So what's wrong with the third finger?

[Ben Wilkie]

I think the tendon attached to the third is naturally a bit less-independent than the others; I can't remember if it's actually true or not, but it has always seemed that way. That's another consideration to make when thinking about why the use of 1-2-4 is so widespread.

But, as others have said ..there's always a way around it; I've seen a video of a guy playing electric bass with no right arm at all. Hammer-on chops!

[sevenyearsdown]

One of the first things my DB instructor asked me when we started was, "Do you use all four fingers on your left hand when you play BG?"......It can be a hard habit to break.

[barbarbass]

Originally Posted by conical johnson

Quick exposition: I'm an electric player, bought an EUB. Mainly into composition, not so interested in being able to play anybody else's music. My music's not jazz, but there's no forum for my kind of music, so I stuck this here.

It's funny, because I -- like you -- am an electric player who switched over to DB about a year and a half ago; who also doesn't touch jazz. Don't want to start a flame war -- it's just not my cup o' tea.

In any event, there is a method by an Italian classical player, Isaiah Bille, which uses the third finger independently of the fourth (that is, 1-3-4, or 1-2-3-4). I think people call this "Italian" fingering.

When I am not playing classical music (my other gig, besides the orchestra) I will use the ring finger occasionally. However, generally, I stick to the Simandl 1-2-4 fingering. By the way -- even Simandl switches to 1-2-3 when you get into "thumb position". His rationale is that the pinky is too short to be useful when you're that high on the board.

[ZonGuy]

Coming from electric, I tried 1234 and hurt myself. Went back and learned 124 with a bow proper. Have recently gone back to 1234 but only a 1/2 scale bass and only above the 2nd position.

[joemato]

You could probably use the 1-2-3 for the low notes if you shift your hand with the thumb stationary ala Francois Rabbath. Warning> I have big hands and still need my pinky to play in tune. This might work better on a half size bass. I use the double bass system on electric for the low end and I saw Jack Bruce use it too. It all what gets the job done and gives you a good sound.

[Jack Clark]

Originally Posted by pickerpete

Well said Jeff.
I am a vocational rehabilitation counselor by trade and I am always inspired by the creative ways people overcome physical challanges.
Find a way that works for you.
That being said you may consider some lessons to be sure that your adaptation to facilitate you playing is not creating bad habits and obstacles down the road.
Good Luck!!

We had a popular local bassist here who had only a thumb and pinkie finger on his left hand. Still he played double bass right-handed and could cover an amazing amount of fingerboard with that one finger. It was about as big as my middle finger, I assumed because he used it so much. I never got a chance to ask him if he had ever tried playing bass left-handed; he died very suddenly of a brain tumor.

[bobknowsbass]

Originally Posted by Ben Wilkie

I think the tendon attached to the third is naturally a bit less-independent than the others; I can't remember if it's actually true or not, but it has always seemed that way. That's another consideration to make when thinking about why the use of 1-2-4 is so widespread.

This is true, coming from a piano background the ring finger has very specific physical shortcomings that need to be addressed through exercises such as the Hanon aerobics, e.t.c. For some reason humans evolved with tendons binding the ring finger to the pinky and middle fingers. So where the index, middle finger and pinky have independent mobility, the ring finger is a mooch that borrows power from the fingers adjacent to it. The early guys were probably aware of this so they made the standard method for DB 124. This was to prevent injury by not trying to make the hand do what it wasn't made to do naturally. (People back then were a lot smaller too!) But as everyone has been saying, do whatever makes you sound good!

[barend]

Which famous jazz players use the 1234 technique?

I know Ray Brown has one chapter about this in his book, so I guess he used it from time to time.
Don't know which other players apply it.

I have learned the standard 124 Simandl fingering. But lately I am trying out the 1234 fingering just as an extra weapon. It can be very handy for throwing in fast one position licks or one position broken chords.
That is much harder with the Simandl fingering.
So it can have some advantages. I only apply it from the D major scale (4th position) until F# major (8th position).

So it can be handy but it is also 'injure sensitive' because you have to stretch your hand more.
But if you use the 1234 fingering once and a while there is nothing wrong with it I guess.