Small hands

[CactusBass]

I am curious if anyone else has experience with having smaller hands and play. My friend who plays has much bigger hands then I. I can play but sometimes get discouraged by the lack of reach/rang that I have.
I feel like it inhibits my playing..Am I doomed?

[tdoody]

carol kaye is a legendary session bass player.
she is a very small woman with tiny hands. she used to play a p bass. technique and coordination can overcome small hands
get a good teacher and go for it

td

[CactusBass]

thanks for the encouragement..do you think I will have to work harder to play at the same level as someone with larger hands?

[etoncrow]

You might also try a shorter scale bass; check out the Short Scale Club to see some of what is available:

The Official Short Scale Bass Club

[Ric5]

I have smaller hands and I am an accomplished 5 string bassist. I do not play any short scale basses.

[CactusBass]

What about necks? I play a fender, with a J neck...Its not too girthy and plays pretty fast, but for instance my friends warwick screws me up with its thick neck...what other models have good necks for me?

[WalterBush]

I've got smaller hands than a lot of my guitar playing friends, and I play a 35" scale 5er and a 7 string, amongst other basses. My one short scale bass feels like a toy.

Practice helps overcome any percieved physical difference. If I had to work any harder to play the same thing as guys with bigger hands, I didn't notice. I just practiced until I got it right.

[etoncrow]

I personally love those made by Birdsong Guitars, Wimberly Texas; some Squiers are short scale with jazz profile necks

[CactusBass]

thanks guys!

[Asher S]

Big hands? We don't need no stinkin' big hands!

Small hands for playing a bass guitar? Forget about it! Check out Esperanza Spalding on the double bass AND while singing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6hVnTdnWU

[Kevinmach]

Though I am not a small dude, I have believe I have small hands, and I definitely don't have long fingers. When I play my 35-scale, it can be a bit of stretch on the 1st 4 frets.

I used to wonder if it was holding me back too, UNTIL....

... someone on posted a youtube video of a dude with NO right hand (you heard me right, he was missing his plucking hand completely)... what happened to it, I have no idea, but the tone and fluidity he got out of his fretting hand by itself was better than 1/2 the amateur bassists I've heard....

after than, I never complained about my "small hands" again...

[Ric5]

I customize and sometimes buld my own 5 string basses that meet my needs as a 5 string bassist with smaller hands. My perfect bass has 5 string on a 4 string p-bass neck.

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/425.htm

[QuelOround]

I'm a girl with tiny hands and short fingers... but with lots of practice you won't notice it anymore and it will feel natural. When i pick up a regular guitar it feels like a toy.

If you keep your hands relaxed and learn to move your arm and wrist very naturally then I think you can make up for a lack of handspan. I think the key is keeping the hand and wrist relaxed.