your thumb and 2nd finger together. That's just about the right hand position you should be using to get maximum spread. But this means your bass needs to be higher and up at about a 30 degree angle. When I hold my bass, the headstock is at the same level as my head.

[BassOfSpades]

i saw a chart on hand sizes a while back... i was in the lowest 1 percentile for men and 5th percentile for women, you just gotta keep working at it

[Fergie Fulton]

Can anyone show me on anything ever writing about OFPF that the hand has to be static......?
There is no sane reason why the hand would be fixed and force the fingers to spread. The idea of OFPF is that each finger has a job when the hand is in a position, it is based on fret mapping so it is economical and functional. So if you have to shift the hand to allow the fingers to play 1-2-3-4 then do so. If you can cover three frets in 3rd position then a move either side to 2nd or 4th position will see you easily cover any four fret situation that OFPF would demand.

As mentioned thumb pivots will increase anyone's span immediately because as a technique it uses the fact we do not hod the neck but rest the thumb against it, so the thumb is free to pivot the whole hand, and of course when the hand moves so does the fingers, again move the hand to accommodate the fingers. The thumb and it's position is one of the most common problems players dream up for themselves. The thumb has nothing to do with any standard fretting techniques, and the classic C position is just nonsense, that sort of thing will see players that strive to maintain it have problems. For my sins if using a thumb pivot, I can play OFPF chromatically on the E string, with my thumb always behind the 5th fret so I have to pivot it, from F# to D#, which is a full 10 frets....I could never ever do this from a fixed hand position.