Young Student

peterpalmieri · #1 12-13-2007, 08:41 AM

Hey guys a question for some of you teachers out there.

I have a very young student, I think he is 11 years old with small hands and he has a 34" scale bass.

I immediately found that his left hand could not stretch to use all four fingers in one position. We started working on a more traditional Upright bass fingerings using 1,2 & 4. I also find that we can now work out of Simandl which I think is far superior to any of the electric bass books I've had experience with.

Any other experiences you could share with dealing in this situation would be helpful.

tZer · #2 12-13-2007, 09:44 AM

I have the exact same situation only with a 10 year old student.

I wrote the dad a prescription after our very first lesson.

1) get him a different, 30" scale bass
2) get a strap short enough to hold the bass properly (so that it does not move when he stands or sits)
3) work on right hand, alternating plucking technique until you get him an instrument that actually fits him.

His dad went out that very day, exchanged the Squier P-Bass he originally bought and returned with a Bronco bass...

Now the lessons can really begin. Some may say that anyone can learn on any size instrument, but I am a firm believer that having the proper sized instrument is a much better situation. He physically cannot learn proper left hand technique on a bass that's too big. What's worse, he could really develop some bad habits or RSI's because of it.

peterpalmieri · #3 12-13-2007, 09:49 AM

Thanks for that info. this kid has had this bass for a while, so he couldn't just exchange it for a smaller scale. I hate to suggest out of the gate that he has to go out and spend more money.

I appreciate your thoughts, I think that using a traditional DB technique could work for him, I just wonder if there is something I am overlooking with this path.

Pete

tZer · #4 12-13-2007, 11:04 AM

I understand. Just to be clear, this student also had his bass beforehand and the 'exchange' was actually his dad taking it in and using it as a trade (against my advise of him selling it himself for better $$) and purchasing his son the smaller scale instrument.

I suppose if he straps the bass so that the bridge end hangs low and the neck is practically vertical, and he plucks nearer the neck, he'd have better wrist position in 1st position.

Maybe next session you could take some photos, post them, and get more feedback. I'll do the same with my 10 year old student and his short-scale bass. We could compare notes. You may be onto something with the upright technique for smaller hands.

peterpalmieri · #5 12-13-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

I suppose if he straps the bass so that the bridge end hangs low and the neck is practically vertical, and he plucks nearer the neck, he'd have better wrist position in 1st position.

Being that he is so small the bass naturally lays how you describe it. I will see if I can get some pictures of his left hand position.

Being an upright player I am concerned that I might impose to much upright technique that could make it more difficult later on.

On the other hand the larger scale of a DB warrants the techniques developed over the years. Assuming the ratio is the same for this youngster I thought I might actually find others that utilize this as well.

tZer · #6 12-13-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterpalmieri

Being that he is so small the bass naturally lays how you describe it. I will see if I can get some pictures of his left hand position.

Being an upright player I am concerned that I might impose to much upright technique that could make it more difficult later on.

On the other hand the larger scale of a DB warrants the techniques developed over the years. Assuming the ratio is the same for this youngster I thought I might actually find others that utilize this as well.

I started on upright, but I was 14 at the time. I also started on violin when I was about 10 and we all used 3/4 size instruments to develop our initial technique. I know there are smaller-scale uprights too, so it just seems logical that the instrument fit the student.

But I also watched the video of the little girl on the Today Show doing, "boogie, oogie, oogie" - and she seemed fine playing that full-sized electric bass.

I would imagine upright technique would be very beneficial on a fretless, but I feel that having frets sort of begs for 'fret-style' technique - one finger per fret, good wrist position, etc... so again - two different schools of thought - each probably just fine.

NickyBass · #7 12-13-2007, 11:56 AM

I have been using upright technique on electric for years. It is just so much more natural for me. I've played through Simandl 4 or 5 times. Every once in a while, I start over on page one, just to refresh. I work on both upright and electric, and switching between the two is a breeze. I do use 1 finger per fret technique when it is needed--especially for faster passages or soloing.

There have been many electric players who utilize upright technique with great results.

peterpalmieri · #8 12-13-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyBass

I have been using upright technique on electric for years. It is just so much more natural for me. I've played through Simandl 4 or 5 times. Every once in a while, I start over on page one, just to refresh. I work on both upright and electric, and switching between the two is a breeze. I do use 1 finger per fret technique when it is needed--especially for faster passages or soloing.

There have been many electric players who utilize upright technique with great results.

That is great to know thank you!