Wedding Ring

progmanjum · #1 06-24-2010, 07:12 AM

Noob here. Sometimes when I stretch across the fretboard my wedding ring will either hit the neck or the G string. Any one else have this problem? Do I have poor technique? I've thought of two solutions and my wife did not see the humor in either.
Another question just came to mind. I've read in several places Not to rest your arm on your bass, and yet it appears that most people do. Comments?

gjbassist · #2 06-24-2010, 07:18 AM

Sounds like you might need to work on your hand position. Are you using the tips of your fingers or the flat part?

pharmakon · #3 06-24-2010, 07:21 AM

C is for cookie.. and good left hand positioning! Like gjbassist suggested, you should be using the tips of the fingers. Hurts at first but then it will just hurt less after awhile

or toss that ring. Who needs some silly piece of metal to show your love and commitment to your spouse!

mpm32 · #4 06-24-2010, 07:23 AM

I never wear mine when I play.

dalkowski · #5 06-24-2010, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjbassist

Sounds like you might need to work on your hand position. Are you using the tips of your fingers or the flat part?

+1. Never had this problem. Sound like you might have the monkey grip goin' on.

MarTONEbass · #6 06-24-2010, 07:25 AM

I take mine off as well, the bass was there waaaaay before she was!

MonetBass · #7 06-24-2010, 08:09 AM

I play with my wedding ring and never have that problem. Granted, thanks to my skinny fingers my ring is smaller than most. But I finger between the tip and the pad -- this allows for both good finger bone support and flexibility. It may take some practice but I think you'll find your playing will improve as a result.

EdHunter · #8 06-24-2010, 08:13 AM

Steve Harris has played with a ring since around Powerslave. Doesn't seem to have affected him...

Beginner Bass · #9 06-24-2010, 08:17 AM

Shape your hand like your holding a can of soda. Use the tips to fret. A curved hand will get rid of this, unless it's a VERY big ring.

progmanjum · #10 06-24-2010, 09:00 AM

The tips of the finger eh? I'm pretty sure I use the flat meaty part, seemed more natural. Thanks for the help.

KrisH · #11 06-24-2010, 09:11 AM

I just started wearing such a ring about 4 months ago

and it caught on the edge of the fretboard of my (wider) 5-string once. I adjusted how I held my hand and have no more problem.

62Jazzbass · #12 06-24-2010, 09:29 AM

Well, I am self taught, so I might not be the best guy to comment on technique.

But since you asked.....

In addition to fretting notes, I am often using other fingers on my left hand to mute notes, open strings, etc., so the "C" shape that is often mentioned is not always applicable.

As a result, my ring sometimes clacks against frets, or the lower edge of the fretboard.

So, I take it off.

Maybe it means I'm a hack.

But I'm in two working bands, so that's OK too.

pedroims · #13 06-24-2010, 09:32 AM

cant comment here, I lost my wedding ring in my honeymoon

RDUB · #14 06-24-2010, 09:47 AM

Definitely a hand position issue. I've worn mine for 26 years of playing bass, and never snagged it. The basics for left hand, as I teach my students:

Left thumb at the centre line of the back of the neck.

Hand curved, with finger tips pointing down toward the fretboard.

When you fret a note, you should be able to see your whole finger nail, not the end of your finger.

The biggest advantage to this hand positioning is that with some practice, you will be able to play much smoother and faster. You will have far more control over your fingers, and a much greater range of motion for each. This also makes it much easier to work away from the death grip on the neck, which will again help you to play faster and longer.

fearceol · #15 06-24-2010, 09:52 AM

I'd say you should have a teacher check your technique. In the mean time check out these clips for left and right hand technique.

With regards resting your arm on the bass. There are no hard and fast rules, but it is generally accepted that keeping both wrists straight (this is hard to do with the plucking hand, while resting the arm on the bass) will help prevent a lot of possible physical trouble later on.

L/H : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA

R/H :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU

Craig630 · #16 06-24-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedroims

cant comment here, I lost my wedding ring in my honeymoon

Oh my.

progmanjum · #17 06-24-2010, 10:47 AM

Thank you all for your posts. I have started looking into lessons, it's just hard to justify the cost at the moment. I'm 40 something and I'm playing for my own enjoyment. I have no plans of touring the world or even joining a band. My teacher at the moment are you guys/gals and studybass.com
Thanks.

electracoyote · #18 06-24-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by progmanjum

Thank you all for your posts. I have started looking into lessons, it's just hard to justify the cost at the moment. I'm 40 something and I'm playing for my own enjoyment. I have no plans of touring the world or even joining a band. My teacher at the moment are you guys/gals and studybass.com
Thanks.

As a teacher with 20 students, and an average retention rate of 3+ years per student over the past 10 years, I feel qualified to say adjusting your technique, one that you may have developed over years and are quite comfortable with, is asking alot. "Technique" is such a subjective word. For every truly accomplished player who adheres to one interpretation of some text-book, orthodox "technique," I can point out another player, equally accomplished and talented, who does not.

Over the course of playing and teaching professionally for 30+ years, I have often seen wedding rings and other jewelry become a problem, impeding the player and chewing up the instrument.

The choice is yours: Put in the relatively great effort to change your technique or simply remove the ring when you play. My .02 cents.

62Jazzbass · #19 06-24-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

For every truly accomplished player who adheres to one interpretation of some text-book, orthodox "technique," I can point out another player, equally accomplished and talented, who does not.

Along these lines:

I was just thinking that Jaco didn't seem to strictly adhere to the "C" shape as a rule. Mind you, I have not gone to YouTube to confirm this, just thinking back to what I remember seeing. My memory has him with his fingers lying over the strings often, possible for muting and such.

Thoughts?

fearceol · #20 06-24-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

As a teacher with 20 students, and an average retention rate of 3+ years per student over the past 10 years, I feel qualified to say adjusting your technique, one that you may have developed over years and are quite comfortable with, is asking alot. "Technique" is such a subjective word. For every truly accomplished player who adheres to one interpretation of some text-book, orthodox "technique," I can point out another player, equally accomplished and talented, who does not.

Over the course of playing and teaching professionally for 30+ years, I have often seen wedding rings and other jewelry become a problem, impeding the player and chewing up the instrument.

The choice is yours: Put in the relatively great effort to change your technique or simply remove the ring when you play. My .02 cents.

All good advice. As the OP says he is a noob, then changing his technique should not be too hard as he has not being playing long enough for a particular habit to become deeply ingrained. This is the stage when changing a habit is comparitively easy.