Go Back   TalkBass Forums > Bass Guitar Forums > Bass Guitar Forums > Technique [BG]
Register Rules/FAQ/CUP Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Technique [BG] Bass guitar technique discussions


Supporting Membership
Thank You

Latest Supporting Member
Donate to Upgrade Today

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 04-25-2003, 12:09 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Peoria, AZ, baby!
looking for tips on how to keep me from lifting my fretting fingers too high...

Sign in to disble this ad
hey all!

I'm pretty new to bass, and one problem I can't seem to correct is lifting my fretting fingers too high. It doesn't seem to matter how much I slow down, my fingers(particularly my middle and ring fingers) come waaay off the fretboard.

Anybody know any tips or drills I can use that'll force me to cut it out?

thanks for any info.
  #2  
Old 04-25-2003, 04:57 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
That's been talked about before here...not sure how you would search for it, though.

Anyway, a few years back, Bass Player mag ran a good exercise.
Basically-
Pinky @the 12th fret, G-string
Ring finger @the 11th fret, G-string
Middle finger @the 10th fret, G-string
Index finger @the 9th fret, G-string

Attempt moving ONLY your INDEX finger to the D-string((9th fret)
Then move ONLY your middle finger to the D-string(10th fret)

NOTE: All the while, the other fingers remain fixed to the fretboard. Do not allow them to lift up.
USE YOUR OTHER HAND TO HOLD 'EM DOWN!

After all the fingers are on the D-string, move them, 1-at-time, to the A-string & so on.

Eventually, you can begin to move only 2 fingers while keeping the others fixed.
Example: Put your fingers back on the G-string as mentioned above.
Now move/toggle only the middle & ring...move them ever so slightly up & down, up & down.
Again, the index & pinky should NOT move or even wiggle.
Again, use your other hand for assistance.
Come up with the other permutations/alternatives(e.g. ring & pinky; index & middle; etc)

It's definitely hard at first...it takes concentration & practice. Afterr a week or so, you should see a vast improvement.
I usually do this sorta thing in front of the NHL games on ESPN.

__________________
No Leo Fender & I'm a drummer...
"2 through 10" Learn it-Know it-Live it
  #3  
Old 04-25-2003, 05:01 AM
Bruce Lindfield's Avatar
Unprofessional TalkBass Contributor
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Brighton, England, UK, Europe
Supporting Member
Quote:
Originally posted by JimK

It's definitely hard at first...it takes concentration & practice. Afterr a week or so, you should see a vast improvement.
I usually do this sorta thing in front of the NHL games on ESPN.

Are you sure you were giving it your full concentration then?
__________________
“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.”
Charles Mingus
  #4  
Old 04-25-2003, 05:06 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Oxford, UK
Re: looking for tips on how to keep me from lifting my fretting fingers too high...

Quote:
Originally posted by dryheatbob
It doesn't seem to matter how much I slow down, my fingers(particularly my middle and ring fingers) come waaay off the fretboard.
How slow is slow? Try going so slow that you're not playing music, just isolating, understanding and improving your control over the motion of your fretting hand fingers.

Wulf
__________________
Bassist for The Elusive Teeth (progressive folk / rock)
  #5  
Old 04-25-2003, 11:10 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Peoria, AZ, baby!
jimk-

thanks for the input- I did a search and couldn't come up with anything. I'm at work trying your tip out at my desk and I can see how after a while it'll build 'memory' into how I move my fingers. Thanks!

I'll also try it out while watching NHL games- I don't care much for hockey(grew up surfing in California), so I'm sure that'll help me concentrate on my finger work!
  #6  
Old 04-25-2003, 11:35 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Quote:
Originally posted by dryheatbob
I don't care much for hockey(grew up surfing in California)...
I guess if the Phoenix Coyotes are the in-town team, I can see why you don't care for hockey.



Bruce-
I surely didn't practice this in front of the tube back in my past; nowadaze, sure...why not?
I am going to watch my Flyers regardless, may as well have the bass in my hands, too.
What can I say? I'm slack.
__________________
No Leo Fender & I'm a drummer...
"2 through 10" Learn it-Know it-Live it
  #7  
Old 04-25-2003, 12:10 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Peoria, AZ, baby!
Re: Re: looking for tips on how to keep me from lifting my fretting fingers too high...

Quote:
Originally posted by wulf
How slow is slow? Try going so slow that you're not playing music, just isolating, understanding and improving your control over the motion of your fretting hand fingers.

Wulf
That's what I been doing, at least I thought so.

About the only thing that about that's recognizable at the speed I'm going at are scales. When I play a song at speed, it looks like I'm hammering nails.

I'm gonna try Jimk's suggestion as see how it goes.

thanks, though!
  #8  
Old 04-25-2003, 12:20 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Peoria, AZ, baby!
[quote]Originally posted by JimK
[b]

I guess if the Phoenix Coyotes are the in-town team, I can see why you don't care for hockey.



Awright now...

If you're gonna beat up on my local teams, ya can't do it without slamming the Cardinals!

And to think both teams are building their new stadiums less than 10 miles from my house...
  #9  
Old 04-25-2003, 04:11 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
"OK", I'll play nice.
Thank you for J.R. & Tony Amonte...


__________________
No Leo Fender & I'm a drummer...
"2 through 10" Learn it-Know it-Live it
  #10  
Old 04-25-2003, 06:16 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Peoria, AZ, baby!
Quote:
Originally posted by JimK
"OK", I'll play nice.
Thank you for J.R. & Tony Amonte...


Hey no problem- I don't back the locals anyway.

Alls fair in love and trashing the other guys sports' teams, isn't it?
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Follow TalkBass on Twitter   Visit TalkBass on Facebook  

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:37 PM.




Copyright 2011 Talk Music Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Play guitar? Visit our new sister site TalkGuitar.com [beta]
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.12
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.