Beginner question on left hand position

[red_rhino]

A lot of advice regarding moving the elbow away from your body. This is true; you don't want it pinned to your rib cage. But neither do you want it winging out like you're doing The Chicken Dance, (which I see more often). Let your elbow hang relaxed, let it move out away from your body as you play lower notes, and closer in on higher notes. The wrist position will follow naturally.

I was looking at the OP's pics, and for about 2 seconds I was thinking "I've never heard of a AHAMAY bass."

 

[Lobster11]

A lot of advice regarding moving the elbow away from your body. This is true; you don't want it pinned to your rib cage. But neither do you want it winging out like you're doing The Chicken Dance, (which I see more often). Let your elbow hang relaxed, let it move out away from your body as you play lower notes, and closer in on higher notes. The wrist position will follow naturally.

I think the folks who look like they're doing the Chicken Dance are those who learned that the thumb must be perpendicular to the neck and located behind the middle finger of the fretting hand. The only way to accomplish this without creating a severe bend in the wrist, especially when playing in lower positions, is to stick the elbow as far out from the body as possible. That way of playing has always looked awkward and painful to me. But if you follow the advice in the Adam Neely video (posted by @hrodbert696 near the beginning of the thread) and allow the thumb to get out ahead of the other fingers and point more toward the headstock, you don't need to extend the elbow out nearly as far.

 

[Mushroo]

@Sponge_bob I recommend that you surf on over to YouTube and study video of pro bassists. In particular, I recommend to study bassists who are not necessarily superstars like McCartney, Geddy, Sting, or Flea (although you can certainly learn a lot from those musicians as well) but rather "meat and potatoes" players who have had long, successful careers holding down the bottom end. Check out experienced players like Darryl Jones, Lee Sklar, John McVie, Tina Weymouth, Adam Clayton, Simon Gallup, Michael Anthony, Meshell Ndegeocello, Mike Watt, etc. and notice how relaxed and comfortable they all look holding the bass. You are getting a lot of great advice in this thread, but it is all hot air compared to actually sitting down and studying the road-tested mechanics of experienced players, whether it is one-on-one lessons with a good teacher, or watching a classic concert video on YouTube.

 

[red_rhino]

But if you follow the advice in the Adam Neely video (posted by @hrodbert696 near the beginning of the thread) and allow the thumb to get out ahead of the other fingers and point more toward the headstock, you don't need to extend the elbow out nearly as far.

Excellent points; spot-on I think. I suffered from CDS (Chicken Dance Syndrome) early in my playing career until someone corrected me. My thumb position is indeed as you described, and feels very natural.

 

[I-play-bass]

I don't even understand how anyone can force themselves to go cranked wrist/thumb pinch and feel comfortable in any situation.

If you can hold your left hand diagonally away from you (as if you were looking at the bass neck) and let your hand be relaxed it'll look something like this:



Cool, my hand naturally goes here, relaxed elbow, relaxed shoulder, relaxed hand.

Let's put a bass neck in there;




My hands aren't tiny at about 9.5" across thumb to pinky and I can cleanly fret all first four frets this way. My wrist doesn't kink at all, and I occasionally rock it every so slightly side to side and that's the extent of my movement.

I'm no professional, and I'm not going to tell you this is the right and only way, but this way works for me, and I have had zero wrist or hand pain in my life. I'm at 19 years of bass playing.

Naturally, as I move up the neck, things readjust, but it's always in such a way that my wrist stays loose, straight and comfortable.

 

[Lobster11]

I don't even understand how anyone can force themselves to go cranked wrist/thumb pinch and feel comfortable in any situation.

If you can hold your left hand diagonally away from you (as if you were looking at the bass neck) and let your hand be relaxed it'll look something like this:

View attachment 3409504

Cool, my hand naturally goes here, relaxed elbow, relaxed shoulder, relaxed hand.

Let's put a bass neck in there;

View attachment 3409505


My hands aren't tiny at about 9.5" across thumb to pinky and I can cleanly fret all first four frets this way. My wrist doesn't kink at all, and I occasionally rock it every so slightly side to side and that's the extent of my movement.

I'm no professional, and I'm not going to tell you this is the right and only way, but this way works for me, and I have had zero wrist or hand pain in my life. I'm at 19 years of bass playing.

Naturally, as I move up the neck, things readjust, but it's always in such a way that my wrist stays loose, straight and comfortable.

This is precisely the point of the Adam Neely video linked by @hrodbert696 in post #2 (which I would have posted myself if he hadn't beaten me to it.)

