3-fingered aspiring bass player needs advice

[Bone]

I play with 3 fingers most of the time Index,Middle, and Pinky. The ring finger hits once in a while but the other 3 feel much more natural to me.

 

[lowrez]

If you are just starting out, going lefty is probably your easiest bet. If you are going to make the switch this is the best time to do it as it will not feel too unnatural as it would later.

 

[steve9000gi]

+2 on remembering Django. One of the greatest guitarists in history, and if I recall correctly with only two left-hand fingers functional. I think he played right-handed.

-Steve

 

[B.C.]

First of all, Steve you are correct, Django only had two functional fretting fingures.

Well, I am actually left handed and when I started bass my parents got me a right handed bass and I adapted. Its kinda funny, when I first started, I would play righty but air guitar lefty, lol. Now its all righthanded. So it can be done.

Second, I would stay righty. I can do without my index finger fretting hand, but it would be harder, In my opinion, not to use it on plucking hand.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[jbcoll]

As a bass player who is also a neurologist, I think it would be much harder to switch to left-handed playing. Only if you already had some ambidextrous abilities, like being able to throw with your left arm, would going lefty be easier. I think you'd be better off using the three good fingers on your left hand for fretting.

 

[ibanezcollector]

I play with three fingers on my fretting hand. When I was born my pinky fingers on both hands do not extend straight sort of a c shape like you explain.

I found the best way for things to work out is to play. You will find a way to work thru the adversity at hand and learn techniques that work for you that none of us can help you with.

Dont let it bring you down, I hear people all the time on my videos say use your pinky more, I try but 90% of the time its uncomfortable or I can make the stretch.

Just play for the love of music and it will all fall into place. Never let something hold you back from your love of music.

There are people on youtube playing with there feet, one bassist with one arm yes one arm and others. Ours are simple things compared to them.

Just play.. Love what you do, and it will come together in no time.

 

[jordan_frerichs]

my left pinky is mishapen, and i can't strech my fingers when my thumb is over the top of the neck. plus my hands are super boney. wish they were meatier, but lifes life. a lot of people have minor hand flaws that afect there playing. did anyone else see that band competion show on fox? one band that tried out, big toe, well the bass player was born without arms, so he played with his feet, and was very good. here is a bass player with only one arm
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lj6-gohzsaE
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if you can't play the usual ways, make your own playing style. you'll get by

 

[tplyons]

I managed to slice two fingers pretty bad, and still played with just the first two for a few months... if there's a will, there's a way.

Check out short scale instruments, I wish I had one when I sliced my fingers up pretty bad.