playing high on the fretboard

[hallobros]

Hi im quite new to bass (only a year of playing) and recently i have discovered a problem with my technique, I find it hard play past the 18th fret mainly because of my thumb getting in the way. What is the correct way to position your left hand when playing high up the neck? (Btw i play a 4 string so moving higher up the neck is necessary when playing high notes) help please

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by hallobros

Hi im quite new to bass (only a year of playing) and recently i have discovered a problem with my technique, I find it hard play past the 18th fret mainly because of my thumb getting in the way. What is the correct way to position your left hand when playing high up the neck? (Btw i play a 4 string so moving higher up the neck is necessary when playing high notes) help please

I don't understand what you mean by your thumb getting in the way. No matter where I play on the neck my thumb position remains constant, right on top of the neck.

[JimmyM]

bassists who spend a lot of time on the upper frets always have their basses really high so they can get under the neck properly.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by hallobros

Hi im quite new to bass (only a year of playing) and recently i have discovered a problem with my technique, I find it hard play past the 18th fret mainly because of my thumb getting in the way. What is the correct way to position your left hand when playing high up the neck? (Btw i play a 4 string so moving higher up the neck is necessary when playing high notes) help please

a pic would help the diagnosis.....i know that db guys have a break point where the thumb has to come over and rest on the strings because of the body ......

[TOOL460002]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

bassists who spend a lot of time on the upper frets always have their basses really high so they can get under the neck properly.

+agree

i still hit the lows, but have a couple reasons for wearing my bass high, and access to the higher frets is a very large part of that (i play a 4 too).

as for your left thumb, please elaborate. picking up my bass (stingray), im not really seeing a big problem with my left thumb. it runs into where the neck meets the body, but even that only causes me problems if i try to play like the 21st fret on the e, so unless you need to do some weird stretches, maybe your issue is just something simple.

oh, and, not that i play them or anything, but basses that go way up (thinking 24th fret here) tend to have more of the body cut away. maybe you need that. maybe you need a minor technique change. please elaborate.

[hallobros]

ok thanks for the feedback, wearing the bass higher seems to help with the problem. with the thumb thing, what i am trying to say is that my hand becomes uncomfortable as my thumb sort of wedges my hand as the neck gets thicker, maybe this picture will demonstrate,

[theunknowndude]

Originally Posted by hallobros

ok thanks for the feedback, wearing the bass higher seems to help with the problem. with the thumb thing, what i am trying to say is that my hand becomes uncomfortable as my thumb sort of wedges my hand as the neck gets thicker, maybe this picture will demonstrate,

I've always been taught to play like you would most stringed classical instruments,... with your thumb underneath the neck in the middle and playing on the finger tips... (this helps me immensely playing fretless for a lot more left hand control!)

When playing up high on your frets past where the body meets the neck I'd play with either thumb underneath curled under or whole hand on top and thumb moved out the way to gain access...

please note cannot see from picture what frets you are at but assuming around 17th or so??

[hallobros]

thanks, practiced a few riffs up high using your tips, and can almost get up to 22nd fret!!! its gonna take a bit of time to get used to but better to get rid of bad habits early on. Cheers TBers

[theunknowndude]

Originally Posted by hallobros

thanks, practiced a few riffs up high using your tips, and can almost get up to 22nd fret!!! its gonna take a bit of time to get used to but better to get rid of bad habits early on. Cheers TBers

also I'm not sure what your arm/wrist position is like but I would be getting RSI trying to play up that high like your pic says lol

just if you feel any pain stop and re assess your bass height/arm/wrist position... last thing you want is to be in pain so you cant play!

[Sane]

Ah come on. If you can't bite the upper horn its not nearly high enough

[beggar98]

You shouldn't be playing high. Wait until you sober up and try again.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by beggar98

You shouldn't be playing high. Wait until you sober up and try again.

True dat!

[251]

Originally Posted by hallobros

Hi im quite new to bass (only a year of playing) and recently i have discovered a problem with my technique, I find it hard play past the 18th fret mainly because of my thumb getting in the way. What is the correct way to position your left hand when playing high up the neck? (Btw i play a 4 string so moving higher up the neck is necessary when playing high notes) help please

This is what I learned watching Sklarevski & Wooten videos; Each of us has unique arms, hands & fingers. The longest finger on Alexis Sklarevski's left hand is his Ring finger. Alexis does things I will never be able to do. Vic Wooten has learned to use his thumb nail to even out the sound of his up/down strokes when 'double thumbing'. My thumbnails are different & even though I changed the way I trim my nails, I have to find my own way to get an even double thumb sound. That's OK with me.

You need to experiment with your bass, arms, hands, fingers to find your way.

Personally, I have learned to not play notes on the E string above the 18th fret on a P Bass shaped neck, or above the 19th fret on a Steinberger shaped neck. Over time that may change. Until then it's as good as knowing that playing a 4th in a solo is a harmonic gamble.

Hope that helps. 8-)

[winstonthecat]

Originally Posted by beggar98

You shouldn't be playing high. Wait until you sober up and try again.

I think the Grateful Dead would argue with that statement

[TOOL460002]

looking at your picture, i have to ask why your thumb is over the top of the neck. do you play high notes on the e string with your left thumb coming over the top, or is there some other reason for that? it seems like doing it that way makes your fretting fingers curl up more. that would definitely keep me from being able to move around higher up the neck.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

looking at your picture, i have to ask why your thumb is over the top of the neck. do you play high notes on the e string with your left thumb coming over the top, or is there some other reason for that? it seems like doing it that way makes your fretting fingers curl up more. that would definitely keep me from being able to move around higher up the neck.

ABSOLUTELY!!! get that thumb down and curve your fingers more. don't "lay" your fingers across the frets flat.

[hallobros]

point taken, ty

[okcrum]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

ABSOLUTELY!!! get that thumb down and curve your fingers more. don't "lay" your fingers across the frets flat.

+1 Yeah man. Get that thumb down and around on the back of the neck and arch your fingers - from thumb to fingertip should get close to a circle like a good DB player when you're up that high on the neck.

[kenneth206]

To quote from the best advice ever thread "while you're up there playing all those high notes, who is playing the bass?"

[Dbassmon]

Originally Posted by kenneth206

To quote from the best advice ever thread "while you're up there playing all those high notes, who is playing the bass?"

You have strayed from the money notes.... if you are not soloing, you are going to eventually piss off the other rhythm section players.