left hand technique Q

mightypants · #1 09-11-2009, 07:24 PM

I'm a beginner with a basic left hand technique question. I've seen some instructors recommend playing with a 4-fingers-to-3-frets technique, and others who prefer 4-fingers-to-4-frets. I've got kind of small hands, and right now trying to stretch up 3 frets is pretty uncomfortable and eventually leads to some cramping in my hand. I'm trying to decide whether it would be better to do what's more comfortable now (spanning just 3 frets) or put a lot of time and effort into stretching out for that extra fret. Not that I mind the time/effort, I just don't want to go through all of that to find that I never quite get the hang of that stretching.

Any advice? Thanks.

Asher S · #2 09-11-2009, 07:28 PM

Why force a decision one way or the other?

Many people (myself included) use 4 fingers-to-3 frets in the lower register where the distance between frets is wider, and 4-to-4 in the upper register. If you force 4-to-4 throughout the neck you're risking developing tendinitis and/or carpal tunnel syndrome.

mightypants · #3 09-11-2009, 07:40 PM

Thanks for the response. I should have been a little more clear. In the 4-to-3 situation I didn't mean for the whole neck, but the one instructor who recommended said up to about the 9th fret. Where (roughly) do you make the crossover?

And as an example, let's say I have to quickly play frets 1, 3, then 4. Would you finger 1,4, then slide up one fret with your pinky? (Obviously this depends on context, but let's say this is all you're playing for now.)

Asher S · #4 09-11-2009, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mightypants

Where (roughly) do you make the crossover?

It's different for each person, due to differences in hand size. But eventually you will find your own way of doing it, and you won't be thinking about it. It will just happen naturally. I've been playing for many years, and I have no clue which fret is my crossover point...

**lowendfriend** · #5 09-11-2009, 07:55 PM

Where u cross over is a function of your hand size. I kinds use 4 on 3 up to around a root above 5th fret. Your frettage may vary depending on your finger lenght and stretch abiility.

RAM · #6 09-11-2009, 11:44 PM

There are obviously different schools of thought. The basis for playing 4 fingers to 3 frets is based on the idea that your hand is more comfortable over a shorter span, and also that the ring finger isn't supposed to be used independently for fretting - that it's used in conjunction with either the middle finger (more common in this approach) or the pinky. This is a teaching of the classical-school of upright players.

Since the electric bass has a shorter scale and not as many electric bass players have been trained using classical fingerings, it's not as commonly seen. In fact, some bass player don't use their pinky very much and instead use their ring finger extensively while curling their pinky under. While this is an ineffective technique, you can get away with it easier on the electric bass than you can on upright.

I'd suggest that since you're paying money to learn from someone you follow his/her advice - it's certainly sound. This is a good time to develop good habits rather than bad ones you may find yourself struggling to correct later down the road.

mambo4 · #7 09-12-2009, 04:29 PM

Don't let yourself get caught thinking your left hand/plam has to remain stationary while your fingers try to stretch unreasonably.

You can move your left hand up and down the '4 fret box' to accommodate your short fingers and help the reach, just be sure to keep your thumb in the same spot on the back of the neck as a pivot , so you can reference by feel where the first fret of your '4 fret box' is.

also, keep you wrist straight and watch out for the death grip! keep your left hand relaxed and use the least ammount of finger pressure needed.

Sensory_Rupture · #8 09-12-2009, 06:41 PM

Depending on the type of music you want to play, 4 fingers to 4 frets may be necessary at some point, and at any rate, is a good skill to be able to pull out of your bag of tricks. That being said, it would probably be easier/safer for you to develop those muscles over time, starting with positions higher up on the neck, and progressively working your way down. I have fairly small hands too and I can play 4 fingers to 4 frets in 1st position without discomfort for however long I need to, but don't rush it, take things at a pace your hands are comfortable with

Lichtaffen · #9 09-13-2009, 02:58 PM

How about a shorter scale neck? I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Many of our favorite bass players are guys with much larger than normal hands and we can't be expected to keep up if our hands aren't that big. Look at Stanley Clark. He's like 6'7" and he plays a normal size bass. Most bass designs are based off the Fender P Bass, which is fine, but I don't feel that size should be carved in stone as the standard and everything else is sub-par. I knew a guy with small hands who bought a really sweet Ken Smith shorter scale bass. He always sounded perfectly fine to me.

I agree with Sensory Rapture above as far as starting with the higher frets and working your way down. I did that and now I can play 4 to 4 in open position. It's the most logical way to progress.

Good luck and don't be discouraged.

Billnc · #10 09-13-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mambo4

Don't let yourself get caught thinking your left hand/plam has to remain stationary while your fingers try to stretch unreasonably.

You can move your left hand up and down the '4 fret box' to accommodate your short fingers and help the reach, just be sure to keep your thumb in the same spot on the back of the neck as a pivot , so you can reference by feel where the first fret of your '4 fret box' is.

also, keep you wrist straight and watch out for the death grip! keep your left hand relaxed and use the least ammount of finger pressure needed.

This works for me quite well. It looks like I'm really stretching, but my hand is comfortable and I'm pivoting a bit.

Nightwolf55 · #11 09-13-2009, 03:56 PM

i use 4 to 4 on the whole bass..... my hands are fairly big. to give you an idea, i'm 5' 11".... is that still bad? i don't want corpal tunnel...

Sensory_Rupture · #12 09-13-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwolf55

i use 4 to 4 on the whole bass..... my hands are fairly big. to give you an idea, i'm 5' 11".... is that still bad? i don't want corpal tunnel...

I'm no doctor but I'm pretty sure carpal tunnel is more related to your wrist position, as long as your wrist is fairly straight and you aren't experiencing any pain you should be good to go!