Playing notes above the 15th fret

[vishalicious]

Does anyone have any advice on how best to position the fretting hand when playing notes high up on the neck of the bass? I've only been practicing for a few months now, and I realized a few weeks ago that do stop between the 12th-15th frets a lot because I can't find a way to play up there that feels natural. I'd like to nip that in the bud before unconsciously giving myself a complex.

[GrisGris]

On my jazz bass, while trying to play chords high up on the neck, I sometimes play what db and cello players call thumb position. I adopted this while watching a particular db player do this at a gig while playing electric bass.

Basically you take your fretting hand and rotate your wrist so your fingertips point down the neck toward the bridge, then take you thumb and place it on top of the fretboard.

Hard to explain but watch vids of stanley clarke playing db, he does it in the high register.

[vishalicious]

Thanks for the response. I watched some of Stanley Clarke's videos and re-read your post a few times but can't seem to find a way to really apply it properly. Once I get around the 14th-15th frets, my pinky finger just doesn't reach anymore. I end up pulling my thumb out from behind the neck and it just kind of sticks out, with my palm basically running against the bottom of the neck. Even then, I lose strength and accuracy in the pinky and the reach issue persists as I go further down. Are you actually putting your thumb on the other side of the neck, alongside the E string, instead of the G string?

Some of his videos are really interesting though.

Stanley Clarke upright bass solo.

I really like this. His playing is so organic. Its like nothing I ever see on electric. Remarkable bass face too. I'm not entirely sure how to incorporate how he frets the higher notes onto electric. His hands are bigger than mine.

Stanley Clarke, "Schooldays" At Northsea Jazz Festival

I found this really interesting. Its because of the bass, actually. The neck is so thin, and it stays like that for its entire length. There's no significant widening before it joins the body. That must make playing up on the higher frets much easier. I don't have that option though.

Stanley Clarke Solo

He's using the same bass here as in that 2nd video. I notice that in both videos, his thumb goes over the neck when he plays. I think I read somewhere on these forums that some players do that to form chords that wouldn't be playable otherwise? But, I'm not at that stage yet.

[TheDude007]

I find that what you're already doing is essentially how I do it. I don't have a bass in front of me, so it's hard to think of what I do from memory...it just kind of happens. However, I think my thumb comes off and basically goes parallel with the neck. I think what really helps and will give you better leverage is how you position your bass when you're playing high up on the neck. For one, I stand and play, so it's hanging by a strap. This way, I can slide it around and either stand it a little more towards vertical to be able to get in there, or slide it around your side a little so it's kind of resting on your hip. I think either of these will give you a little extra leverage to be able to fret properly. I know neither of these are probably "correct technique," but they work for me. Hope this helps a little.

[Russell L]

I hate thumb position. Far as I'm concerned my neck could just stop at the 15th fret.

[mambo4]

when I have to play that high on the neck I typically find my left thumb coming off the neck completely, using hand/arm pressure alone to fret the notes. Having the bass strap set to ride a bit higher than normal also helps.

[vishalicious]

Originally Posted by mambo4

when I have to play that high on the neck I typically find my left thumb coming off the neck completely, using hand/arm pressure alone to fret the notes. Having the bass strap set to ride a bit higher than normal also helps.

This is basically what I do right now, but I'm not able to do it very well. Its mainly the pinky getting weak that's the issue, but equally difficult is not having the thumb somewhere that I can make use of it.

In one of the books I was reading, the author said to practice playing without your thumb behind the neck, so you don't use it as a crutch when playing. He says later you can use it again, and it won't be used in a vice-like manner. It'll be used more for guidance. I'm not able to do that very well at all though.

[ryco]

I think the more time you spend practicing playing up high, the easier it gets. My thumb comes off of the back of the neck around the 15th-17th fret and ends up on the "top" side of the neck, where I can still apply counter-pressure for my fingers.

I notice my palm does flatten out a bit and is lightly grazing the backside, but it's not slammed flat. I can't get any force doing that and makes it a very long uncomfortable wrap-around reach for my fingertips.

Your thumb shouldn't be to tight, pressing down on the back of the neck - just enough to give the fingers some pressure as support. Kind of hard to explain. If you are clamping down too tight you're going to loose a lot of speed and your hand is going to tire quickly.

I think 24 frets should be the standard, but then I'm a weirdo!