Tilting right hand to the left so plucking fingers are even?

cire113 · #1 09-02-2009, 10:46 PM

I had my first bass lesson tonight and my teacher said i should tilt my right hand to the left more so that my two plucking fingers are plucking even...

does this make sense?

it does to me but just wanted to make sure

**TheMutt** · #2 09-02-2009, 10:48 PM

Personally, I don't think that there's a right or wrong way so long as it's not giving you cramps/carpel tunnel or slowing down your ability to play. There's also a very slight tone difference with how you pluck the strings which is cool to play around with until you find what works for you.

Rudreax · #3 09-02-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

I had my first bass lesson tonight and my teacher said i should tilt my right hand to the left more so that my two plucking fingers are plucking even...

does this make sense?

it does to me but just wanted to make sure

I tilt it. The way I figure, I don't want to have to stretch or curl one finger more than the other in order to pluck the same string.

cire113 · #4 09-02-2009, 11:15 PM

^^^ yeah that is what i was wondering

i know there is no "right" way but im looking for most economical and consistent motion wise...

BiigM · #5 09-03-2009, 12:41 AM

I would say if you play with your fingers straight, like Bunny Brunell if my memory serves me correctly, you could tilt your hand a bit.
But it's not something you MUST do IMO.

But the thing is if you curl your fingers a bit the fingertips evens up automatically.

Mr M · #6 09-03-2009, 02:47 AM

I play with my four fingers on my right hand and I tilt my hand the way you've described it. It also helps to keep the point I attack the string the same. If not, my pinky would attack 2-3 inches closer to the bridge compared to my index finger and this would result in an uneven sound even in the same note (but I use this sometimes to get that flanger kinda effect). But if you're playing with 2 fingers, it won't make a lot of difference.

Fergie Fulton · #7 09-03-2009, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

I had my first bass lesson tonight and my teacher said i should tilt my right hand to the left more so that my two plucking fingers are plucking even...

does this make sense?

it does to me but just wanted to make sure

Fingers come in different shapes and lengths from person to person. We don't all have the same finger make-up so there can be no one way to do this. If it works and makes sense to you and has no detremental effects on your playing and hands( more so the wrist) then it is for you.

Piece of advice, listen and trust your teacher, thats what your paying for, instruction tailored to you. You don't really need us clouding the waters or maybe putting doubt in your mind about what you are being taught.

Kevinmach · #8 09-03-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Piece of advice, listen and trust your teacher, thats what your paying for, instruction tailored to you. You don't really need us clouding the waters or maybe putting doubt in your mind about what you are being taught.

Totally agree. Nothing wrong with double checking, but this guy is front of you watching you- and hopefully, he's seeing where you're having trouble and making suggestions, where we don't have that same advantage. Besides, you are the one who is supposed to go in next week, having employed and practiced the techniques he's taught you- no doubt, if you're not doing it, he will know and likely just keep reminding you anyway. Give him a chance to improve your playing by doing what he says.

From what you've described, it sounds like I do something similar, but what I am confused about, if I am looking at my hand from the top, I actually turn the top to the left, which would which seems as though it would make the short fingers even less even in length- but that's just what is comfortable for me.

Fergie Fulton · #9 09-03-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevinmach

From what you've described, it sounds like I do something similar, but what I am confused about, if I am looking at my hand from the top, I actually turn the top to the left, which would which seems as though it would make the short fingers even less even in length- but that's just what is comfortable for me.

A little experiment if you will.
Hold your hand in front of you palm towards you. Look at your fingertips, are they are all different heights?
Spread your fingers wide open and look again are they all still all different heights. close them in and touch the palm of your hand and look at your fingertips now.

Hand design clever stuff?

unclejane · #10 09-03-2009, 11:59 AM

I think Stanley Clarke uses this method to even out the effective lengths of his two fingers. I'd say give it a try and see if it works (and doesn't hurt).

I've tried this in the past and it didn't work for me, it forces me to bend my wrist in a painful way and basically puts my whole arm out of position.

I now use something similar to Billy Sheehans method where he curls the fingers instead to get them all the same length. I use the floating thumb in conjunction with this so the end result is I keep my wrists straight and therefore the hand is still perpendicular to the strings. But my two fingers are effectively consistently the same length due to the curling.

LS

cire113 · #11 09-03-2009, 12:54 PM

also when slapping does it really matter if your thumb points up(marcus miller) or to the ground (like flea)?

isnt it just comfort level tone is the same..?

lolaviola · #12 12-13-2009, 06:35 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong....

If you lift your arm from the shoulder in proper position, it automatically "tilts" the wrist to the proper position. No extra tilting necessary.

I'm new to this and looking for right-hand fingerstyle advice.

Mayers · #13 12-13-2009, 06:10 PM

I'm more from the classical upright school for hand positionning. So both hands are straight, no bending at all. like a upright player. You know, if you bend your picking hand, your tendonitis are bending to, so more energy is used to move your fingers.

In both Bass Player magasin covering SMV ( Stanley, Marcus and Victor ), Stanley Clark saw that Marcus and Victor have learn their slap technic from his and well ... now their plucking hands when they don't slap is ridiculously bend like Stanley. So Stanley said that he feels bad about that because it isn't a good position for your tendonitis.

3fingerbassist · #14 12-20-2009, 12:09 AM

if you feel it makes sense and improves you're bass playing do it.but i don't think it matters if you are reaching the same string with both fingers already.

as far as slapping i move my whole hand down and the thumb stays at the same level as the string i intend to strike