I've been paying for 50 years and I have no idea what angle my fingers are at. Just play the right notes.
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Fingers will not arch no matter what I do
- Thread starter Surveyor87Fan
- Start date
I have never even thought about arching my fingers in 30 years of playing. Work on beat and what notes to play and don't worry about arching. It's not worth getting frustrated.
This whole "it's illegal to prevent editing or deleting posts in the EU" sounds very strange/suspect. Especially when you consider there's a good few forums that prevent editing after a certain period. I may be wrong, it would not be the first timebut i sounds like a misunderstanding of GPDR.
Any relevant link?
Not from me - it was news in this thread just a few hours ago.
That's a great way to develop bad techniques that lead to serious health problems later on. The best thing you can teach any new musician is clean, healthy technique they will carry with them for the rest of their career.
You get frustrated because your body was not designed for this. Our tendons are not built for the fast repeated use our instrument puts them through. Your fingers aren't supposed to wiggle up and down ten million times. So when you do that to your body you have to be smart and do it safely. It's like telling a lifter not to stress about technique and to just lift with their lower back because it's easy. Until they wind up in the hospital.
I am trying to link it here, but having some connectivity issues. Google "Gary Willis Fretting"...the first link should be a Youtube clip where he talks about finger pressure while playing...honestly, this changed me whole approach (on fretless for sure, but also fretted).
Just to get back on topic:
I like the sound of new strings and will spend $20-60 a month on strings between my instruments just to sit in my house and play for myself. So it could be worse. That's what my gift list consists of from people for birthdays and Christmas: coffee and strings.
Regarding your technique, I will add that you will get a lot of conflicting advice on here for technique. The bass guitar is a relatively new instrument and has borrowed techniques from multiple instruments (double bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, cello, and probably more). A lot of bassists come from different instruments. I think someone above mentioned playing with cello technique. Someone talked about Simandl who was a double bassist. I approach it as a classical guitar player.
My point is if i explain to you how to curve your fingers the way that I do several things I do will be wrong for another player. I angle the neck upward at like 50 degrees. When I sit, i put the bass on my left thigh. I form a C with my fingers and thumb and keep my thumb opposite the tip of the middle finger, like the tip of the middle finger and thumb are trying to form a ring but the neck is in the way. I play one finger per fret in all positions except when I don't. I mostly mute with my right hand thumb unless I am playing with my thumb.
If you watch the Adam Neely video, most of what I'm saying is wrong. Adam Neely is more of an authority than I am at bass. He went to one of the best art schools and plays bass professionally. My real point is not to argue what is right or wrong though, it is to point out that you need to pay attention to the entire context of what someone is trying to teach you.
If I move the bass to my right leg and lower the angle of the neck, what I'm explaining above is a horrible way to try and position your hand. If you don't use right hand muting with your thumb, you might need to grip the thumb around the neck to mute the low E string. If you do that, most people can't play one finger per fret easily and switch to playing with index, middle, and pinky.
I think it would be worth $400 to get your bass setup. Lots of things can be expensive seeming for a cheaper instrument. One of the reasons the Squiers are cheaper is because they are not expertly setup. Fender saves time skipping this step and passes the savings on to you.
I like the sound of new strings and will spend $20-60 a month on strings between my instruments just to sit in my house and play for myself. So it could be worse. That's what my gift list consists of from people for birthdays and Christmas: coffee and strings.
Regarding your technique, I will add that you will get a lot of conflicting advice on here for technique. The bass guitar is a relatively new instrument and has borrowed techniques from multiple instruments (double bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, cello, and probably more). A lot of bassists come from different instruments. I think someone above mentioned playing with cello technique. Someone talked about Simandl who was a double bassist. I approach it as a classical guitar player.
My point is if i explain to you how to curve your fingers the way that I do several things I do will be wrong for another player. I angle the neck upward at like 50 degrees. When I sit, i put the bass on my left thigh. I form a C with my fingers and thumb and keep my thumb opposite the tip of the middle finger, like the tip of the middle finger and thumb are trying to form a ring but the neck is in the way. I play one finger per fret in all positions except when I don't. I mostly mute with my right hand thumb unless I am playing with my thumb.
If you watch the Adam Neely video, most of what I'm saying is wrong. Adam Neely is more of an authority than I am at bass. He went to one of the best art schools and plays bass professionally. My real point is not to argue what is right or wrong though, it is to point out that you need to pay attention to the entire context of what someone is trying to teach you.
If I move the bass to my right leg and lower the angle of the neck, what I'm explaining above is a horrible way to try and position your hand. If you don't use right hand muting with your thumb, you might need to grip the thumb around the neck to mute the low E string. If you do that, most people can't play one finger per fret easily and switch to playing with index, middle, and pinky.
