Fret size for hand?

[audienceofone]

Moderators please move this if I put it in the wrong area.

I have a Schecter Studio Elite 5 with Jumbo frets.

I am working on a blues shuffle that requires me to go from the first fret to the 4th fret. I can't reach it and get a clear note without moving my hand.

The question is:
can this be fixed with stretches of some kind, or is it worth getting a different bass with medium frets?

Thanks!
Todd

[Dogbertday]

the term jumbo frets doesn't mean that they are farther apart than a bass with medium frets.... it just means that the fret itself is bigger..

i think what you would be looking for is a short scale bass... however I don't think you need one. Your hand with stretch out over time and also when playing in position it's natural to move your hand some... being quick and direct about any motion (even when switching position) will eliminate any noticeable side affects.

heh a little cheating never hurt anyone

[Dogbertday]

for the record... that is a beast of a stretch... playing that shuffle in itself is probably a good exercise...

[Marcury]

Stretch, stretch, stretch, but slowly. Don't hurt yourself. BTW you can also shift your hand to make that if you need to.

[jschwalls]

exercise.....

here is what my instructor gave me years ago.. he wanted me to be able to execute 1st fret to 5th fret with little effort.. after a while I am now able to do so...


start at 7th fret and play 7 9 10 11 across all 4 strings...

after several days of getting comfortable.. move the pattern down to 6 8 9 10, after several more days move it down again....you get the idea.. When you start getting to the lower frets like 3 5 6 7 take extra time to ensure you are playing and executing the pattern very smoothly...

I have small hands but, I seem to always amaze people with how crazy I can stretch....

I now use the 1st fret to 5th fret exercise part of my warm up...

........................1..5....5..1.............. ..........
.................1..5..................5..1....... ..........
..........1..5................................5..1 ..........
...1..5........................................... ....5..1..