Guidelines on shifting?

[oomo]

I'm practicing some scalar exercises which involve a lot of shifting up and down the fretboard, and there are lots of different places I can choose to shift.

So was wondering if there are any guidelines or good practices to bear in mind when shifting, regarding when to shift, or with which fingers? E.g.:

Should I avoid shifting to a new fret with the same finger? Or always try and do this?

If I have a passage with a shift, should I play as much as I can in one position then shift? Or get the shift out of the way early?

For a basic example, say I'm playing the first 3 notes of the C major scale on the A string:

3-5-7-5-3

I could play with any of these fingerings (using / to show a shift):
1/1-3/3-1 (shifting as early as possible)
1-3/3-1/1 (shifting as late as possible)
1-3/4-2/1 (avoiding re-using the same finger for shifts, shifting late)
1/2-4/3-1 (avoiding re-using the same finger for shifts, shifting early)

This is just a trivial example of course, I'm mostly interested if there are any general guidelines that I should try and keep in mind for much more complicated patterns.

 

[WrapRough]

when playing two octave scales I shift early... this is a good video explaining the sequence:



But in some cases you may want to play as much as you can in one position and then shift. I think it would depend on what is coming next.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Try learning to shift in several different ways. Get equally familiar & proficient with all of them before picking your favourites.

This really helped me learning to sight read in pit orchestras and Big Band charts on a Fretless bass.

 

[Wasnex]

I'm practicing some scalar exercises which involve a lot of shifting up and down the fretboard, and there are lots of different places I can choose to shift.

So was wondering if there are any guidelines or good practices to bear in mind when shifting, regarding when to shift, or with which fingers? E.g.:

Should I avoid shifting to a new fret with the same finger? Or always try and do this?

If I have a passage with a shift, should I play as much as I can in one position then shift? Or get the shift out of the way early?

For a basic example, say I'm playing the first 3 notes of the C major scale on the A string:

3-5-7-5-3

I could play with any of these fingerings (using / to show a shift):
1/1-3/3-1 (shifting as early as possible)
1-3/3-1/1 (shifting as late as possible)
1-3/4-2/1 (avoiding re-using the same finger for shifts, shifting late)
1/2-4/3-1 (avoiding re-using the same finger for shifts, shifting early)

This is just a trivial example of course, I'm mostly interested if there are any general guidelines that I should try and keep in mind for much more complicated patterns.

IMHO Sometimes it's better to shift early, and sometimes it's better to shift late. The patterns that make the most sense to you may not be optimal for the next player.

The priority is the ability to smoothly and accurately play the entire line with proper phrasing. The overall approach is usually to make as few and as small of shifts as possible.

But often there is no good solution, and you have to pick a place for an awkward shift. Consider how the shift will impact musicality, and try to minimize the damage. This may mean using a more complicated finger pattern.

The only rule I will give you is generally avoid making sequential shifts.

 

[chris_b]

All of the above.

You should shift when it suits the next position or phrase you are going to play.

Become comfortable with shifting across all frets and strings, both up the neck and down.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I'm mostly interested if there are any general guidelines that I should try and keep in mind for much more complicated patterns.

Can you do it with your eyes closed? -
To take your position shifts to the next level - Turn the lights off while playing along to music. Start with simple shifts and build in complexity over time. I try to rarely look at the neck/fretboard whilst playing.

Master the fundamentals - it’ll do more for your playing than fancy but sloppy playing. Solidify what you do know now, there’s no short cuts to excellence.

 

[WrapRough]

Can you do it with your eyes closed? -
To take your position shifts to the next level - Turn the lights off while playing along to music.

Or just close your eyes

 

[fu22ba55]

It's good to have one "meat and potatoes" shift you use often, but as all others have said, get used to being able to do any / all shifts when needed.

Here's Ed Friedland's "extreme" example with the C Major scale:

 

[Wfrance3]

Based on a primarily one finger per fret approach, when going down the neck, I just think in terms of deciding whether to grab a note with my index finger or second finger right next to it. If the next note I need is on the same string, index. If I need to grab a note on a different string the other finger. Inverse for going up the neck, but with the pinky and ring finger.

 

[BassChuck]

I like to think of shifting like playing billiards or pool. It's the next shot that determines what you do now.
Try to avoid having to do something at the last moment.
Keep everything smooth and graceful. (stay relaxed)
Know where you are going before you start.

 

[logdrum]

:earn how or do scales on one string. John Patitucci old video teaches this.

 

[J_Bass]

For a basic example, say I'm playing the first 3 notes of the C major scale on the A string:

3-5-7-5-3

No shifting is needed there.


C with the first finger.
D with the second finger.
E with the fourth finger.

Why would you need to shift there?


Of course the logical solution is,
C (3rd fret of A string), second finger,
D (open string, or 5th fret of A string), third finger,
E (second fret of D string), first finger.

 

[Lobster11]

You should shift when it suits the next position or phrase you are going to play.

This. If you're just practicing two-octave scales, you have lots of options for when/where to shift and none is inherently better than any other. But when you're playing a bass line (that requires shifting) to a song, you have all kinds of contextual cues related to rhythm, melody, and harmony that will usually make one particular pattern feel more natural and comfortable than others.

 

[el murdoque]

If I was forced to play 3-5-7-3 on one string, I'd play the 3 with my index finger and the 7 with the pinky.
The 5 would be played with one of the two remaining fingers and I'd rather stretch around a bit instead of shifting.
If left to my own devices, I'd play 3-5-2(one string up) without moving my hand.

 

[chris_b]

:earn how or do scales on one string. John Patitucci old video teaches this.

I have a Ray Brown book that does the one string thing. There's a lot of hand movement in that exercise, which is great for improving placement and accuracy.

 

[ole Jason]

The one string method is worth putting some time into for sure. I think it's a bigger deal in the upright world since you'll find yourself moving up and down the G pretty often as well as the general necessity for precise shifting. You can adapt the Simandl or Rabbath fingering system to electric too.

 

[micguy]

Learn how to shift with lots of different strategies - if you don’t, at some point you’ll be locked up, unable to play something. I play a lot of octaves - that means shifting ALL the time. That builds flexibility - try playing lines with an octave for every note.

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

Upright technique, as I was taught, is to shift in whole steps rather than half steps, and to avoid shifting 4-4 (1-2-4 or 1-3-4 fingering). When and where you shift is up to you, practice all varieties. In application you do what the music demands even if it doesn’t fit the guidelines.
Bass guitar technique is much more forgiving, do what sounds and feels good.

 

[mrcbass]

For me, my shifts are dependent on what the next note/phrase is. I will even sometimes play the same note in a given phrase with different fingers because it suits the big picture best.

There is no one answer on when to shift; your best approach is to get comfortable shifting in every conceivable place. (Same with learning your scale patterns and arpeggios - there's more than one way to skin these cats).

 

[Lenny JG]

Shift after a pinky or index note, and go to a pinky or index note. That golden rule will save you so much fumbling.