Hands too small for a fretless Jazz??

[PionFou]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if any of you ever had to abandon fretless playing because of small hands.

Since I got my MIA Jazz fretless, I had all sorts of problems with my LH that I never had when I played fretted basses.

I'm getting a teacher to review my technique and I'm getting help healing my left hand, but I'm starting to wonder if it could be too small to handle a fretless.

To be comfortable, I have to use my 1st and 4th finger to stretch from F to G on the E string. If I use my 3rd finger to fret the G, I have to twist my wrist and it feels uncomfortable, when it dosen't plain hurts!! And I do not even talk about intonation...

Just for discussion sake, my middle finger is 3' long and my hand is 7' 3/4 from wrist to top of middle finger. My little finger is 2' 1/4.

I really, really enjoy playing fretless. That would suck big time if I had to give it up!!

Thanks a lot for your input!

David

[conduit]

I only play on a fretted bass, but I also use my 4th finger a lot when fretting an interval of 2 frets eventhough i could also do it with my 3rd, because it's more comfortable for me (and looks better ). So I don't see what's the problem if you can play accurate when using your 4th finger. But then again, I have no experience playing a fretless

[Phil Smith]

Patient: "Doctor it hurts when I do that"
Doctor: "Then don't do it!"

Seriously, don't use your 3rd finger if it hurts to do it because the technique is obviously not good for you, which is why it hurts.

[tplyons]

If your hands are too small, you need to adjust your technique, and you'll end up relying more on shifting in order to play in tune, however, it can be done. I have tiny hands, and I can get by on a 42" upright scale length.

[BassGreaser]

I also play upright, and my hands measure 6" from the bottom of my palm to the tip of my middle finger

[Juneau]

Good lord yall have tiny hands lol

[Suckbird]

I dont know how much a inch is(cm - swe) but if your hand are to small to play a jazz bass(wich are supposed to have a tiny neck`) then either you have a bad technique or baby hands...

I dont know how big difference there is between fretted and fretless but i can strech 1 - 5 pink and 1 - 4 index, ring.

My hand, from long finger to bottom of my hand.

19cm.

[werbo1]

I feel the same way, and at first i thought small scale was the way to go (of course after i bought my 35 inch fretless). I probably should be playing a 33 or 32 inch, for comfort, but i'm surviving on a 35. I use the index and pinky for the first to third fret, but above that i'm fine - like 3rd to 5th i can use index ring COMFORTABLY.

The key is in your thumb on the left hand, keep it in one position and slide without moving it, you'll end up close to where u started like this

also - USE TECHNIQUE THAT WORKS FOR YOU - if it sounds good and feels good, it probably is good

[Aaron Saunders]

That's how I play the F-G stretch on my fretless. Absolute 1-finger-per-fret is needless effort. Your hand has the capability of pivoting for a reason, so use it. My left hand measures 6.5" from the base of my palm to my middle fingertip, and my main axe is a 42.5" DB.

EDIT: Hand is 7", sorry.

[bassisten]

A little story:


When I was starting to get into bass-playing some years ago I wanted to buy a nice 6-string bass. I asked my teacher back then about my hand-size and you know what he said?

"The bass you want to buy is as wide as a highway (Celinder Custom 6), but have you ever seen Anthony Jackson play his 6-string Fodera? He's small and fat, with fingers so small that you almost can't see them. Does it stop him? NO! Of course you can do it!..."

-I bought the bass and it was the best thing I ever did, so don't be afraid, it's all about getting used to playing your new fretless bass.

[bfitz]

i have very small hands and it used to really bother me. most of my favorite players have huge hands, or at least long fingers (jaco, les). but lately i have forced myself to learn there songs and i have found that i can play anything tey do, i just have to force myself to do it. if you have to play with only a three fret span (e-f) then do it. listen to upright players. as far as i know that is the standard umong them and people like mingus seem to do just fine with it.

[AGCurry]

Originally Posted by PionFou

To be comfortable, I have to use my 1st and 4th finger to stretch from F to G on the E string.

This is the correct way to do it.

[JimmyM]

While AG is wrong about it being the correct way, it's one of three correct ways. There is also 1-3 and even 1-2 if you're trying to get a 5-fret span.

David, if a Jazz Bass is too big for you, then you should quit playing altogether. Which you shouldn't. Instead, look for proper technique that allows you to make those spans comfortably. There's tons of info about it on Talkbass. Just do a search on left hand technique or LH technique.

[Whafrodamus]

It's not the size that counts, it's how you use'em.

[AGCurry]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

While AG is wrong about it being the correct way, it's one of three correct ways. There is also 1-3 and even 1-2 if you're trying to get a 5-fret span.

Yes, it is ONE correct way.

When someone asks me about fingering, I always have to ask "What's the NEXT note you intend to play?" If it's going to be an Ab, I'll play the G with my ring finger. If octave G, D or Db, I'll shift and play the G with my index finger. Any other note, I'll be playing that G with my pinky.

I agree with the consensus that size doesn't [shouldn't] matter. However, if using a shorter scale helps someone to learn, it's not all bad.

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by bfitz

i have very small hands and it used to really bother me. most of my favorite players have huge hands, or at least long fingers (jaco, les). but lately i have forced myself to learn there songs and i have found that i can play anything tey do, i just have to force myself to do it. if you have to play with only a three fret span (e-f) then do it. listen to upright players. as far as i know that is the standard umong them and people like mingus seem to do just fine with it.

Interesting note on Mingus and his fingering systems. He actually started on cello and his cello "teacher" was a complete hack who never showed him proper fingering technique. Sure, later, he had some excellent teachers, but his fingering after that was never "standard" by any means and if I recall correctly, an entirely individual system he made for himself. However, you are very much correct in the F-G stretch (and Bb-C, Eb-F, etc.) being done with the index and pinky finger on upright as the standard.

[PionFou]

Well, thanks for the replies. I did let go of the 1 finger/fret technique it feels much better... Minor adjustment, big difference!!!
David

[travatron4000]

Originally Posted by AGCurry

This is the correct way to do it.

This is what I do on my Fretted Electric bass. It's much more comfortable. I can do the 1-2-3-4 fingering but use the 1-2-4 from playing Double Bass. It just feels so much better. Like what's already been said just be careful about your fingering patterns and think things out so that you can play in tune smoothly. Good luck, I can't wait until I'm un-poor enough to get a fretless.

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by PionFou

Well, thanks for the replies. I did let go of the 1 finger/fret technique it feels much better... Minor adjustment, big difference!!!
David