do i have any chance with normal bass ?

[wishforbass]

Hi guys,
My question maybe asked before but my problem is harder a little .
In my cou refunding short scale or 32" inch one is impossible .
Most bass are 34" or 35"
I practice bass for 9 month in past and my teacher told me I won't be successful and it's better give up ,instead of waste my time and money and go for an instrument that I match much easier and better .
I didn't develop well and most of his student improved much more than me.



The problem is my short finger

My index is 2.8 "
My middle finger is 3"
Ring is 2.6"
Pinky is 2 1/4 "

I had huge problem on stretching and even used stretching trains but didn't work .

As example on normal electric guitar (not bass ) my stretching is 5 fret at best day .after a lot of train nothing happen .

And because of my teacher I gave up on bass and sold my bass .

I want to know is there any chance I can become good bassist on normal scale bass 34" or it will be to hard that not happen and I should try guitar .

Short scale bass aren't available in my country nor 33" . Ibanez sr and gsr ,and ltd f ,fender jazz and p Series .Yamaha
But all are 34" or bigger .



Sorry for my bad English .

 

[Old Blastard]

Don't worry about the English. I have very small fingers and had a similar problem. I taught myself to play and read music and learn some
Music theory. I had no teacher to tell me to stop. It took some time to be good. I had to do things different than the book. I had to move my hand to get to the frets rather than stretch. That was from 1973 to 1980. I'm not Jaco, but I don't suck. When people tell me I can't it just makes me angry and I Find a way to do it.

 

[Tari]

Oh my...! Your teacher deserves a kick in his.... oh, you know what I mean!

I have very small fingers myself (2,9" / 3,07" / 2,75" / 2,0") and I can tell you it -does- work. I play normal long-scale only (34"), and while I'm no virtuoso, I've been told I play quite decent.

Don't stop to practice stretching though, it can lead to quite good results. I can stretch the fingers of my left hand abt. 0,63" wider than those of my right hand.

And even -if- you can't warm up with a long-scale bass, there is nothing in the world that speaks against using a short-scale one. There are some quite nice-sounding and nice-looking instruments on the market, and I'm sure you will find one you like.

 

[pcake]

my fingers are slightly shorter than yours, and i had no problem playing a 34" scale bass till i injured my shoulders.

 

[Emanuel Apascaritei]

If i had a teacher that tells me to quit I'd go harder and practice like no one and prove him he's wrong. And he IS wrong.

Now go get yourself the bass you like/want and start telling the world that you play bass.

 

[JakobT]

Seems to me you have a bad teacher. His job is to help you succeed, not trample on your efforts. It's going to take a little time, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you will prove your teacher wrong. Get the bass you feel most comfortable with, and put the hours in. You'll get there.

 

[wishforbass]

Seems to me you have a bad teacher. His job is to help you succeed, not trample on your efforts. It's going to take a little time, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you will prove your teacher wrong. Get the bass you feel most comfortable with, and put the hours in. You'll get there.

Well I'm from Iran ,here there aren't a lot of choice in my city and because I don't like jazz music ,one good teacher will go a side.
The teacher I had was one of best Iran bassist ,in lives he is amazing but he was harsh .

About bass ,here usually ibanez or Japanese guitar available .American fender are really hard to find and expensive ,because the price will be 5x .


I really like bass much more than guitar ,but usually musician around me tell me because finger shape and size guitar is better .

 

[Gilmourisgod]

There are plenty of small statured people who can bury me on bass. A short scale bass would be a little easier, and make no difference in the sound. Get a bass that works for you and dump the bad teacher.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Check out an Ibanez Micro, they get great reviews even from people with large hands. Fender Mustang, Hofner violin or Club bass, the list goes on. Lots of great short scale options out there, I'm sure many other suggestions will be put forward.
short scale bass club

 

[JakobT]

Well I'm from Iran ,here there aren't a lot of choice in my city and because I don't like jazz music ,one good teacher will go a side.
The teacher I had was one of best Iran bassist ,in lives he is amazing but he was harsh .

About bass ,here usually ibanez or Japanese guitar available .American fender are really hard to find and expensive ,because the price will be 5x .

I really like bass much more than guitar ,but usually musician around me tell me because finger shape and size guitar is better .

Just because he's an amazing player, doesn't mean that he's a good teacher. That needs a completely different skill set.

 

[chris_b]

Get a another teacher. A good one this time. Practice the music you like best and you'll get better.