I don't quite remember how I played when I started but I think it can be somewhat dangerous to try and force onto yourself some apparently ideal technique. My very honest advice to you is to ignore it for now and look at how the people play that you enjoy listening to. Play the way that makes you play better UNLESS it hurts or feels really uncomfortable / strained. My technique nowadays is a combination of my favorite players techniques and I play the notes of a song the way that the player who wrote the piece played it. Because generally those people know what they're doing. I even tend to often grip the neck like a baseball bat fretting notes with my ring finger and middle finger when I'm holding down a steady groove for example. I didn't look at any specific lessons on posture and such it sort of came natural over the years. If something feels wrong you can try changing the angle at which you hold your bass. Maybe put your bass between your legs when you're sitting. Just try around and look at what your favorite musicians do. What should and should not be is very subjective and there's things that can result in injuries but you can just play around and try things. Again if it starts hurting stop and change something
Also my advice DONT spend money on a setup. For one you don't really know how they're gonna setup and secondly if you have such a cheap bass just test stuff out. You can replace and repair virtually anything on your bass but if you look at proper tutorials you'll never need to do that. I have never worked as a handyman or anything of that sorts and I've set up all of my basses so far. Did a fret dressing on my Warwick with a cheap fret file I purchased online, filed the nut of my Fender P Bass and so on. Go slowly buy universal tools if you think you will keep playing that's definitely 100% a good investment. If you have any questions about specifics you can ask many people here on this forum.
Something to notice in that Gary Willis video is that he can let go of his bass and it stays put. So he's not wasting left hand strength to support the weight of the bass itself. And the neck angle makes it easy for him to reach around the fingerboard.
I haven't bought very many new basses in the past 45 years of playing, but my most comfortable bass is one that hangs by itself without any effort on my part. That's also the bass I grab if I know I'm heading into dangerous territory, such as a band with really difficult material. I can pick it up from the upper button by the strap (with strap-locks that I trust) and it hangs at the same angle as where I want it to be when I'm playing.
And @James Collins is right about approach. I'm a recovering cellist and now play mostly upright. I use a technique that will preserve my ability to keep playing for the rest of my life if possible.
I haven't bought very many new basses in the past 45 years of playing, but my most comfortable bass is one that hangs by itself without any effort on my part. That's also the bass I grab if I know I'm heading into dangerous territory, such as a band with really difficult material. I can pick it up from the upper button by the strap (with strap-locks that I trust) and it hangs at the same angle as where I want it to be when I'm playing.
And @James Collins is right about approach. I'm a recovering cellist and now play mostly upright. I use a technique that will preserve my ability to keep playing for the rest of my life if possible.
You have long fingers, have you tried an upright bass? ... Find a tennis ball, wrap you hand around it and start squeezing and keep it in your pocket and pull it out when you're walking or without anything else to do. ... Then practice squeezing one finger at a time index, middle, ring, pinky then repeat. Then when you're bored reverse it. ... Then do index, ring, pinky, middle and repeat. ... Do that for three months you'll have no problem and a lot more strength in you left/fretting hand.
Do not take this advice. Those devices have the potential to cause injury. Playing is the best way to get stronger. If you can get with a live teacher who could help with your technique that would be the best approach.
Arching your fingers may or may not be necessary. I suggest getting a BASS teacher to evaluate your techniques.
I strongly suggest you incorporate your pinky into your approach to the fretboard.
Yes, there are successful bassists who only use 3 fingers, but the are great advantages in using all four fingers.
Curling you pinky into your palm is a disadvantage.
I strongly suggest you incorporate your pinky into your approach to the fretboard.
Yes, there are successful bassists who only use 3 fingers, but the are great advantages in using all four fingers.
Curling you pinky into your palm is a disadvantage.
I agree. I injured my ring finger on my left hand that took me years to recover from by over doing it with one of those.
The action at the nut looks mighty high. That doesn't make anything easier in root position. If you feel confident, learn to do a full set up and then do it. If you don't feel confident, find someone to help you learn (ideally) or pay someone to get it done. The bass is your tool. It shouldn't be fighting you. A reputable tech will at least give you some pointers and answer a few questions. There is no shame in taking a lesson or two. A good teacher might look at what you're up to and give you that one piece of information that sets you on the path. A good teacher would also be able to give you some tips on set up. I played classical guitar in college (years ago) and was taught privately by a guy with an odd approach. My friends were taught in the traditional approach of doing free and rest stroke exercises forever without actually playing any music. I was taught to play to most difficult pieces that I could in order for my poor technique to become obvious stumbling blocks and addressed as they arose. At the time, I felt like a king playing second and third year pieces in year one. Things swapped around when my stumbling blocks became obvious and I had to go back to square one and get myself properly situated. I think it worked out in the end, but sort of wish that I had been given regimented instruction to fill my tool box with useful items before I started to tear apart transmissions (wow...that is one rough mixed metaphor). All rambling aside, visit with someone who plays the bass and let them check things out in person. Things might not be as bad as you think. Good luck, don't give up and trim your nails (both hands).
Last edited:
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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You mean that your finger locks straight? Like your ring finger knuckle?
I had that problem sometimes when I started playing. It's from applying excessive pressure, with bad hand positioning. Mostly happened to me when doing power chords on guitar.
Excessive pressure, bad positioning. You'll figure it out eventually.
Di Jaco's exercises extensively .. run the fretboard up and down at a given position placing index and ring on a string at their respective positions (4 frets 4 fingers approach), and then, without moving the said fingers, place the other two at the respective positions playing the string after or before friending if you are on an ascending or descending run.
Repeat.
Some pain but it greatly helps the sought after fingers independency
Straight fingers are the same as bent backs. Got it. Playing bass is the same as power lifting. Got that too. Let's deepen our friend's worry shall we? You're right, though. I saw a bass player's fingers fall off last night, after he let them straighten for a few seconds.
