Help! Alternative Fingering Method for DB?

[bdengler]

My arthritis is acting up and I'm in a lot of pain playing again. I can't do things like go from the low F with the first finger to the G with the 4th on the E string without shifting or pivoting. I'm trying to keep playing. Perhaps I should move to a half-size bass with a 39" string length, I don't know. Or perhaps there are alternative fingering methods? I heard about the "New Dutch School" (see http://www.silviodallatorre.com/index.php?language=en) which seems to use a 4-finger technique. Any suggestions to help me get through would be deeply appreciated. Happy Holidays! Thanks!

[TomGale]

See a rheumatologist for some relief and if you go to that site - as I remember - he recommends my "Technical Foundation Studies, vol. 1" for the open hand (or 4 finger tech). Don't you have that already??
All the best,
Tom Gale
ASODB.com

[bdengler]

Originally Posted by TomGale

See a rheumatologist for some relief and if you go to that site - as I remember - he recommends my "Technical Foundation Studies, vol. 1" for the open hand (or 4 finger tech). Don't you have that already??
All the best,
Tom Gale
ASODB.com

Tom, Yes, I have a copy! I believe your method is to "pivot" rather than to stretch the fingers for the positions, right? But what about the lower strings?

Regards, Brian

[TomGale]

It depends on the hand size. Above all, I recommend not locking down all fingers - esp. in the open hand (4 finger) tech. It puts an unnecessary strain on the hand. I always prefered to "rock and roll" from pressure point to point. Half step pivoting can be used in the open hand or the closed hand (1,2,4) position. Try playing that low F and releasing the first finger, "R&R" to the 3/4 on G. If that hurts, try 1 on F and pivot (no shifting!) to a 2 on G.
And get to a specalist!
Tom Gale
ASODB.com

[prelims222]

Brian,

Listen to Tom about this -- think about if you want to stop the string using more arm weight than muscular strength, you want to be able to get all your weight into the smallest point (your finger). This helps anyone to play more fluidly, as the more refined and spontaneous your control of your skeletal weight, the more facility you will acquire.

Good luck.

[LouisF]

I've hand similar hand issues - and stenosis of the spine. I shifted from Gagnon Maggini copy (which I loved) to a much small shouldered bass (by Jorge Vasquez de Anda) and a 5/8th Roman Solano bass. I also (and it took me about a year) changed to playing sitting down and (mostly) with an angled end pin (which takes a lot of pressure off the left hand).

Talk to Donovan Stokes (there's a heavy bow thread in the bowing forum) and others about the heavy bow (I hear - emph. hear - that some people have actually made right hand wrist problems etc worse - but I don't know...). I do try and copy Silvio's sitting position on his website.

The other thing is to change to low tension strings - Corellis, Jargar, Spiro Weichs etc. It's all a compromise, but it keeps you playing.

One down side on the smaller (5/8 - 39" etc) bass - your hand does get used to it and going back to anything much bigger takes some adjustment.

Hope that helps.

Louis

[THE SAW]

I've used the "four finger swirl" method for years. Try it, you won't go back.

[violann]

I have a question about this technique. Would it be considered an acceptable learning alternative in a college setting?

I know some academic programs are very conservative.