Latin Bassline Fingerings

[endorka]

Hi Folks,

I am an electric bass player, although I utilise several double bass type techniques in my approach to the instrument, one of them being the "1-2-4" left hand fingering approach.

Based on this, I am wondering how a double bass player would approach playing a latin style bassline of the type: root, fifth, octave, played on 1, 2&, 4 respectively. Ive tried several left hand fingerings, but none of them seem ideal. Using the pinky to hold down the fifth and octave at the same time seems fairly unwieldy, and I imagine may not be practical on a double bass. Using fingers 2 and 4 for the fifth and octave may work, but you would have to shift about a bit to get good intonation.

Any advice would be much appreciated - the question has been bothering me for an unhealthily long time!

Jennifer

[jallenbass]

I use my pinky to bridge across 2 strings all the time. Once you get use to it it's easy.

[Rodriguez]

Most of us (on the NYC Latin scene), use the pinky as a vice ... be it upright or electric, when playing the (root w/ he 1st finger ... of course), fifth & octave tumbaos. It just feels natural. Some others use the pinky and move it for the fifth and octave.

Easy,
RR

[endorka]

Thanks for the advice guys, it is much appreciated. This is a question I've never fully answered for myself, nor previously had fully answered by anyone else, and since I'm about to make a serious effort to learn some Latin bass stuff, I didn't want to be using any dead-end techniques, especially since I may take up the double bass at some point in the future.

Cheers!

Jennifer

[jdapodaca]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

I use my pinky to bridge across 2 strings all the time. Once you get use to it it's easy.

John, do you use your other (1 and 2) fingers in this same manner?

[Chris Fitzgerald]

[can of worms]
When I want to ensure a fluid legato movement from the 5th to the 8ve, I finger the 5th with 3 and the 8ve with 4. In this formation, the shoulder/elbow assembly needs to move up to align the two fingers, then down to go back to the root. Other times, I'll use 1 and 4 for the root and 5th. I try to usually go with what the music seems to be dictating at the time.
[/can of worms]

YMMV, of course.

[WillBuckingham]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

[can of worms]
When I want to ensure a fluid legato movement from the 5th to the 8ve, I finger the 5th with 3 and the 8ve with 4. In this formation, the shoulder/elbow assembly needs to move up to align the two fingers, then down to go back to the root. Other times, I'll use 1 and 4 for the root and 5th. I try to usually go with what the music seems to be dictating at the time.
[/can of worms]

YMMV, of course.

+1. For upright or electric.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by jdapodaca

John, do you use your other (1 and 2) fingers in this same manner?

Yep