Help for small handed players?

[ToddC]

I practice every day but I'm still not able to reach across four frets. When playing triads I have to move my hand to get to the 5th in root position with the 4th finger.
(ex: b to d on A string first position)

Q1: Is this temporary?
Q2: Is there anything I can do about it?
Q3: Should I use a short scale bass?

Have any small handed players overcome this problem?


tia

[MuzikMan]

I have trouble with those stretches. I just learned to move my hand to adjust. Nothing wrong with it if that's the tools you have. If you really want to you can play a five string and move everything up 5 frets and down one string. That'll really close up the spaces for you.

[ToddC]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

If you really want to you can play a five string and move everything up 5 frets and down one string. That'll really close up the spaces for you.

oohh I like that idea.
GAS
Anybody have a 5 string they would trade for a Thompson Center Muzzle loader with Nikon scope?
Used one season. Thumbhole synthetic stock, fluted barrel. 200 yds easy.

[seanm]

I just shift my hand. After a while you can do it without thinking. It probably means I will never be a real speed player, but I can live with that.

[ToddC]

Aren't Wooten and Bailey fairly small handed guys?(I could be wrong) How do they handle this? Anyone know?

[mustbampeg]

you might try basses with small, thin, flat-backed necks like Ibanez Soundgear basses. Im sure other manufacturer's have similar products.

good luck.

[mutedeity]

The problem might be that you aren't using the most efficient technique. The stretch of your fingers should be independent of where your thumb is. In other words you shouldn't factor your thumb position into where you fingers land on the fingerboard. Your thumb should move relative to where your fingers are.

Try this exercise. Put your index finger on the first fret of your stretch. Now, without puting your thumb on the neck, put your pinky on the 4th fret of your stretch. Make sure your wrist is comfortable and not stressed or tense. Now let your thumb rest on the neck in the most comfortable position. The position of your thumb relative to where your hand is, is now the most efficient position for that fingering. You should have room to pivot your thumb either way to move your hands up or down and you should be able to stretch between 4 frets.

I have pretty small hands myself and really, the best thing to do is keep working on your scales and stretches. If your fingers can physically reach over 4 frets then you can make the stretch.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

Try this exercise. Put your index finger on the first fret of your stretch. Now, without puting your thumb on the neck, put your pinky on the 4th fret of your stretch.

If I put my finger just in front of the first fret, I can just get my pinky over the third fret. While I would technically have the right notes, I prefer to fret just in front of the fretwire.

That is why I shift.

[mutedeity]

You should post a picture of your hand when you are doing the stretch. I could probably tell you more from that.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

You should post a picture of your hand when you are doing the stretch. I could probably tell you more from that.

Hope this helps. The weird cutout on the top was to get the file size down without having to make the image smaller.

To play on the tips of my fingers I would not be able to make that stretch.

[mutedeity]

Ok, after looking at that I can tell you that your problem is definitely to do with where your thumb is positioned as I was suggesting before. You should have your thumb much further back between your index and pinky. As it is you don't have any room for your hand to move and so you are stuck with your fingers in a relatively straight position. As I said before stretch your pinky and index across the frets and then let your thumb sit where it is comfortable. Dont worry if you are using the side of your fingertips either. I will try and take a picture of what I mean for you soon if you need me to.

[floopy]

Mute is giving some great advice here. Adam Nitti's page has some useful pics of left hand fingering:

http://www.adamnitti.com/bass_player_03.shtml

in particular this one is relevant:

[iceshaft07]

Originally Posted by ToddC

I practice every day but I'm still not able to reach across four frets. When playing triads I have to move my hand to get to the 5th in root position with the 4th finger.
(ex: b to d on A string first position)

Q1: Is this temporary?
Q2: Is there anything I can do about it?
Q3: Should I use a short scale bass?

Have any small handed players overcome this problem?


tia

I am 6'3" and I had trouble reaching across the four lowest frets for the first 6 months. It will come.

[brachal]

Lots of good advice here. Don't be afraid to try a short-scale bass either. You might like it. Depending on your budget, the Epiphone EB-0 and/or Gibson SG are both pretty nice.

[TrevorOfDoom]

also, stretch before and after you play. if you stretch after you're warmed up, the stretch will be more effective.

[ToddC]

The stretching gives hope. I'm going to pursue it further.
A friend of mine (now engineer was bass player) showed me that if I held my palm face up and fingers expanded, and then turn my bass over and on top of my palm, then I actual have th potential to reach foru frets.

The key is thumb position after doing the above. While this is currently uncomfortable it seems to be a reasonable approach. I'm pursuing this path.

[BuffaloBass]

It is uncomfortable for a while. I needed to get my knuckles parallel to the fretoboard for 5 string muting, and just good technique. I wanted to cut my thumb off, its in the way! But it finally feels "natural".

[H2ODog]

I am having the same problem. My 4 fret strech lack distance. Just started taking lessons started to work on it but it's like almost starting to play from scratch. I can't seem to be fluid if i try to cover all 4 frets while playing.