Looking At Your Left Hand

JazzDude · #1 03-02-2007, 11:10 AM

Some questions for the experienced DB'ers here:

Do you ever look at your left hand while playing?

If you say yes, do you think you should NOT do it? Why or why not?

I've been playing DB about 1 year, and I had put whiteout dots on the edge of the fingerboard and left them there for a few months. I cleaned them off weeks ago, but I still catch myself looking for whatever remnants are left while I'm playing.

FWIW, my bandmates mentioned how much better my intonation was when I put in the dots.

philip sirois · #2 03-02-2007, 11:16 AM

Did you say fingerboard markings? wait, let me put on my protective gear......there...........ok, post away!

lefty · #3 03-02-2007, 11:28 AM

sometimes look at my left hand, but i never use fret markers for my left hand because i'm left handed.

Greg O · #4 03-02-2007, 11:30 AM

Yeah I do. I bought my bass used and their were positoin markers on it. i know the die-hard dbs might get mad but i'd rather sound like then look like a pro.

Greg O · #5 03-02-2007, 11:30 AM

Yeah I do. I bought my bass used and their were position markers on it. i know the die-hard dbers might get mad but i'd rather sound like then look like a pro.

T-MOST · #6 03-02-2007, 11:40 AM

Everyone looks at their left hand from time to time. Most of the time I don't unless I am playing something very very new (like never played it before new) or I just happen to look for the hell of it. It doesn't make you less of a bassist if you look. It's better to look and hit the correct notes than try to look cool and hit the wrong notes IMO. Besides, Jaco looked at left hand frequently.

Marcus Johnson · #7 03-02-2007, 11:53 AM

Nope.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #8 03-02-2007, 12:33 PM

When I'm playing well, I never look at my left hand.

fingers · #9 03-02-2007, 12:51 PM

I should point out that there are a ton of pros that use markers or physical references of some kind. Check out the various threads about fingerboard markers. (Put on extra protective gear if you call them fret markers, DBs don't have frets).

I sometimes use markers, sometimes not. If I am playing a gig where it is easy to hear then I rarely look at my left hand. Conversely, If there is a cluster**** of sound and I can't hear myself the markers go on.

JazzDude · #10 03-02-2007, 02:08 PM

I really wasn't thinking about how it looks to other people.

What I was thinking, in part, was that looking for visual cues was distracting me from listening and feeling for the notes, which seems, in the long run, a more accurate and repeatable technique.

I've also been sneaking looks while I'm reading a chart, and a few times it's thrown me off enough that when I look back, I ended up on the wrong staff. Once, just once, I got on the wrong page. Luckily the ensuing train wreck was at a rehearsal and not a gig.

I feel I'm getting to the point that, even when I practice alone, I can hear when I'm off even a little bit, and shouldn't need to spot check my position. That's pretty much what I was doing - seeing how far off I am by looking where I ended up.

Marcus Johnson · #11 03-02-2007, 02:20 PM

I can't envision a way of looking at your left hand that wouldn't literally cause a major pain in your neck. And if you turn the bass so that you can see where your fingers are, doesn't that put a nasty bend in your wrist? Nah, thanks.... I'll just use my ears, the fingers will follow.

Plus... if you're looking at your left hand, how can you check out the talent?

JazzDude · #12 03-02-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

I can't envision a way of looking at your left hand that wouldn't literally cause a major pain in your neck. And if you turn the bass so that you can see where your fingers are, doesn't that put a nasty bend in your wrist? Nah, thanks.... I'll just use my ears, the fingers will follow.

I sort of see your point, Marcus.

For notes on the neck, I lean back and away from the bass to sneak a peek. There's no pain involved, but it shifts my whole body.

Maybe that's a key concept - how can I learn to feel where the notes are if my arms and torso aren't in a consistent place?

Quote:

Plus... if you're looking at your left hand, how can you check out the talent?

The same way, I lean back and sneak a peek!

JazzDude · #13 03-02-2007, 02:50 PM

T - I think from your profile maybe you're thinking of electric, rather than the DB. I actually think the EB is much harder to move around on without visual cues. There are literally no landmarks between the nut and about the 15th fret, unless you can count frets as your fingers slide over them.

I found out the hard way when I brough my fretless to big band rehearsal. It takes a lot of practice (luck?) to play a low F and then the high A without looking. And yes, that was on one of the charts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-MOST

Everyone looks at their left hand from time to time. Most of the time I don't unless I am playing something very very new (like never played it before new) or I just happen to look for the hell of it. It doesn't make you less of a bassist if you look. It's better to look and hit the correct notes than try to look cool and hit the wrong notes IMO. Besides, Jaco looked at left hand frequently.

Marcus Johnson · #14 03-02-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazzDude

Maybe that's a key concept - how can I learn to feel where the notes are if my arms and torso aren't in a consistent place?

Well, like any discipline, it takes time to build it into your muscle memory all over the fingerboard, and then to integrate those final little incremental adjustments to bring the chosen note into tune. Ideally, your arms and torso (as well as your fingers) are in a consistent place for any given note. No fingerboard markings will allow as fine intonation as an attentive ear.

Marcus Johnson · #15 03-02-2007, 04:00 PM

Exactly. Well said.

Uncletoad · #16 03-02-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Plus... if you're looking at your left hand, how can you check out the talent?

I can't think of a better reason to keep your nose off the neck and your eyes out of the chart.

Talent.

It's what we live for.

And Krispy Kremes.

ee-san · #17 03-03-2007, 08:13 AM

Talent, Krispy Kremes, all the same to me...

Check Bob Lee's site (he posts more on the other side) to see some videos of him playing DB and looking at the neck every few seconds. Personally, it doesn't help me to stay in tune. I figure if you're looking it's already too late.

Audiophage · #18 03-03-2007, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Spradling

To me, proper intonation is all about hearing the note before you strike it, and lots of practice. A lot of people have mentioned this before, but if you think in tune, you'll start to play in tune.

This is a concept that I've only recently been able to slightly grasp. The better my mind's ear, the better my playing.

Michael Case · #19 03-03-2007, 11:10 AM

I sometimes look at my left hand, but it's to make sure I'm not playing with a bend in my wrist. I had used the bent left wrist in the lower half of the bass for a while and I discussed it with my teacher and we worked it out. I look because I've done it for so long that sometimes the bent wrist is my default and I need to be aware of it and correct it. As for reading, looking at your left hand is death, you should practice in front of a mirror, that will help you see where your hand is and keep you looking forward. Eventually you will think it's awkward to watch your left hand while playing.

dbmike · #20 03-07-2007, 10:19 AM

I never look at my left hand. I've only been playing seven months and gigging for three, but my teacher insisted I just listen and adjust and keep my posture straight, relaxed, and aligned. If I take my eyes off the stand, it is to look at my bow -- it frequently surprises me, and not in a good way.