Finger length mismatch

[WilbursaurusRex]

Hey there, I think this is the best place to ask about this, but, mods, move it if you need to.

I’ve been playing for about 17 years. About 10 years ago I sprained my right wrist pretty bad a couple times during the same year. Since, sometimes when I play my hand and arm get cold (not tingly or numb) and sore. I noticed I have an index/middle finger mismatch of a little over 1/2” (much more than on my left hand) and sometimes rotate my wrist toward the neck to “even out” that discrepancy.

Does anyone have similar experiences? And is that generally considered bad plucking hand technique in situations like this?

 

[SteveCS]

Hey there, I think this is the best place to ask about this, but, mods, move it if you need to.

I’ve been playing for about 17 years. About 10 years ago I sprained my right wrist pretty bad a couple times during the same year. Since, sometimes when I play my hand and arm get cold (not tingly or numb) and sore. I noticed I have an index/middle finger mismatch of a little over 1/2” (much more than on my left hand) and sometimes rotate my wrist toward the neck to “even out” that discrepancy.

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Does anyone have similar experiences? And is that generally considered bad plucking hand technique in situations like this?

In many ways you have to do whatever is necessary to get 'equality' (or equivalence?) between the fingers and the sounds they produce. My index is also quite a bit shorter than middle...

... so I tend to hold the bass at a fairly steep 45-50° angle with the hand turned slightly back to align the tips on the strings...

...which is why the callouses on the tips are off-centre...

 

[buldog5151bass]

I'm guessing you just noticed it now.

Here is my hand.

Do what you have to do to get the job done.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Same here. Floating thumb and arch the RH plucking fingers to even things out. The extra length comes in handy when hitting octaves and such as I don't slap.

Riis

 

[Luckydog]

I badly broke my middle plucking finger a year ago and it is now permanently bent. It certainly doesn't match or even get close to my previous plucking position. The finger tips are at different lengths than previously. I have adjusted somewhat by changing arm position and attack the strings slightly differently. I will never regain the strength, dexterity, accuracy and speed I used to have with plucking. In addition to the bone and connective tissue damage, there is nerve damage. I now accept that I will never be a “Jaco”, (not that I ever tried to achieve anything close to his style). I have done PT (official medical style), as well as doing similar manipulations and exercises at home. It saddens me to lose the capability I used to have, but I consider myself still very lucky since I am part of a band composed of good people, we have a busy schedule, I am otherwise in generally good health, and I am able to make my playing work quite well, despite my limitations. We dont always get what we expect out of life, and this for me is simply one more small speed bump on the road.

 

[WilbursaurusRex]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! No, I hadn’t really looked at it until I started trying to figure out the soreness thing. Then I was pretty surprised, especially when I looked at my other hand

 

[jTrolt]

I agree with all the above, and suggest that if you contact a good Physical Therapist, even a decent Chiropractor, they'd be very keen on resolving the hand going cold and soreness issue. My Chiro lights up over anything like that, with a great amount of purpose towards alleviating the issue.
So many times, a bit of realignment, maybe some stretches and usually some strength building exercises can make all the difference.
Make some calls.
You may be able to stop suffering.

Good luck!

 

[ardgedee]

...rotate my wrist toward the neck to “even out” that discrepancy.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I'm pretty sure having a middle finger longer than one's index finger is "normal" ...most of us come from the factory that way.
Never noticed this impacting my plucking technique. But I suppose if that length discrepancy changed at some point due to physical trauma it could screw up whatever technique I'd already developed, so yeah, OP I feel yer pain.

btw, in an ancient interview in Guitar Player Magazine (I think...or maybe it was in Bass Player?) Fernando Saunders mentioned that he started plucking with the index and ring fingers on his right hand, because they were the same length and hence yielded a more even sound and allowed more uniform articulation. I've tried that a few times; interesting results, but not such a gamechanger that I'd want to totally relearn my approach to the instrument.

