Also remember to extend the pinky when drinking tea.......always the gentlemen .
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Are you supposed to use your pinky?
- Thread starter Tupac
- Start date
Okay. Distance is the problem. I don't have that. When I try and play octaves 1-4, I can do that fine in the first two frets of a 34" bass. When I fret 3rd fret with my index finger, my pinky, in a relaxed position, hovers right over the fret and needs to be moved inwards in order to fret the octave - this gets worse the higher up the neck I go and feels uncomfortable.
I mostly use 4 fingers 4 frets. Learned how to play bass from the Jaco book, so its natural to me.
That said, I also studied Simandl on the double bass and carry that over, especially when channeling you-know-who (see photo to left) or Diego Diegerson.
Alan Holdsworth and Pat Metheney are interesting to study when you think you know it all.
That said, I also studied Simandl on the double bass and carry that over, especially when channeling you-know-who (see photo to left) or Diego Diegerson.
Alan Holdsworth and Pat Metheney are interesting to study when you think you know it all.
For some, extending the little finger is the height if refinement. For others, it’s the depths of snobbish affectation. Not to mention, femininity.
The “pinky up” position may be about sexual disease.
One commonly held belief is that the court of Louis XIV in 17th century Paris was so rife with syphilis that a symptom became a sign of the upper class.
One thing syphilis does is damage the joints of your fingers. After a few years, you are no longer able to bend your pinky finger.
I have heard that said numerous times on this TB forum, but I learned bass from his method book and that is not what his method book said.
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Just look at this video for example. He is playing 1-2-4 in the beginning and then switching over to OFPF and then back to 1-2-4 etc.
From the very beginning,I have used my pinky while fretting.
Now if I could only use all my fingers while plucking.
Now if I could only use all my fingers while plucking.
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It is possible you are using to much force or a wrong angle on the wrist? Play very light.Turn up the volume on the amp and play light, let your fingers dictate the volume instead. Turn up the vol on the amp and turn down the volume to the bass. Play slow and pay attention to each hand. Speed up very slowly 5 BPM. I would really focus on getting the pinky into the mix. Exercise these and string muting etc with the 4th finger in the mix that gives you the possibility to increase your speed and playing by 25% faster and easier. Thants significant! Start out at like 60 BPM, do the exercises using quarter notes, 8th notes, and finally 16th notes. Then do the same for 65 BPM - whatever speed you can achieve moving 5 bpm each increment. Most important, stay relaxed and, drink a beer.
1234
1243
1324
1342
1423
1432
2134
2143
2314
2341
2413
2431
3124
3142
3214
3241
3412
3421
4123
4132
4213
4231
4312
4321
Move up and down the neck with these, so you got everything covered!
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"...not fret buzz every other note..."???
I use the small finger of my fretting hand, on a regular basis. I suppose one could adapt one's technique to not use it. But that certainly would limit the number of notes one could reach...
MM
EVH only used 3 fingers on the left for a long time and decided to throw the pinky in the mix. It made him a better player ...
I also use these tritone patterns for exercises.
This is so funny, thanks for bumping this. Still playing 11 years later, and believe me, I use my pinky. Case closed on this thread. Lol.
