First exercises

[Mors]

I'm working with the Music College TV videos as well. Started from nothing about five weeks ago, and I've worked my way up to the chromatic scale drill. I'll still work on just the four fret exercise on the E and A strings to get my hand used to the stretch. Trying to get a half hour in every day. Extra half hour chunks on my nights off.

Private instruction may need to wait until spring. Emergency expenses like car repairs and hospital bills have taken what would have been disposable income. I was lucky just to have funds to acquire the bass and amp. On the bright side, there may be morning instruction available. Since I work overnights, that's the only time I have.

Hey there!

The YouTube course is really good, but I've found that even one lesson with a teacher is essential. You can see where you'll go for there, but it's priceless as it'll allow you to see what exactly needs improving.

 

[Phe]

I'm working with the Music College TV videos as well. Started from nothing about five weeks ago, and I've worked my way up to the chromatic scale drill. I'll still work on just the four fret exercise on the E and A strings to get my hand used to the stretch. Trying to get a half hour in every day. Extra half hour chunks on my nights off.

Private instruction may need to wait until spring. Emergency expenses like car repairs and hospital bills have taken what would have been disposable income. I was lucky just to have funds to acquire the bass and amp. On the bright side, there may be morning instruction available. Since I work overnights, that's the only time I have.

Hey!
If at all possible get someone to check your technique as soon as possible so that you won't develope bad habits while you wait for your financial situation to get better. Surely there is somebody who can check that your fingers are in right order and that you are not bending your wrist too much?

@Mors : I don't know if you have noticed this already, but the G is called the highest string and E the lowest. It goes the wrong way around. Also when you are playing near the headstock you are playing low, near the body you're playing high. Just noticed that in your first message.

You guys have awesome attitude towards playing! Take it slow and learn the basics!

 

[fearceol]

And I'm back with an update!

I had two lessons with a teacher, which helped me quite a bit. What I'm doing right now are the two C major scales:

G|------------2-4-5
D|------2-3-5------
A|--3-5------------
E|-----------------

and

G|--------------4-5
D|------3-5-7------
A|--3-5-7----------
E|-----------------

I'm trying to master both of these - currently approaching 120 BPM - I know it's not a lot, but the progress has been slow

Dont worry about the BPM's. Speed will come with practice. Better to practice slowly and get the sound of the scale into your ears and mind.

 

[ZenG]

There is an exercise that Jaco used....but it's kind of hard to explain here without going into a complicated boggling post....

Basically.......you start at the C on the E-string......now run up through the strings on a major scale until you end up on the F on the G-string, two intervals away from the 12th fret.

Now.....come back down the same scale, starting at the F note and playing 3 note sequences of the descending notes....so you would start on F and after those three notes coming down you would then start on E, after that D etc etc doing the same 3 note descent until you are back at C.

You can do this anywhere using any key but I said C as a good start referral point.

It may be sort of like what 'Mors' posted possibly.....

 

[ZenG]

I'm going to go out on a limb here...

Many people tend to focus on working their fingers in practise...doing intricate runs and what-not....to increase finger dexterity and speed.

All very fine...however.....

Speed and dexterity is often controlled by thumb position as the root factor.

Most concentrate on their fingers with little regard to thumb placement and position......or moving or using the thumb to control what the fingers are doing.

Getting the thumb position right and knowing how to move/use it (pivoting for one) will have a tremendous impact on what your fingers can do.

You get the thumb right...the fingers tend to follow.

I will now retire to my position behind my sheet of 1-inch thick steel and wait for the ensuing machine-gun fire........

 

[fearceol]

I'm going to go out on a limb here...

Many people tend to focus on working their fingers in practise...doing intricate runs and what-not....to increase finger dexterity and speed.

All very fine...however.....

Speed and dexterity is often controlled by thumb position as the root factor.

Most concentrate on their fingers with little regard to thumb placement and position......or moving or using the thumb to control what the fingers are doing.

Getting the thumb position right and knowing how to move/use it (pivoting for one) will have a tremendous impact on what your fingers can do.

You get the thumb right...the fingers tend to follow.

I will now retire to my position behind my sheet of 1-inch thick steel and wait for the ensuing machine-gun fire........

There 'll be no artillery fire from me. . I agree 100% regarding pivoting. Often here on TB we find beginners complaining that they cant reach from fret X to fret Y. It never occurs to them to use the thumb as a pivot. This not only helps with playing but also helps to avoid injury problems at a later time. Also some people strongly advocate keeping the thumb behind the middle finger. Not a good idea IMO as it narrows the carpel tunnel, thus inviting injury problems.

I believe it is best to let the thumb go where it naturally needs or wants to go, in order to support the fingers.

 

[Lobster11]

There's a good video that gets posted a lot around here that demonstrates how the angle of thumb should change depending on where you are on the neck, with the thumb being almost parallel to the neck when playing down near the nut. Makes all the difference in terms of avoiding one of the most notorious sources of hand injuries: a sharply bent wrist.