Complete bass guitar newb with a couple of questions.

[30hrz]

Can't afford a teacher right now so I thought I'd ask some basic questions here in the meantime.

Trying a C scale, starting on the 3rd fret of the A string, I read that the root I should start with my middle finger and then progress to my pinky for the D note. This is a rather uncomfortable stretch for me and the intonations with my pinky is rather weak stretch out as it is. I understand why to start the scale with this fingering as I can now more easily do the E note with my index finger and so on. But dang if that middle finger to pinky a painful stretch and I don't have what one would consider small hands either. So I am wondering if either my technique is off or if it's just a matter of training the fingers to do that stretch.

Is it correct that on coming up from a lower string to a higher string (that is for example the G string to the D going down in pitch) that I drag one finger to the next string and use the other finger to mute the string below it? It's rather tricky for me to properly mute the lower string coming up. I'm just trying to get the correct method so I can play up and down the strings with the same ease and speed.

How do you mute let's say the A string when fingering on the G string? Like when you are playing scales or otherwise notes on the G string and you get the A string vibrating slightly.

Cheers thanks!

[Tin-Foot Paul]

Getting good use out of your pinkie is just a matter of time. From my own long ago self taught experience, I'd recommend not worrying too much about "proper" finger technique. When you get to the point where you're comfortable with 3 fingers, the pinkie will begin to take care of itself.

I think it's the same with muting. Just keep playing and having fun and all of a sudden you'll be moving around with ease and speed while muting without even realizing you're doing it.

Re: your final question. I think muting is done to some extent with both hands, but to mute A string when you're on the G string, just lightly lay your a part of your right hand/3rd or 4th fingers/ on the A (ideally E and D too) string.

Take what I say with several grains of salt, because the longer I write this the more I think I don't know what I'm talking about!

Good luck and have fun.

[AxtoOx]

You've hit on the exact reason why I hate to teach music. Peoples fingers don't naturally do what you want them to, to play Bass or guitar. It just flat takes practice to get the muscles to do what you want them to. The pinky is important, but I wouldn't expect you to be able to use it right away. Your hands weren't built to do things on stringed instuments without trianing them.
Don't try to do to much too fast. Do you have some riffs you can play? I'd have some fun w/ those, go back to excersises and so on.
I play Bass and guitar. I'm learning drums. On the drums, I play a little while, do something I'm not used to. Play stuff I know and go back. The next time it's all a little easier. Patience.

[steve66]

Try practicing your scales higher on the fretboard where the frets are closer. Gradually move to the lower register. Start slow, maintain a good tone. When your fingers start to hurt or the tone gets sloppy, stop and give them a rest. Then go back to it.

[Poop-Loops]

Pivoting your wrist is also very important. If you're trying to make a reach and you keep your wrist in the same position, you will really strain your hand.

For now, I'd agree with Steve. Practice higher on the fretboard. It's just easier.

[30hrz]

Hey thanks for the replies.

I actually know a lot of female bassist with hands smaller than mine so I know there must be a way for me to play the instrument. Sometimes though I think my hands aren't built right to hit these notes. Actually even more than the finger stretch is the wrist position. Like, to splay your fingers straight up and down you gotta have your wrist at like a 90 degree angle but that hurts so I straighten my wrist out but then my fingers touch the string on an angle.

Anywho I don't think I'll be playing a six-string anytime soon. I guess I'll keep practicing.

[kherber]

Originally Posted by steve66

Try practicing your scales higher on the fretboard where the frets are closer. Gradually move to the lower register.

This is good advice. The C scale's a fairly long stretch. Try working an A or D scale, or slide up another step and work B and E. You don't have to stretch so far, but you're still learning the same finger movements.

I'd work with the pinky right now. I see no reason to put it off simply because it's difficult. If you put it off till "later" then you'll have to waste time re-learning your fingerings. And it won't be the last difficult thing you'll have to practice. You should develop a habit of spending more time practicing the hard things than the easy things.

Of course, don't overdue it. Don't over-stretch or over-practice. Give your hands time to adapt to the new tasks you're throwing at them. Given a little time, you'll be amazed at how much they can stretch.

Muting is a key point on electric bass. Good muting is what gives you a clean, precise sound, and is not easy. There's lots of different ways to keep strings quiet, but in most cases I don't think there's a real specific technique. At first, you'll do most of your higher string muting (G down to A) with your left hand, and mute your lower strings (E up to D) with your right hand. Just listen to yourself play, and listen for ringing strings. When you hear them, stop and make whatever adjustments are necessary to make the noise stop--find the most comfortable way you can, using whatever hand/finger makes the most sense. Also, learn not to lift your fingers completely off the dead strings, or they may ring.

One actual muting technique is what people now call "floating thumb." Do a search, there are threads and videos on the subject. Most beginners feel more comfortable anchoring their thumb on a pickup or cover, but the floating thumb opens up a lot of technique possibilities.

Another advanced muting technique is to use your left thumb over the top of the neck to mute (or choke) the E and A strings. I use this extensively because it frees up my right hand--but it's probably not the best place to start.

Doc

[Yngwie 4String]

Practice using your pinky all the time, do not do that stuff where you slide yout third finger, use the pinky. Keep your thumb behind the neck of the bass, not on top of it. Your thumb should be right behind and between your 2nd and third finger at all times.

To move from open A to the G, press lightly with your left hand on the A string to kill the open A before moving to the G. If your playing a fretted note on the A it should die when you let off of the fret. Thats about it.

[RadioSilence]

For the scale, the technique is correct. The positioning is arranged that way so you don't have to move your hand up or down the neck in order to play the full scale. In the beginning the stretch can definitely be difficult - on top of that it takes time to build up strength in the pinky finger as well. Keep practicing it and it will get much easer and the tone will follow.

For the picking technique, I will generally pluck the string and allow my finger to land on the string below it. For instance if I am playing on the A string, I will pluck it and my finger will come to rest on the E string. I'll do this regardless of whether I'm generally progressing up the scale or down.

Sorry for the redundancy - New to the forums and I didn't notice any replies because I had threading turned on.

[30hrz]

Just a quick follow up. I believe you are suppose to lift off your fingers and pivot the wrist a bit eh? In other words once you played a note with your middle finger and are going to the pinky you don't need to keep the middle finger pressed down on the note above and instead take it off and move the wrist slightly to best intonate the next note. Same going back up. I tried it and it does seem to work a little better as I am not stretching so much.