And don't stretch, ever. Move your hand to put your fingers above the note you want to play. Small fingers are only a problem until you get your technique right.

Don't give up. Good luck.

 

[Oddly]

Another small-handed bass player here.
I'm assuming your teacher is a 'one finger, one fret' technique type.
There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but personally I'm happy to move my hand around more to get the notes I can't reach comfortably.
It's not as efficient, but I get the job done.
If your teacher was a good one, he'd be taking your hand size into account and working with you, not telling you to stop.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

My first (and only) bass teacher was a total Jazz snob who disliked electric bass, and insisted I not use my third finger until the 5th position or some such nonsense. He was an amazing upright player, and tried to convince me that's what "real" bass players use. Since I was a Chris Squire fanatic with a Rickenbacker, an abomination in his eyes, I lasted about 3 lessons before he suggested I move on, best decision I ever made on bass. A good teacher can make all the difference, and a bad one can really set you back.

 

[wishforbass]

Get a another teacher. A good one this time. Practice the music you like best and you'll get better.

And don't stretch, ever. Move your hand to put your fingers above the note you want to play. Small fingers are only a problem until you get your technique right.

Don't give up. Good luck.

Can I play normal song if I don't use finger per fer fret ?
I'm into rock ,metal ,pop and new wave .

My teacher said the only way I can play a song is that use this style ,but notold it hurt but a lot of buzz sound and I couldn't touch 4 th fret .

 

[cnltb]

Hi guys,
My question maybe asked before but my problem is harder a little .
In my cou refunding short scale or 32" inch one is impossible .
Most bass are 34" or 35"
I practice bass for 9 month in past and my teacher told me I won't be successful and it's better give up ,instead of waste my time and money and go for an instrument that I match much easier and better .
I didn't develop well and most of his student improved much more than me.



The problem is my short finger

My index is 2.8 "
My middle finger is 3"
Ring is 2.6"
Pinky is 2 1/4 "

I had huge problem on stretching and even used stretching trains but didn't work .

As example on normal electric guitar (not bass ) my stretching is 5 fret at best day .after a lot of train nothing happen .

And because of my teacher I gave up on bass and sold my bass .

I want to know is there any chance I can become good bassist on normal scale bass 34" or it will be to hard that not happen and I should try guitar .


Sorry for my bad English .

I think you need a better teacher.

 

[Hounddog409]

Hi guys,
My question maybe asked before but my problem is harder a little .
In my cou refunding short scale or 32" inch one is impossible .
Most bass are 34" or 35"
I practice bass for 9 month in past and my teacher told me I won't be successful and it's better give up ,instead of waste my time and money and go for an instrument that I match much easier and better .
I didn't develop well and most of his student improved much more than me.



The problem is my short finger

My index is 2.8 "
My middle finger is 3"
Ring is 2.6"
Pinky is 2 1/4 "

I had huge problem on stretching and even used stretching trains but didn't work .

As example on normal electric guitar (not bass ) my stretching is 5 fret at best day .after a lot of train nothing happen .

And because of my teacher I gave up on bass and sold my bass .

I want to know is there any chance I can become good bassist on normal scale bass 34" or it will be to hard that not happen and I should try guitar .


Sorry for my bad English .

your teacher was a douchebag at best. You can play by moving your hand around more instead of trying to stretch.

 

[Hounddog409]

Can I play normal song if I don't use finger per fer fret ?
I'm into rock ,metal ,pop and new wave .

My teacher said the only way I can play a song is that use this style ,but notold it hurt but a lot of buzz sound and I couldn't touch 4 th fret .

Yes you can play ANY SONG by moving your hand instead of stretching. It just takes practice.

 

[Old Blastard]

Yes, you can play that way. I had to learn to stretch my little finger and now, after 30 years of playing, my finger is hurt and I am returning to moving my hands. I have started playing a short scale and medium scale to make it easier but I normally play a 34 scale. The Ibanez Mikro is a good beginner bass and short scale and fairly inexpensive.

 

[two fingers]

Welcome to TalkBass!

I attended Victor Wooten's camp in 2001. I held my hands up to his, Steve Bailey's, and Adam Nitti's. All three men are short and have small hands. All three make incredible music on various sized basses and even 6 string basses.

You keep practicing. You'll be fine!

 

[Qlanq]

Welcome.
I have small hands.
I play basses with a Jazz bass size neck.