Noob fretting hand help

[Big Ox]

OK been playin a month or two now and need some help with my fretting hand technique.

My teacher told me if I use my index finger on the 3rd fret on the D string ie the F note and I want to play the G on the same string I should use my pinky where I always assumed I would use my ring finger.

Also can anyone recommend me how I can keep my hand close to the neck as when Im playing my other fingers have a tendency to lift off the next when I know its better if I can keep them close to the neck which will help me hit the next note smoother.

[tpmiller08]

Originally Posted by Big Ox

OK been playin a month or two now and need some help with my fretting hand technique.

My teacher told me if I use my index finger on the 3rd fret on the D string ie the F note and I want to play the G on the same string I should use my pinky where I always assumed I would use my ring finger.

Also can anyone recommend me how I can keep my hand close to the neck as when Im playing my other fingers have a tendency to lift off the next when I know its better if I can keep them close to the neck which will help me hit the next note smoother.

Theres two ways to fret. You should learn both. One way is the one - finger per fret technique....pretty self explanatory. Your index finger hits one fret, your middle hits the next fret, ring finger the next, and pinky the next one. Ya dig?

The one your teacher is trying to get you to do is called a three finger (or banana bunch, because your hand looks like... a buncha bananas! ) technique.

Both are useful, and they both have a place when playing.

As to keeping your hand close to the fretboard. I had the same problem, and excercises fixed it really quickly.

Heres an easy one that'll get your fret hand stretchin, and keep your fingers closer to the board. It'll also teach those fingers how to work a little more independantly.
Play a C note on your G string (5th fret) with your index finger. Now play a D note on your G string (7th fret) with your ring finger. KEEP YOUR INDEX FINGER on the C note. Don't take it off for this entire excercise. Now play D# on your G (8th fret) with your pinky. Also keep your ring finger on the 7th fret. Now let off the D# with your pinky. Now let off the D with your ring finger. Rinse, repeat......repeat....repeat....repeat.

So this in whole notes, at about 100 BPM, or just go really slow if your not working with a metronome (which you should be IMHO).
Do this until your hand gets relatively tired. Stretch your hand out, and do the same thing on your D string. Stretch your hand again. Then on your A, then on your E. This should kill your hand (in a good way, never let your hand ache more than you can handle, itll damage your hand. When doing exercises like this, make sure your wrists are straight as possible. Also make sure your note SQUEEZING the frets. Just apply pressure if you get the cut of my jib. Dont forget to alternate those fingers if your finger plucking!).

Theres a WAY more advanced technique that will work wonders on your playing, and be incredibly hard to do at your level. But if your interested, shoot me a PM, and I'll teach ya the jedi .....errr bassist ways.


Welcome to the bass
Welcome to the forums

Hope this helps man,

-Troy

[Big Ox]

Originally Posted by tpmiller08

Theres two ways to fret. You should learn both. One way is the one - finger per fret technique....pretty self explanatory. Your index finger hits one fret, your middle hits the next fret, ring finger the next, and pinky the next one. Ya dig?

The one your teacher is trying to get you to do is called a three finger (or banana bunch, because your hand looks like... a buncha bananas! ) technique.

Both are useful, and they both have a place when playing.

As to keeping your hand close to the fretboard. I had the same problem, and excercises fixed it really quickly.

Heres an easy one that'll get your fret hand stretchin, and keep your fingers closer to the board. It'll also teach those fingers how to work a little more independantly.
Play a C note on your G string (5th fret) with your index finger. Now play a D note on your G string (7th fret) with your ring finger. KEEP YOUR INDEX FINGER on the C note. Don't take it off for this entire excercise. Now play D# on your G (8th fret) with your pinky. Also keep your ring finger on the 7th fret. Now let off the D# with your pinky. Now let off the D with your ring finger. Rinse, repeat......repeat....repeat....repeat.

So this in whole notes, at about 100 BPM, or just go really slow if your not working with a metronome (which you should be IMHO).
Do this until your hand gets relatively tired. Stretch your hand out, and do the same thing on your D string. Stretch your hand again. Then on your A, then on your E. This should kill your hand (in a good way, never let your hand ache more than you can handle, itll damage your hand. When doing exercises like this, make sure your wrists are straight as possible. Also make sure your note SQUEEZING the frets. Just apply pressure if you get the cut of my jib. Dont forget to alternate those fingers if your finger plucking!).

Theres a WAY more advanced technique that will work wonders on your playing, and be incredibly hard to do at your level. But if your interested, shoot me a PM, and I'll teach ya the jedi .....errr bassist ways.


Welcome to the bass
Welcome to the forums

Hope this helps man,

-Troy

Cheers my man, I'll give that a go once Im out of this dump some people call work.

[Big Ox]

great exercise ill find that really useful had to stop after half an hour cos of it hurting but im sure thats normal!!

[schnigges]

Yup, toally normal, but as Troy pointed out don't overdo it in any case, otherwise tendonitis will be your companion

[tpmiller08]

Originally Posted by Big Ox

great exercise ill find that really useful had to stop after half an hour cos of it hurting but im sure thats normal!!

As long as its more of an ache, than a hurt. And its in your fingers and back of your hand, and NOT your wrist.

I got bored with this excerise after a while, and made little melodies with it, just to keep interest. Try the same, just try to make sure two fingers are always fretting (Even though most of the time, only one note is played ya know?)

[Big Ox]

Yeah it was more of an ache in the fingers and hand my wrists were fine, just have to keep remembering to keep them straight. Playing with the metronome definitley helped also.

Im loving the forum here.

[TOOL460002]

as someone who learned the one finger per fret off the bat, and then started back at square one (just say no kids), i really feel that the three finger (ie- no ring) is more intuitive. it keeps your hand flat on the fretboard, and in the traditional bass playing type stuff (robert deleo is my model here), it helps with muting, and youre not going to be getting too complicated, so its not a big deal (no piling up, no major limitations).

however, please learn both. it has been an enormous pain in the rear side for me to restrengthen my ring finger (both for what im at now), so youd best start on the right foot (or hand! haha... ok... nevermind). with more speed you need all fingers, but that comes later (not being condescending [i dont think]). so, just learn both.

also, buy strap locks. the above and the strap lock advice are the two most important things i can possibly offer, which may not amount to much, but, keep at it, and keep the creativity up.