Help me with my left hand technique.

[Kahrmine]

I've been using the 1-2-4 technique for several years now. Really cleaned up my playing.

i will look deeper into this

 

[BusyFingers]

Here is a tutorial I found which exemplifies the inconsistency about what makes for "proper" technique. This guy says your thumb should never go below the mid point of the back of the neck.

A lot of his other ideas line up with what many people are saying, but I don't agree that everyone should keep their thumb perfectly straight as I'm finding this not to be comfortable for me ergonomically. In fact, it forces me to bend at the wrist and causes discomfort.

He does, however, say something interesting which may be useful. He suggests to not use the tip of your index finger, but the flat pad so the first finger can be used to mute the strings. Not sure if this would be practical in all situations, but it's worth noting and seeing it it could be incorporated into your technique.

Fretting | Bass Technique | StudyBass

 

[BusyFingers]

Wow... I just came across this warning a facebook from a page named Carol Kaye II:

"BASS LEFT-HAND TECHNIQUE. WARNING - POTENTIAL CRIPPLING IGNORANT IDEAS about Playing the Elec. Bass: Everyone once in awhile there seems to be ignorant people who are always coming up ways to make money. BASS TECHNIQUE: never let someone con you into using "pressure rolls" and/or finger-tip technique to try to use all 4 fingers on the Elec. Bass for rock, pop, soul, blues etc. types of playing. You never use fingertips to play the Elec. Bass, nor the 3rd finger to any great extent."

I don't know if this facebook page is actually run by Carol Kaye. The post is much longer than this, but it appears I cannot link to facebook on Talkbass.

 

[BusyFingers]

This is the conclusion I have come to with left hand technique: It is not reasonable, or wise, to presume you must maintain a strict, rigid form. Or even to presume there is a one-size-fits-all standard technique for everyone.

In fact, attempting to force a strict form may well open you up to pain and eventual injury. I know I was experiencing pain very quickly upon applying some of the strict guideliness noted in some of the tutorials noted in this very thread.

Really, your left hand should adjust depending on position to avoid excessive wrist bend or unnatural finger/thumb forms (again, this is different for everyone and depends upon ergonomics) as you go up and down the neck. That includes allowing for rolling your thumb over the top of the fretboard if you're fingering above the 12th fret. To do otherwise would position almost anyone, regardless of ergonomics, in a position that is quite awkward unless they have their bass under their chin.

So... because of ergonomics there is no standard rule of "thumb," pardon the pun, outside of the general rule of giving enough support for fluid fretting which sounds the note well. And that support should not require a high level of resistance. Depending on the size of one's hand, the thumb should be placed foremost in a comfortable position, and secondarily a position that affords whatever support is necessary in that allows for fingering that is efficient and makes for clear, clean sounding of a particular note.

In other words, kind of like Fergie proved, the thumb position is not as important as people think, and should be adjusted to suit the particular player ergonomically and musically (ergonomics being foremost to avoid injury).

In short, the only bad left hand technique is a technique that leads to injury, causes poor tone, and leads to inefficiency of movement.

In consideration of this, I have decided to develop a technique that suits me ergonomically that best helps me to avoid those three issues.

 

[BusyFingers]

Also, I appreciate everyone's participation in this thread. It has really helped me figure out what's important, in a general sense, when it comes to left hand technique. It's really beneficial, despite the fact that the conclusion I've come to is that there really is no absolute standard for left hand technique due to ergronomics, but that there are some general guidelines that can help one develop the right technique for their ergonomics and playing style.

 

[MarkA]

Sounds like you're thinking through this in a logical way.

 

[JoeWPgh]

There are 3 primary criteria:
1: Don't harm yourself.
2: Position your hand/thumb so that your fingers have the strength/leverage to cleanly fret a note.
3: Position your hand/thumb to easily get to the next run of notes.

Too many, especially young players ignore rule 1.
Most eventually grasp rule 2.
Rule 3 is where the rubber meets the road and where the only solution is to practice and learn the instrument.