 

[UntitledProject]

I'm pretty sure having a middle finger longer than one's index finger is "normal" ...most of us come from the factory that way.
Never noticed this impacting my plucking technique. But I suppose if that length discrepancy changed at some point due to physical trauma it could screw up whatever technique I'd already developed, so yeah, OP I feel yer pain.

btw, in an ancient interview in Guitar Player Magazine (I think...or maybe it was in Bass Player?) Fernando Saunders mentioned that he started plucking with the index and ring fingers on his right hand, because they were the same length and hence yielded a more even sound and allowed more uniform articulation. I've tried that a few times; interesting results, but not such a gamechanger that I'd want to totally relearn my approach to the instrument.

I broke my middle finger a few years ago and spent quite a bit of time doing the index ring finger dance. It does work quite well if you take the time to work it out. I still use my ring finger, after my middle finger is back up and running, if passage is softer and requires a delicate and even touch.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Same boat here, I kind of angle my bass instead of my hands/wrists...so it sits at a 45-degree angle on me when playing.

 

[MCS4]

My index/middle difference is similar to yours. While it isn't something I consciously think about much, I believe I even out the discrepancy more by how I bend each finger rather than changing any angles with my hands/wrists/bass. It's never really seemed like a problem.

That being said, Bryan Beller sometimes plays extended, faster passages with his index and and ring finger (omitting the middle finger entirely), which I believe is a quirk that arose in part from this seeming a little more natural since those fingers are a bit closer in length. I did experiment with that a little bit but didn't ultimately find it necessary for my own playing.

 

[kcducttaper]

Trim a bit of your middle finger off would work too.

Seriously though, my plucking middle finger is 7/8 of an inch longer than my index (just measured) and doesn't even line up with the back of my middle finger nail bed. Never noticed it to be an issue when plucking, but I'm gonna be self-conscious about it now.

 

[mambo4]

I noticed I have an index/middle finger mismatch of a little over 1/2”

I think you have average fingers, nothing to concern yourself about.

sometimes rotate my wrist toward the neck to “even out” that discrepancy.

I don't pluck with straight fingers, so the length delta matters less to me. I bend my fingers such the tips are even.

I do think rotating your wrist might be bad, depending on the axis and how strained it is.
A small, comfortable amount should be fine

Every time I see Stanley Clark's wrist I wince

 

[pbass2]

I agree with all the above, and suggest that if you contact a good Physical Therapist, even a decent Chiropractor, they'd be very keen on resolving the hand going cold and soreness issue. My Chiro lights up over anything like that, with a great amount of purpose towards alleviating the issue.
So many times, a bit of realignment, maybe some stretches and usually some strength building exercises can make all the difference.
Make some calls.
You may be able to stop suffering.

Good luck!

Chiro or myofascial release therapist can usually sort this sort of thing out. The issue is almost always originating "upstream" of where the actual symptoms are.

 

[micguy]

This is perfectly normal - with 2 finger plucking, you rotate your hand so both your fingers are curled about the same amount. This is also why I wouldn't try 3 finger plucking - to do that, you have to straighten out your wrist, so your index and ring fingers can pluck, and then your middle finger has to operate curled up more, which is tough to do smoothly.

 

[pbass2]

I think you have average fingers, nothing to concern yourself about.

I agree. Looks like mine. Never thought about it. If your fingers were the same length now that would seem odd!

 

[Watchootognbout]

This is how I pluck.
Any length mismatch is adjusted with a cupped hand.

 

[WilbursaurusRex]

Wow, what responses! I appreciate all the feedback!

Yeah I plan on looking into the soreness/coldness thing.

I may need to pay more attention when I practice that I am cupping/bending the fingers consistently and plucking across instead of smacking down.

Sorry if I caused any hand insecurity
But, seriously, it’s encouraging to get so many thoughtful responses. Thanks, and happy Friday!

 

[InhumanResource]

It took a lot of practice but I was able to even mine out