Punch that teacher in the genitals. What an idiot. I have small hands and can stretch five frets with ease. No problem on 34 or 35 scale instruments
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do i have any chance with normal bass ?
- Thread starter wishforbass
- Start date
Have you ever seen Victor Wooten's hands? I've heard him talk about how we has had to adapt to having smaller hands than his bass idols.
Just another $.02 but, when I was around 10 I tried to play guitar and got very frustrated because my (then) small hands
were unable to form chords easily (hey it takes practice either way), and switched to bass within a year or so. I would
consider my hand size small/average compared to some as an adult and I've played acoustic and electric basses for over
30 years now. While stretching exercises help when you NEED to be able to span a few frets at a time, it's usually easier
to just slide your hand back and forth to the positions you need to be in. Another hint I picked up from acoustic jazz
playing is if you ABSOLUTELY MUST span more than 3 "frets" you can play with your thumb being on the lowest pitched fret
and you still have 4 other fingers to fret with (it's not easy or comfortable, but you probably will never need to use this technique
on an electric bass anyway). Anyway, I guess my point is forming guitar chords is actually harder to do with short fingers,
and plenty of musicians have short fingers so don't let it stop you. FWIW I play guitar a little bit too these days...
were unable to form chords easily (hey it takes practice either way), and switched to bass within a year or so. I would
consider my hand size small/average compared to some as an adult and I've played acoustic and electric basses for over
30 years now. While stretching exercises help when you NEED to be able to span a few frets at a time, it's usually easier
to just slide your hand back and forth to the positions you need to be in. Another hint I picked up from acoustic jazz
playing is if you ABSOLUTELY MUST span more than 3 "frets" you can play with your thumb being on the lowest pitched fret
and you still have 4 other fingers to fret with (it's not easy or comfortable, but you probably will never need to use this technique
on an electric bass anyway). Anyway, I guess my point is forming guitar chords is actually harder to do with short fingers,
and plenty of musicians have short fingers so don't let it stop you. FWIW I play guitar a little bit too these days...
Try stretching exercises that make you feel slightly uncomfortable while practicing them. As time goes on,you will become more comfortable and you'll tear up the neck. If you need advice on which exercises to try, give us a holler, but make sure you challenge yourself. I have tiny fingers and play long-scale and short scale. Keep going forward, never backwards when t comes to your music my friend!
Your teacher should be ashamed of himself. Get yourself another bass. One finger per fret does not work for everyone. All our bodies are different. When you do play how it is comfortable to play. Trying to stretch your fingers beyond what they are capable of because some pompous windbag told you that is the "right way" or even worse the only way .. can cause you injury later on. Get a bass and play it. Before you get another teacher if you can look at some of the links in my sig. I don't know how the internet is in your country.. In some places bandwidth is limited.. but before you spend another dime check out some of those links and just get comfortable with the instrument.. If/when you decide to get another teacher if he is not correcting your technique to make playing overall more comfortable then he is the wrong person.
Django Reinghardt played some of the most amazing guitar ever with only 2 fingers on his fretting hand (the others damaged in a fire). If he can do that, we can play bass without large hands. Stretching is useful in some situations, and my left hand has most definitely developed a wider span than my right, over time, but ... it's not necessary to be a virtuoso to be a musician. If you want to play bass, try to find a way that works, and to hell with that teacher. It can be done. 
I've seen many very good players with small hands. I shook Victor's hand once and his hands are kind of small. Even he mentions that in one of his videos. I don't want to be rude but your teacher is not a professional one imo. I have a lady friend who is 5 feet tall and a great upright player. Even though you can play a full size bass, there's nothing wrong with playing a short scale one if you feel more comfortable.
It's your choice. You can either accept the limitations your teacher has suggested or ignore them and become as good as you can be.
I'm sure your teacher would have told Bill Clements he'd never be able to play bass at all with only one hand. Let alone become a virtuoso at it.
Remember things are only impossible until someone dares to dream beyond it and make it possible. History is full of examples.
My advice is to not let anyone else define your reality.
I'm sure your teacher would have told Bill Clements he'd never be able to play bass at all with only one hand. Let alone become a virtuoso at it.
Remember things are only impossible until someone dares to dream beyond it and make it possible. History is full of examples.
My advice is to not let anyone else define your reality.
Your teacher is full of poopie.
You may (MAY) never be a phenom on bass, and it may (MAY) be partially due to small hands, but to say that you can't ever be a decent or effective bassist is ridiculous. Fingerboard acrobatics are simply NOT necessary for the vast majority of good music.
As for 32" -- go for it! Why not? The important part is your ability to have fun. If going 32" let's you have fun, you should.
You may (MAY) never be a phenom on bass, and it may (MAY) be partially due to small hands, but to say that you can't ever be a decent or effective bassist is ridiculous. Fingerboard acrobatics are simply NOT necessary for the vast majority of good music.