 

[BusyFingers]

There are 3 primary criteria:
1: Don't harm yourself.
2: Position your hand/thumb so that your fingers have the strength/leverage to cleanly fret a note.
3: Position your hand/thumb to easily get to the next run of notes.

Too many, especially young players ignore rule 1.
Most eventually grasp rule 2.
Rule 3 is where the rubber meets the road and where the only solution is to practice and learn the instrument.

What's interesting is how many people are sticklers about thumb placement, but when you see some of the most technically amazing players their thumbs seem to shift and move in the most efficient of manners up and down the neck disproving the need altogether.

 

[Korladis]

This is the conclusion I have come to with left hand technique: It is not reasonable, or wise, to presume you must maintain a strict, rigid form. Or even to presume there is a one-size-fits-all standard technique for everyone.

In fact, attempting to force a strict form may well open you up to pain and eventual injury. I know I was experiencing pain very quickly upon applying some of the strict guideliness noted in some of the tutorials noted in this very thread.

Really, your left hand should adjust depending on position to avoid excessive wrist bend or unnatural finger/thumb forms (again, this is different for everyone and depends upon ergonomics) as you go up and down the neck. That includes allowing for rolling your thumb over the top of the fretboard if you're fingering above the 12th fret. To do otherwise would position almost anyone, regardless of ergonomics, in a position that is quite awkward unless they have their bass under their chin.

So... because of ergonomics there is no standard rule of "thumb," pardon the pun, outside of the general rule of giving enough support for fluid fretting which sounds the note well. And that support should not require a high level of resistance. Depending on the size of one's hand, the thumb should be placed foremost in a comfortable position, and secondarily a position that affords whatever support is necessary in that allows for fingering that is efficient and makes for clear, clean sounding of a particular note.

In other words, kind of like Fergie proved, the thumb position is not as important as people think, and should be adjusted to suit the particular player ergonomically and musically (ergonomics being foremost to avoid injury).

In short, the only bad left hand technique is a technique that leads to injury, causes poor tone, and leads to inefficiency of movement.

In consideration of this, I have decided to develop a technique that suits me ergonomically that best helps me to avoid those three issues.

Basically, if it hurts, change what you're doing so that it doesn't hurt.

I personally like playing mainly the 1-2-4 (with 3 being used with 4 as if they were one finger) technique because stretching is uncomfortable and sometimes painful for my hand.

My thumb moves around a bit on the back, depending on where my fingers are. Generally it's positioned opposite where I'm placing my fingers (so it sometimes is near the edge of the fretboard, sometimes more towards the middle of the back of the neck). Basically wherever is the most comfortable and involves the least effort.

 

[Mushroo]

The most important lesson I've learned about left-hand safety is, "don't make your palm look like a butt!"

The "life line" should be open and uncompressed. If I touch the tip of my thumb to the tip of my pinky finger, then my palm creases and my lifeline is compressed. It looks like a butt crack, try it and see! I find this is the worst position for cramping, fatigue, and pain all through my hand and wrist.

On the other hand, if I open and relax my thumb away from my fingers (like I am going to catch a baseball or burp a baby) then my palm stays wide and flat. It doesn't look like butt cheeks. This is the most comfortable hand position, for me.

Let your life line flow! Don't play with dreaded butt-hand technique!

 

[ariane]

She points some things about how to have proper technique, but I wish she had a dedicated video on left hand technique. I don't do the pistol grip, so that's not an issue for me.

Somewhat late to see this post, but here it is:
A whole bunch of them, including exercises (these are just a few I did on notreble. In my courses I go through all this systematically from easy to hard):
Talking Technique: One Finger Per Fret In The Lower Register
Talking Technique: Got Dexterity?
Talking Technique: Applied Permutations – Chromatic Groove
Talking Technique: Chromatic Acrobatics 2
Talking Technique: Harmonic Minor Speed Shedding


I also second permutations.
Talking Technique: The Permutation Exercise
Talking Technique: Permutation Variation

Thanks for the shout and good grooving, everyone. Zooming in on good technique is the best thing you can do.