Fretting Hand Proper Technique

[iceshaft07]

I was talking to my guitarist, and he said that professional guitarists (not bassists) try to slide their fingers from string to string to play faster (rather than lifting the fingers, and then pressing them). I tried practicing this style of playing (on my bass), but I found that I couldn't do it because the strings were too far apart and too high. Should I persuit this, or is this more of a guitar playing style rather than bass?

Also, one other thing.

I read somewhere that when you play a note with your index finger on your fretting hand, and you play a note with your pinky finger, when you play the second note both your middle finger and ring finger are supposed to drop also (but not on the same fret..ie, 1,2,3,4 would be index, middle, ring, pinky when playing the second note).

Is that one of those preference things, or should I adopt that style?

Thanks for your time / suggestions.

[MistaMarko]

I took bass lessons last fall and the guy told me I had horrible fretting hand technique, which, according to him, I really do.

When I play a line and have my index finger fretting then right after that my pinky fretting, my middle/ring fingers kinda stick way out. When I play with my index finger and then my ring finger right after, my middle finger curls up really bad and sticks way out. When I'm using index and middle, my pinky is almost straight stiff. I can't help it. Since his advice it's improved a little but to me it really doesn't make any difference, meaning I don't see a real 'downside' to my 'problem'. IMO, whatever works, works.

[NickyBass]

Originally Posted by MistaMarko

meaning I don't see a real 'downside' to my 'problem'. IMO, whatever works, works.

The positive is comfort and ease. This allows you to be more relaxed when you play. Try this -- Put your hand on a table. Now finger your index and pinky finger with you middle and ring finger raised as far from the table as possible. Kinda hurts, no? Your hand can cramp up. Now try it with all your fingers together.

Another issue is finger strength. Try a similiar example. Push down on a table with your index finger. Now try the just the pinky. Big difference, huh? Now lay all your fingers on the table and push with the pinky. It's a bit easier.

It's also easier to play faster lines when you're already fingering the next note, before you play the first.