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Beginner question on left hand position
- Thread starter Sponge_bob
- Start date
The clip in the above post is the "go to" one for safe technique.
You appear to be trying to incorporate the "one finger per fret" technique on the lower (1-5) frets. Be careful, as this can be too much of a stretch for some people. Use the ring and pinky together on these lower frets, and use the thumb as a pivot, as explained in this other clip.
You appear to be trying to incorporate the "one finger per fret" technique on the lower (1-5) frets. Be careful, as this can be too much of a stretch for some people. Use the ring and pinky together on these lower frets, and use the thumb as a pivot, as explained in this other clip.
Get that elbow out away from your ribs.
And what they said. ^^^^
Welcome!
And what they said. ^^^^
Welcome!
Elbow out, a higher angle on the neck. The more horizontal the more your wrist has to bend.
Groove Master
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- Apr 22, 2011
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First position is the hardest one. Your hand is well-placed reaching the full 4 frets but to have more strength place your thumb with your middle finger right now it's too much on the index side. This will give you a better balance in your hand and strength for your 3 and 4th fingers.
1. Try to create a smoother curve between fingertip and wrist. The wrist does not need to be in front of, or directly below, the fingerboard.
2. Move your elbow away from your body.
3. You don't need to hold the open stance with all fingers rigidly above, or clamped on, the lower frets when playing with your pinky.
4. You don't need to have your fingertips perpendicular to the fingerboard. Try using more pad and less tip.
I don't profess to have perfect technique, but by way of contrast with the OP...
2. Move your elbow away from your body.
3. You don't need to hold the open stance with all fingers rigidly above, or clamped on, the lower frets when playing with your pinky.
4. You don't need to have your fingertips perpendicular to the fingerboard. Try using more pad and less tip.
I don't profess to have perfect technique, but by way of contrast with the OP...
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Wrist straighter, elbow dropped, fingers closer together, thumb relaxed. There should never be any sensations of pain, tingling, or stretching.
I like to visualize that I am holding a baby and cradling its head softly in my relaxed hand. You wouldn't give your baby to a person with tense, contorted claw hands!
Another tip is you might try practicing standing up with your bass hanging from a strap.
I like to visualize that I am holding a baby and cradling its head softly in my relaxed hand. You wouldn't give your baby to a person with tense, contorted claw hands!
Another tip is you might try practicing standing up with your bass hanging from a strap.
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Here we go again !!!!
See post number seven here. It develops into a heated discussion.
Is this a bad fretting technique?
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I'll add this. As mentioned, fret the strings with the meaty part of your finger, not the tip. We normally play one note at a time, i.e. we do not fret a bunch of notes then sound all of them in a strum like the guitar guys do. So it is not necessary that we use the tip of our finger like the guitar guys do. This frees us up a little.
I use the one finger per fret major scale box pattern for everything I do, however, if you kept playing with your wrist in the position shown in your OP pain is just around the corner. There should be no pain in playing bass. Try the pad of your finger as that alone pulls everything back into a better angle. We'll get into the other stuff later...
Happy trails.
I use the one finger per fret major scale box pattern for everything I do, however, if you kept playing with your wrist in the position shown in your OP pain is just around the corner. There should be no pain in playing bass. Try the pad of your finger as that alone pulls everything back into a better angle. We'll get into the other stuff later...
Happy trails.
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Groove Master
Commercial User
- Apr 22, 2011
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It is just common sense and logical. I've been using it for forty years and still teaching it. But hey, YMMVHere we go again !!!!
See post no seven here. It develops into a heated discussion.
Is this a bad fretting technique?
Don't kill your hand trying to slavishly maintain one finger per fret.
As Malcolm said, you typically play one note at a time
You are allowed to move your left hand to reach the fret
As Malcolm said, you typically play one note at a time
You are allowed to move your left hand to reach the fret
Not everyone's hands can do that. I can't even touch my thumbs to my pinkies without nearly cramping.
Left hand isn't important. It's all about that open E anyway!
I have enormous hands - I have to look long and hard to find gloves that are long enough for my fingers. My left hand (from decades of playing) has a span from index finger to pinky) that's about an inch more than my right hand - my hands are about as big and as flexible as anyone's. Even I don't play one finger per fret low on the fretboard. I slide a lot. It works, I don't stress my hands, and I'm plenty fast doing things that way. With all the double stops I do, it's actually a big advantage to not play one finger per fret.
So, get the elbow out, straighten the wrist a bunch, and learn to slide around a bit. in a few decades you'll thank me.
So, get the elbow out, straighten the wrist a bunch, and learn to slide around a bit. in a few decades you'll thank me.
another thing that helps straighten the left wrist is angling the headstock up.
rather than have your neck run parallel to the floor, point it up towards the ceiling at about 45 degrees
this puts your elbow below the neck, allowing a softer angle of approach across the wrist
you can kinda see it in my profile pic
rather than have your neck run parallel to the floor, point it up towards the ceiling at about 45 degrees
this puts your elbow below the neck, allowing a softer angle of approach across the wrist
you can kinda see it in my profile pic
Groove Master
Commercial User
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Of course but I'm looking at his picture and this is my advice regarding the OP's question.
If you make sure your elbow is more under than behind the neck, it will tend to keep your wrist straight naturally.
Another advantage of this is that it will help you keep the wrist of your plucking hand straight as well. We can't see what that hand looks like in the pic, and you didn't ask, but make sure not to rest your forearm on top of the bass body and bend the wrist to reach down to pluck the strings.