As for 32" -- go for it! Why not? The important part is your ability to have fun. If going 32" let's you have fun, you should.
i never did stretching exercises - i did play guitar before i started on bass, but when i started on bass, i started playing
here are some videos that can help you get playing right now. if the fingerboard seems challenging, just keep playing. my hands are smaller than yours, and i used to rock a 35" scale bass.
song tutorials with explanations
howtoplaybassdotcom
my favorite bass covers guy! all his newer stuff shows both hands clearly and there's a link under each video to the tab if needed
Constantine Isslamow
here are some videos that can help you get playing right now. if the fingerboard seems challenging, just keep playing. my hands are smaller than yours, and i used to rock a 35" scale bass.
song tutorials with explanations
howtoplaybassdotcom
my favorite bass covers guy! all his newer stuff shows both hands clearly and there's a link under each video to the tab if needed
Constantine Isslamow
My fingers are shorter than yours, and I've been playing 33 1/4" and 34" scale basses since 1986.
I started with a short scale in 1979 because that's all I could afford at the time.
Scale length hasn't been an issue, just develop your technique to match what you like.
Someone telling you not to "waste your time" is in fact wasting your time.
Find another teacher, that one doesn't know squat or is unjustly biased.
I started with a short scale in 1979 because that's all I could afford at the time.
Scale length hasn't been an issue, just develop your technique to match what you like.
Someone telling you not to "waste your time" is in fact wasting your time.
Find another teacher, that one doesn't know squat or is unjustly biased.
Wow. Five pages of responses that are nearly 100% in agreement with each other. When was the last time you saw that happen around here? 
hey........ im gonna make it short............. my fingers are shorter than yours , and i play a 35 scale 6 string ibanez btb bass in a technical death metal band , and i also play a 34 sclae 5 string fretless for a jazz fusion band , so screw your teacher , go get whatever bass you like , and SLAAAAAPH DAT BAASSSSSS!
I suggest a Fender Music Master bass or a Fender Mustang, they are 32" scale. And may fit you needs better. The necks are like guitar necks and should fit your hands fine.
If full scale is hindering you right now, there is no shame in switching to a short scale. Heck, I'm 6'3 and can palm a basketball, and I still love playing my friends Mustang bass. Do what works.
A person who tells someone to quit doing what they love isn't a teacher.
Yeah by working 124 fingering into your technique hand size doesn't matter. My hands are average but my pinky isn't as long as I'd like, so this helped me.
I use 1-2-4 below... the 7th fret, for me, but each person chooses where that switch happens. Around the 7th fret I've sometimes played the same line one way and the other. Above the 7th fret I always use 1 finger per fret, except if I'm playing a lot of 5th and octaves, I'll use my pinky for that, it's much easier on the hands.
Yeah by working 124 fingering into your technique hand size doesn't matter. My hands are average but my pinky isn't as long as I'd like, so this helped me.
I use 1-2-4 below... the 7th fret, for me, but each person chooses where that switch happens. Around the 7th fret I've sometimes played the same line one way and the other. Above the 7th fret I always use 1 finger per fret, except if I'm playing a lot of 5th and octaves, I'll use my pinky for that, it's much easier on the hands.
What your teacher is really telling you is that he does not want to make the extra effort to teach you. If you WANT you play bass you CAN play bass. How do you think people play double bass without 10" fingers? Tony Iommi only had three fingers and was told he could never play guitar, but he found a way and he shreds. All the good ideas I had on how are already mentioned on other posts. As you advance you will develop a style that works for you. Don't let the words of one lazy selfish elitist hold you down!
Three things:
1. If you want to play with a short scale bass, do it. There's no stigma and "real bass players" don't care what scale your bass is as long as you sound good.
2. If you want to play long scale but have small hands, it's absolutely doable. You just have to slide more and have different technique from people with big mitts for hands.
3. If you want to play long scale but have small hands, consider buying a bass with 5 or more strings that are close together, like a Schecter or an Ibanez. That way, you can stretch less and have more optimal hand position. I actually play a 35" scale 5-string because I largely play 5th fret and above.
1. If you want to play with a short scale bass, do it. There's no stigma and "real bass players" don't care what scale your bass is as long as you sound good.
2. If you want to play long scale but have small hands, it's absolutely doable. You just have to slide more and have different technique from people with big mitts for hands.
3. If you want to play long scale but have small hands, consider buying a bass with 5 or more strings that are close together, like a Schecter or an Ibanez. That way, you can stretch less and have more optimal hand position. I actually play a 35" scale 5-string because I largely play 5th fret and above.
My 2 cents on stretching exercises and trying to stretch too much at all is that you should be careful with that. Worry about finding a technique and practicing in a way that doesn't cause tension in your hand. I played for too many years trying to stretch my hand to be in "proper" form all of the time, and I ended up giving myself tendinitis (among other overuse and strain injuries). Make sure that whatever you do you are comfortable and not hurting yourself otherwise you really will hamper your ability to play the bass.
