fretting approach

[Glider]

Well as hard as I try I am just not able to span a 4 fret stretch, the harder I tryed the more pain I got trying, and I have been practicing for 6 or 7 months total out of 8 or 9, had to actually stop for a couple months cause my wrist started to hurt.

Can anybody point the way to some lesson material that does not center around a 4 fret stretch? ways to work around it?

I'm doing this for enjoyment not to make a living out of it.. Thanks!

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by Glider

Well as hard as I try I am just not able to span a 4 fret stretch, the harder I tryed the more pain I got trying, and I have been practicing for 6 or 7 months total out of 8 or 9, had to actually stop for a couple months cause my wrist started to hurt.

Can anybody point the way to some lesson material that does not center around a 4 fret stretch? ways to work around it?

I'm doing this for enjoyment not to make a living out of it.. Thanks!

I can help! I'm self taught over ten years and I've played just for fun until recently joining a band. With daily pain I just figured was part of it, until recently discovering some advice on TB.

A lot of pain can be reduced by reducing unnecessary tension on your body, and for me at least, having the bass setup with a nice low action helps there some too.

I've also needed to lift the play height of all my basses and stop squeezing the neck with my thumb parallel to the fretboard, which clamped my fingers down tight!! Try sliding so hard, you can feel the bump of each fret as you go. That was me less, than 3 months ago! Thumb should be straight up, not sure but I think it should be in front of the middle finger, not index (where mine naturally sits!). Ask around or check through some older threads, search is OK for that if you have the time.

I also root my plucking thumb to the body or pickup, which slows me down and, if I relax and drop my shoulder, the arm pushes the point I've bent the wrist to support rooting the thumb, which hurts after a while!

To improve my 4 finger fretting (not 1 finger per fret), I just fan my hand out and lay a finger over each fret (4th to 7th for me, choose 4 that comfortably reach and start there) without resting my thumb, then slowly and gently finger the frets 1-2-3-4, 4-3-2-1. I use a drum machine or internal rythm to keep time.

Once I've got that going well, I'll mix the fingering up to say... 1-3-2-4, 4-2-3-1 or something.

If you don't have strong or flexible hands there is information on the web for improving that too.

[lemur821]

Glider, are you sure you've got your neck high enough, in a place that lets your wrist be straight?

[Otso]

A teacher is the best solution! A good teacher will observe and comment on your technique and guide you in the right direction.

[LPpt]

Originally Posted by Otso

A teacher is the best solution! A good teacher will observe and comment on your technique and guide you in the right direction.

+1000

Starting off with a bad technique is a sure way to have wrist injuries further along the road...

[Glider]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

I can help! I'm self taught over ten years and I've played just for fun until recently joining a band. With daily pain I just figured was part of it, until recently discovering some advice on TB.

A lot of pain can be reduced by reducing unnecessary tension on your body, and for me at least, having the bass setup with a nice low action helps there some too.

I've also needed to lift the play height of all my basses and stop squeezing the neck with my thumb parallel to the fretboard, which clamped my fingers down tight!! Try sliding so hard, you can feel the bump of each fret as you go. That was me less, than 3 months ago! Thumb should be straight up, not sure but I think it should be in front of the middle finger, not index (where mine naturally sits!). Ask around or check through some older threads, search is OK for that if you have the time.

I also root my plucking thumb to the body or pickup, which slows me down and, if I relax and drop my shoulder, the arm pushes the point I've bent the wrist to support rooting the thumb, which hurts after a while!

To improve my 4 finger fretting (not 1 finger per fret), I just fan my hand out and lay a finger over each fret (4th to 7th for me, choose 4 that comfortably reach and start there) without resting my thumb, then slowly and gently finger the frets 1-2-3-4, 4-3-2-1. I use a drum machine or internal rythm to keep time.

Once I've got that going well, I'll mix the fingering up to say... 1-3-2-4, 4-2-3-1 or something.

If you don't have strong or flexible hands there is information on the web for improving that too.

Well i tell ya I don't know if its from all the years of abuse or just the way my hands are built but i kinda thought I would be able to streach it out a little further.

Yea it confortable further up (in pitch) on the neck but from around the 5th fret its difficult and I still cramp up easly, I tend to use the knuckle on my thumb as a slide point, and have to shift around a lot.

I would like to find more tips or training on the net..

[Glider]

Originally Posted by lemur821

Glider, are you sure you've got your neck high enough, in a place that lets your wrist be straight?

Well I still sit while playing but an very aware of keeping the neck as high as possible and keep the body of the bass to the right side of my leg.

But even if I was to hold the bass straight up and down I couldn't do a 4 fret stretch on the low end of the neck, mabey 3 and a half at best.

Thats why I am wondering if there is any material out there that helps ya play whthout having to do a 4 fret stretch.

[Glider]

To all, I know proper technique is important, and i have researched the net to a great extent regarding hand position ect I am doing well in that regard .

I know there is some talk abou the 4 finger per 4 fret method and another called something like the natural palm method where you hold your fingers closer together, that is what I need to find nore information on, its a more natural and relaxed position.

I know teachers are the best thing I could get but its not an option at this point..

[K2000]

You want to combine the three-fret and four-fret technique IMO (and this is hardly my original observation, I think it's conventional wisdom).

Use the four fret span when necessary. When not, revert back to three fret span. Learning to do this fluidly was a small breakthrough in my own playing. Best thing is (IMO) you don't have to think about it, it just happens naturally, pretty quick.

Also, lots of people do not play with a four-fret span. It depends on the player and on the music. There's no rule that says you have to play that way.

[K2000]

Check out Carol Kaye's instructional DVD, she plays a three-fret span style.

[Glider]

Originally Posted by K2000

Check out Carol Kaye's instructional DVD, she plays a three-fret span style.

Thanks for the lead! I do beleve this is what I am after so i'll check it out.

[Alec W. Conway]

Can you post a picture of your hand stretched out as best you can manage it? Maybe it'll help us figure something out for you.

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by Glider

Yea it confortable further up (in pitch) on the neck but from around the 5th fret its difficult and I still cramp up easly, I tend to use the knuckle on my thumb as a slide point, and have to shift around a lot.

Try putting the point of the thumb where the knuckle sits now, and pivot it rather than slide it around. That may roll your fingers around the fingerboard a little more and give a little more stretch.

Reading the articles on here are can sometimes be just as good as seeking the same advice from teachers, once you get onto the right advice. Or reading up on something might get your mind working...

So read around. Many of the longer standing members either are teachers, are people who have sought instruction by teachers, or have been in the game long enough that us laymen can pick that they know what they're talking about and can rely on the advice enough to at least try out some stuff out on our own.