 

[I-play-bass]

This is precisely the point of the Adam Neely video linked by @hrodbert696 in post #2 (which I would have posted myself if he hadn't beaten me to it.)

Yeah, I actually really liked that video. Turns out I just sort of figured out how he did it along the way and it was really nice to see a clear explanation of how and why he does it. It'll certainly help me explain things to anyone who asks me how I do things.

The second video had me cringing because the guy's wrist is all borked. I don't care if you're a pro. Just because you are, does not mean you have good advice or technique. If you're fighting your body just to get your thumb pinched behind your middle finger, it might be time to reassess your method.

 

[mambo4]

Cool, my hand naturally goes here, relaxed elbow, relaxed shoulder, relaxed hand.
Let's put a bass neck in there;

I really like the approach of thinking about where to put the bass, instead of where to put your hands.
Harder to strain a bass than a bassist.

 

[pbass74]

As your skills improve, you'll find that your thumb moves back and forth across the neck quite a bit depending upon which string you are fretting. It's more natural to curve your fretting fingers on the D and G strings, but when you reach across to the E string, it is way easier and more comfortable for your fingers to be straighter. Enjoy this video and look at her fretting fingers about 40 seconds in when she reaches to the E string.
Oh, and this is some awesome bass playing also!

 

[Ric5]

 

[IamGroot]

Mostly good advice above. Everybodys body is different. Make sure nothing hurts or goes numb when you play and you can make a good sound.

A lesson from a good instructor might save you a lot of wasted effort.

In the lower positions, its okay to play one finger per fret, just dont hold the stretch. If i am playing F to Ab on the E string, I let the index finger lift up when i fret with the pinkie so there is no strain in the hand. I have played one finger per fret for decades without problems.


I started on classical guitar and i used that approach on bass lot of info on their fingering and posture.. Make sure your thumb is centered on the neck roughly behind the index and middle finger. Dont use a death grip. Think of the hand as a block that slides up and down the neck and the thumb is the guide and part of the clamp.

Controversially, i get my finger pressure through a mix of thumb and arm weight. Upright players do this and it works for me on Eb. If you are concerned where your elbow is, find what elbow position best assists your grip.

 

[SteveCS]

...

Controversially, i get my finger pressure through a mix of thumb and arm weight. Upright players do this and it works for me on Eb. If you are concerned where your elbow is, find what elbow position best assists your grip.

Possibly as controversial, I maintain light pressure on the body with my right forearm, where the body contour is. It's not a vice grip, more just the weight of the relaxed arm pushing down against tension in the strap. My right hand remains mobile because the forearm can roll and slide easily to move the hand up, down and across the entire plucking area from bridge to heel. But, and to the point, it holds the neck in a solid position relative to my body, which in turn means there is next to no grip in my left hand thumb. Most of the fingering pressure is countered by the right forearm on the body, not the left thumb. I guess it's analogous with the chin/shoulder grip used by violinists. None of the forces involved are greater than the minimum required, but it means I can't play Steinberger-style instruments...

 

[IamGroot]

Possibly as controversial, I maintain light pressure on the body with my right forearm, where the body contour is. It's not a vice grip, more just the weight of the relaxed arm pushing down against tension in the strap. My right hand remains mobile because the forearm can roll and slide easily to move the hand up, down and across the entire plucking area from bridge to heel. But, and to the point, it holds the neck in a solid position relative to my body, which in turn means there is next to no grip in my left hand thumb. Most of the fingering pressure is countered by the right forearm on the body, not the left thumb. I guess it's analogous with the chin/shoulder grip used by violinists. None of the forces involved are greater than the minimum required, but it means I can't play Steinberger-style instruments...

Yep, controversial. But I can run a 2+ octave scale blindingly fast without using the thumb at all if I want to make a point.

Seated, the bass being cradled in the lap and the normal right arm weight provide the stabilization to resist the left arm pull. Standing, it depends on which Bass i am using. Most basses work well with ninimal. Rivht arm pressure.

I want to stress its a blend of thumb and arm pressure instead of just the thumb. It keeps my hand from getting as tired and provides more agility esp above the 5th fret. Most times, i am no longer aware o do this, unless i wave my.thumb to the drummer as i walk up and down the neck.

 

[SteveCS]

Yep, controversial. But I can run a 2+ octave scale blindingly fast without using the thumb at all if I want to make a point.

...

Liberating, isn't it?