Adapting to my tiny hands.

[seescottrock]

If that's you playing in your avatar, OP, I would suggest assessing how your wrist is bent. You might want to consider holding your bass body higher and angling your headstock up toward the sky a bit more.

I hope this helps.

It is, but probably 15 years ago! I need a new avatar.

 

[seescottrock]

Your hand injury has left you with some disability, so any "proper" technique may be irrelevant. Experiment and find your own path. If a technique causes pain, stop and know that's not the way forward.

I have small hands and I've gravitated to short scale because I fend them much easier to play. Going with a shorter scale may help you out or not, but it's worth a try.

I should find a shorty that works for me. The few I've played weren't to my liking but maybe a 32"

 

[seescottrock]

Your hands are not too small. They’re your hands. Everyone has different hands. Use your arms, move positions. Use what you have to your advantage.
Carol Kaye doesn’t have big basketball hands.

Carol KAye is pretty much exactly why I think this nut can be cracked. Trying to relearn my fretting hand technique and add more shifts.

 

[Grinderman]

So, let me see if I have this straight.

You say you're trying to adapt to your tiny hands, right?

Can you tell me how long ago you got those and where did you pick them up from?

 

[Bent77]

Couple thoughts

I have tiny hands, as do most female players. So I have girl sized hands
Have you seen how many awesome female bass players there are? Playing every sized bass under the sun

I also have had several left hand injuries, enough that my ring finger is kind of out to lunch most days. Almost to the point that I might ought to swap sides

I make due, doesnt slow me down. Does sometimes hurt

 

[brocco]

Hilariously, my main instrument is a 34-37" Multiscale, and then my other is a 34" Jazz Bass. I have used a 30" Stingray and it gave me very serious "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" vibes . Was slightly more comfortable to play but I still struggled with pinky dexterity. Ended up selling it. I have thought about trying a 32" bass, but I play 5 string primarily, and I'm terrified of the "Flabby B string".

I should work on my Simandl and Micro-Shifting. Thank you for those things to work on

I just bought this Ibanez 32" scale 5 string, plays and sounds great. The B string is as good as my 34" scale basses in which a 1 or 2 will be up for sale soon. Ibanez Mezzo SRMD205 Bass Guitar - Sea Foam Pearl Green

 

[lowplaces]

I should find a shorty that works for me. The few I've played weren't to my liking but maybe a 32"

Squier Mini Precision is 26.8" scale. Looks like Syracuse Guitar Center has on in stock. Might be worth a trip and they may have something else that works.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I have small hands and arthritis, so I can relate. Though, I was hanging with Victor Wooten once and lamented having small hands, he said "I think our hands are exactly the same size" and when I held up my hand he was right! Of course, he has superhuman wrist/tendon strength, but still, it was an effective excuse-remover for me.

A few ideas:

Short scale instruments are great. My 30" 5-string (EADGC) by Chris Stambaugh is a dream! It's hard to pick up a 34" bass now because the short scale is so damn comfortable.

When I was gigging full time I started bringing an octaver and sometimes I'd play my lines an octave higher, so I had an easier time moving around and a break from the wrist angle in the lower positions. It's not a fix for everything, but if you wanted to try a smaller bass without a great B string it would be something to experiment with, or at least add to your arsenal to get a break.

Try classical position. The older I get the more time I spend holding my bass in classical position. Pretty much anything above the 5th fret just feels easier to access with the bass up high and I can play quite a bit faster that way, too.

 

[Killing Floor]

Carol KAye is pretty much exactly why I think this nut can be cracked. Trying to relearn my fretting hand technique and add more shifts.

You Got This! Lean in.

 

[pingvuiini]

I've got problems with my fretting hand so I went the uke route. I do have an Ibanez Mikro that I consider to be my 'long scale' bass and it sounds and plays astoundingly great for it's price point.

 

[seescottrock]

So, let me see if I have this straight.

You say you're trying to adapt to your tiny hands, right?

Can you tell me how long ago you got those and where did you pick them up from?

the sentiment is understood and appreciated, but picture pretty much traditional bass instruction and being told by every teacher that I just need to overcome it. That is what I mean.

 

[seescottrock]

I just bought this Ibanez 32" scale 5 string, plays and sounds great. The B string is as good as my 34" scale basses in which a 1 or 2 will be up for sale soon. Ibanez Mezzo SRMD205 Bass Guitar - Sea Foam Pearl Green

I have been very intrigued by these, I gotta go check one out

 

[seescottrock]

Couple thoughts

I have tiny hands, as do most female players. So I have girl sized hands
Have you seen how many awesome female bass players there are? Playing every sized bass under the sun

I also have had several left hand injuries, enough that my ring finger is kind of out to lunch most days. Almost to the point that I might ought to swap sides

I make due, doesnt slow me down. Does sometimes hurt

Appreciate the perspective.

 

[salmon256]

5'3 dude here with very small hands, skinny arms so I get sore easily,

Short scale is great and mini basses, CNZ audio has mini jazz basses which are awesome to me.
Have you tried the 1 2 4 method? I find this is what most students of bass guitar are being taught more often and I prefer it. It's when you use your pinky on the third fret instead of finger per fret, like an upright bass. I'm not sure if it would help your pain.

 

[salmon256]

Carol KAye is pretty much exactly why I think this nut can be cracked. Trying to relearn my fretting hand technique and add more shifts.

There are even shorter and tinier bassist, a Japanese metal band I like Bridear, the bassist is 4'11 and she has very very small hands and plays a five string ESP bass. I find some people with small hands love smaller basses and short scale, go with it, me personally in my style of music I play I find a jazz bass is all I need as of now, because I tend to stick in the 1st fret position a lot so I have not much reason to stretch. It is a case by case thing and playstyle thing to me at the end of the day.

 

[seescottrock]

Wanted to report back!

Took a lot of what y'all said to heart and I'm slowly but surely reworking my fretting hand technique. I was in the shed for many hours this weekend - and even into this week - and I'm already seeing improvements. Appreciate all of the wisdom, encouragement, and perspective <3

 

[chris_b]

Dump the one-finger-per-fret idea, right now.

It's not always the best technique for people with full use of their hands. So for you it's totally wrong.

I would focus on moving your hand to place your fingers above the notes.

Good luck with this project.