small hands = hindrance on bass?

[Tomass]

well define what a small hand is, my lengths are index:8cm, middle:9cm, Ring:8cm and Pinky:6.5cm. Is that normal length or bit bigger,

[Growler]

Remember that when you first start out, you'll feel like you can't reach many notes, but as you progress your fingers will be able to stretch further and your technique will improve.

The other day I let a friend pick up my bass (Fender-P), and his hands are much bigger than mine yet he couldn't make a 4fret reach up at the top of the neck.

Get the bass that a) you like the sound of b) fits and c) isn't chosen b/c person XYZ plays it.

[scourge]

You can play with small hands as long as you have extremely long fingers.

[spudmaster34]

i would suggest you dont get a long-scale. once you get good then sure, but at first, having one more thing to work on in addition to all the other things you have to remember would just be a pain

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Originally Posted by spudmaster34

i would suggest you dont get a long-scale. once you get good then sure, but at first, having one more thing to work on in addition to all the other things you have to remember would just be a pain

If you mean a 34" scale by long scale, I'd have to thoroughly disagree. For one, it's a lot harder to find a good production short-to-medium scale bass...they are few and far between. Second, if he plans on getting a 34" bass in the future, and he probably will as nearly all basses are 34" or longer, it will be harder to get accustomed to the transition up to a standard (long) scale bass than it will be to start on one to begin with.

[davetakis]

my hands are small and i have arthritis so......go shortscale. gretsch and epiphome make some good affordable shortscale basses. epi= ebo copy, gretsch=electromatic. try them out and if you like bass you can move up to something a little better. i have to use shorscales.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by davetakis

my hands are small and i have arthritis so......go shortscale. gretsch and epiphome make some good affordable shortscale basses. epi= ebo copy, gretsch=electromatic. try them out and if you like bass you can move up to something a little better. i have to use shorscales.

I'd echo the vote for shortscales. If I hadn't worked with shortscales in the beginning, I Never would have become a player. Too many regular basses felt big trees in my hands.

Pointer to my Landing Custom Short Scale Bass on sale right now. Details in the thread:

Landing Short Scale Bass

Reserve is about 1/3 the price of a new Landing Custom.

[Scottgun]

Lets get specific. On my Geddy Jazz, if I put my index behind the first fret of the E-string (F-note), I can comfortably stretch to the a-flat fouth fret. If I really strecth (which of course eliminates doing anything else) I can make the A. My guess is I have average size hands. The upshot of all this is--Since I can comfortably get to the back of the fourth fret, someone with smaller hands should have little difficulty reaching the a-flat however they might only just make it. Unless we are talking about really small hands that can only make the G, I wouldn't worry too much about scale.

[thekyle]

I don't have small hands, but I do have really short fingers, and after almost ten years, I can put my hands together and stretch my left index finger as far as my right pinky will go. I can also reach from the first to the fifth fret on the E string on my Sterling. Not that I can really play all that well like that, but I can do it. The only thing I would change about my hands are my freakishly short, deformed pinkies. The one on my right hand is almost useless and it took me years to get my left one to do what I want.

[Dincrest]

Small hands don't matter. Even though my hands aren't that big, I still prefer chunkier necks over paper-thin ones. One thing that's important is that you get a bass that balances well and doesn't neck dive. I think Ibanez Soundgears, for example, balance very well. I can keep the body around hip height and the neck points upward at a nice angle, so that way my wrists are never bent at steep angles. Low action can help ease playability too.

[spudmaster34]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

If you mean a 34" scale by long scale, I'd have to thoroughly disagree. For one, it's a lot harder to find a good production short-to-medium scale bass...they are few and far between. Second, if he plans on getting a 34" bass in the future, and he probably will as nearly all basses are 34" or longer, it will be harder to get accustomed to the transition up to a standard (long) scale bass than it will be to start on one to begin with.

i said that thinking about my experiences, in 5th grade i had a chance to learn upright in the school orchestra (my first stringed experience) they had all the instruments sitting out and i walked right over to the bass, one of the teachers tried to show me what it is a bass player would have to do, i have/had pretty big hands but it hurt (i wasnt aware i could get a smaller one) i almost didnt ever play bass at all because of that , and i probably wont ever try an upright again.

[ImaStupidBaby]

good technique will make up for hand size.

[eekmo]

I can get around fairly well on my 34" or 35". Major third transitions can be accomplished easily with practice and experience( use your thumb to pivot ). Major 7th arps practiced using 2 notes per string are a great way to get a feel for this.
Something that technique will not make up for though, is when trying to do hammer-ons in first or second position. I cannot reach a m3rd hammer-on (A to C) on my G string below the 5th fret.
Fongers just aren't long enough.

[Scooperman]

URB technique might help. In order to deal with the much longer scale of an upright bass, most people who play them use this fingering in the lower positions: 1 2 4 (index, middle, pinkie) with the 3rd finger acting as a "helper" finger for the pinkie.

I usually use this fingering in the lower positions, then when I go up a few frets, I'll use all 4 fingers.

This is partciularly useful in helping me play in tune when playing fretless. I'm not sure, but I think that Jaco did something similar. Anybody know "WWJD" (What Would Jaco Do)?

[greekbassist]

For one, it's a lot harder to find a good production short-to-medium scale bass...they are few and far between. Second, if he plans on getting a 34" bass in the future, and he probably will as nearly all basses are 34" or longer, it will be harder to get accustomed to the transition up to a standard (long) scale bass than it will be to start on one to begin with.

If you decieded to go with a short to medium scale bass then a Landing Bass is your best bet. I disgaree that learning on a short scale bass can make it harder to eventually play on a 34 inch. I own both a short scale Landing and an Ibanez 34 inch. If you have good techinque then it shouldn't be an issue to make the transition.

I like my short scale because it is fun to play and has a KILLER tone. It sounds just as good as a 34 inch

Whatever route you take either purchasing a short or long scale get a good teacher as well.

Good Luck

[SBassman]

> If you decieded to go with a short to medium scale bass then a Landing Bass is your best bet.

+1

> I disgaree that learning on a short scale bass can make it harder to eventually play on a 34 inch.

+1

[Digo]

I know, look at flea, 5"4 i think he is, i personally am 6ft 3 with big hands and i can still find it tricky, small hands = faster fingas!