Searched first but I didn't see an answer to this one.
I see other bassists playing with their fingers flat on the fretboard, one finger per fret, lifting up each finger just slightly to fret the next note.
Then I look at my left hand and my fingers don't lay flat. Especially when they are spread out to one finger per fret.
Is there some bass players yoga I can do to get my fingers to lay down, instead of curling over?
The problems I see are:
1.) my fingers don't mute the other strings
2.) The tips of my fingers come together and don't rest on each fret naturally. (2 fret span) So when I have to fret a note I place that finger behind that fret instead of dropping it down as I see other bassists do.
I don't know if this is relevant or helpful but I had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand back in April of this year. Nothing seemed to help return my hand to readiness to enjoy guitar and bass more than working with those large steel chinese balls--they come two to a box and can be found in most malls. It's not yoga but it helped me to focus and exercize and it gives you feedback in that you can see your ability to handle those things get better with effort. Defintely helped my confidence after a worrisome risk that surgery might ruin my ability to play.
I thought about the same thing for awhile, and you're probably doing the same thing as whoever you're modeling. it's just that when you watch yourself play, you see the fingers curling over. but when you watch vic or stanley or flea or mark play, it looks like they have them flat because the camera is looking at them head on. it's probably just a little point of view discrepancy, but if your fingernails are touching the fretboard then you should flatten out a little bit.
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Sparkle Autumn-burst Stingray, Ampeg B5R, SWR Goliath II (2)
I am using the pads of my fingers (callus check!) I have long fingers though, getting the spread is not a problem until I wrap my fingers around the neck and they come together. The 1 finger per fret thing only happens in a very deliberate way. Noting like the pro's that grasp the neck on a video and each finger falls perfectly in place like they were born with a bass neck in their hands.
Thanks Everyone!
Last edited by pixelpounder : 10-31-2006 at 07:08 AM.
all that comes from their years of playing and practice i guess. I don't know how long you have been playing, but if you have been playing as long as they have (or longer), and still have this problem, then maybe it's time to consult a teacher? (not to be insulting or anything, don't take it personally)
all that comes from their years of playing and practice i guess. I don't know how long you have been playing, but if you have been playing as long as they have (or longer), and still have this problem, then maybe it's time to consult a teacher? (not to be insulting or anything, don't take it personally)
No problem. I'm a self taught new player. To me self taught means a product of unskilled labor. No pride there just an easy way to learn faster from my mistakes by increasing my error rate
(not to be insulting or anything, don't take it personally)
I'd prefer to take the high/long road.
