Double-jointed 4th finger

[Rob Downie]

Do any of you have-- or know another bass player who has-- a double-jointed 4th finger on the left hand? Because I never learned proper left-hand technique, I have been working with my teacher on the "whole-step span" i.e. spanning a full tone between your first and third/fourth fingers, and getting the half-tone in between with your second finger. After I have practiced this a while, the tip of my fourth finger starts collapsing. I also notice that, if I bend the finger, there is often a faint snap or clicking in the knuckle. Finally, I have noticed for several years that that finger hurts more than it should if I accidentally knock it against another object. That finger may be double jointed and I may have to content myself with using my first two fingers ONLY and doing more shifting. Comments?

Rob

[TomGale]

Wow! Never came across that before BUT if I had, I would say try the brand new 1,2,3 technique. You will be substituting the 3rd finger for the 34 Simandl combination. You may need a slight pivot for the 3rd to sub for the 4th and it may be weaker than 34 at first but you can do it.
For you, 1 2 4 will become 1 2 3. You probably can forget about the 4th finger (1 2 3 4 technique) but it will be a very workable technique.
Let me know in 4 months...
Tom Gale
ASODB. com

[hdiddy]

Er, I think my pinky is flexible enough to be considered double jointed, especially on the last knuckle. I kinda get problems if I get lazy and don't keep my fingers curled.

I can see where you can get screwed up if you haven't had a teacher when you first started. You'll have to make it a habit of always keeping every finger curled. As if your hand is always making a "C" shape. This was proscribed by my teach too. If you let the fingers collapse then you won't be fingering the strings with the utmost efficiency as well. It takes less pressure if your fingers are always curled.

I dont' think you have to resort to a 1,2,3 technique. I play 1,2,4 myself. I only get some problems going up in thumb position, but I think it's mainly cuz my technique and physical strength is weak in that area for the time being.

[jallenbass]

I had a bit of that problem early on but it worked itself out. No need to try to incorporate anything unorthadox yet.

[dhosek]

Pinky? Hell, I ain't got a joint that doesn't bend backwards.

You need to press more with the tips of your fingers than with the pads. A whole new set of callouses to develop.

[TomGale]

They sell those slightly curved finger splints to tape up a broken finger. What about cutting off the end - just enough to cover that last joint - tape it on and see what happens. It should keep it from flexing backward. You might want to also try taping the 3 and 4 last joints together for added support but that sort of rules out the thumb positions. And there's always the 1 2 3 technique.
Dr. Tom

To overcome double jointedness you need to develope muscle in your fingers. It won't take that long. Just keep on practicing the normal way and eventually your finger won't want to collapse anymore (and trust me, you don't want it to collapse. I have not seen a double bassist that plays consistently accurate pitches with collapsed fingers yet). Additionally, you might want to read this: http://www.polyphonic.org/article.php?id=62

[jfv]

Wow man, i'm "hyperlax", who woulda thunk

And here they told me it wouldn't matter if
I inhaled

Actually my teacher said there are advantages
in being doublejointed, just have to take the bad
with the good I suppose

What are the advantages to being double jointed?

[jfv]

Originally Posted by p.nemeth

What are the advantages to being double jointed?

At the time she said this we were working on thumb
position (Rabbath 4th position) and I was reaching
from octave D to the D harmonic at 5th position G.
I have a slightly larger reach because of my thumb
doublejointed-ness, so thats an example.

Actually before this thread I had not thought about
it being a disadvantage in any way, at least its not
given me any problems that I'm aware of.

Originally Posted by jfv

At the time she said this we were working on thumb
position (Rabbath 4th position) and I was reaching
from octave D to the D harmonic at 5th position G.
I have a slightly larger reach because of my thumb
doublejointed-ness, so thats an example.

Actually before this thread I had not thought about
it being a disadvantage in any way, at least its not
given me any problems that I'm aware of.

Sorry for the late reply as I didn't see it until now. You should never stretch your hand like that to get notes. The hand should move as a unit in a position with the thumb coming along with the rest of the fingers a whole step or half step away from the first finger. Since you're using Rabbath's method, you're probably also collapsing your fingers in thumb position. Coming froms someone who's very double jointed, you should avoid this. Not only does collapsing your fingers make it more difficult than necessary to hit the correct pitch, but it will also injure your fingers over time. I really can't think of how having a double jointed thumb would improve the span of your hand, unless you're putting weight on the joint that's collapsed.