Help with left hand technique, can't avoid ringing notes on the G string!

[CubanB]

Hey All, looking for any and all advice! Short story is a injured my shoulder roughly a year ago and had to put the bass down for a few weeks then. It's made me hyper neurotic of my left hand technique to avoid injuring myself again while still playing 3-4 hour gigs comfortably. I *think* I've found a pretty comfortable, proper technique over the last year, HOWEVER anytime I reach for the B or E strings, I consistently fret the G string with either my pinky or first finger. It seems like no matter how I adjust, I cannot avoid ringing out notes on the G! I try practicing slower, curving my hand more avoid the G, but it seems pretty unavoidable in most circumstances.

Has anyone else come across this in there playing or practicing? Maybe I just have terrible technique? A bad bass setup? Tiny fingers? I'm down to accept any or all of the above, I just don't know where to turn to even start to fix the problem and I feel like I've tried a variety of options over the course of a year. It's infuriating to say the least. I practice mostly in headphones and it drives me mad when the G starts ringing out notes. I've even gone through my old studio recordings and it really doesn't seem like this was an issue prior, absolutely makes me think twice about getting back in the studio though.

Appreciate any and all insight!

 

[Killing Floor]

How are you holding the bass? Lap, strap, both? After injury did you change the body angle or the tilt of the neck?

 

[CubanB]

How are you holding the bass? Lap, strap, both? After injury did you change the body angle or the tilt of the neck?

Just with the strap, I prefer to stand / feel like I play better that way (could be psycho-somatic). I usually have the strap pretty high, and when I notice the problem I'll typically start bringing the bass higher.

After the injury I adjusted the body angle to be out more from my body, maybe like 30 degrees from parallel (before I would hold fairly parallel to myself, if not angling the neck slightly behind). I've also tilted the neck up a bit more, used to play a bit more parallel to the ground. I also started bringing the bass body closer to my right hip, it seemed like this was placing the full weight of the bass more 'centered' and brought the right hand more to the side where I used to have it right in front of the body.

 

[Les Fret]

It seems as if your left hand fingers are placed too flat on the strings. Can you make a small video of the problem?

 

[chris_b]

Don't press your fingers down on the strings, just let them rest lightly.

 

[Grinderman]

Hey All, looking for any and all advice! Short story is a injured my shoulder roughly a year ago and had to put the bass down for a few weeks then. It's made me hyper neurotic of my left hand technique to avoid injuring myself again while still playing 3-4 hour gigs comfortably. I *think* I've found a pretty comfortable, proper technique over the last year, HOWEVER anytime I reach for the B or E strings, I consistently fret the G string with either my pinky or first finger. It seems like no matter how I adjust, I cannot avoid ringing out notes on the G! I try practicing slower, curving my hand more avoid the G, but it seems pretty unavoidable in most circumstances.

Has anyone else come across this in there playing or practicing? Maybe I just have terrible technique? A bad bass setup? Tiny fingers? I'm down to accept any or all of the above, I just don't know where to turn to even start to fix the problem and I feel like I've tried a variety of options over the course of a year. It's infuriating to say the least. I practice mostly in headphones and it drives me mad when the G starts ringing out notes. I've even gone through my old studio recordings and it really doesn't seem like this was an issue prior, absolutely makes me think twice about getting back in the studio though.

Appreciate any and all insight!

Have you done PT to rehab your shoulder?

Don't press your fingers down on the strings, just let them rest lightly.

I get the sense there's a problem with their overall bodily relationship to the whole bass or at least the neck, through their shoulder, arm, wrist and hand, with a poor thumb placement at the back of the neck, preventing them from reaching the intended notes in a sufficiently relaxed manner to allow them to merely touch the G string only enough to mute the string, rather unintentionally fretting by pressing too hard.

They're clutching the neck too hard.

The shoulder injury, such as it is at this point, is restricting them from doing probably what used to work for them before the injury. I think they need adapt by adjusting their body relationship to the bass, including adjusting their strap and possibly other habits how they play, standing or sitting.

 

[Ric5]

Hey All, looking for any and all advice! Short story is a injured my shoulder roughly a year ago and had to put the bass down for a few weeks then. It's made me hyper neurotic of my left hand technique to avoid injuring myself again while still playing 3-4 hour gigs comfortably. I *think* I've found a pretty comfortable, proper technique over the last year, HOWEVER anytime I reach for the B or E strings, I consistently fret the G string with either my pinky or first finger. It seems like no matter how I adjust, I cannot avoid ringing out notes on the G! I try practicing slower, curving my hand more avoid the G, but it seems pretty unavoidable in most circumstances.

Has anyone else come across this in there playing or practicing? Maybe I just have terrible technique? A bad bass setup? Tiny fingers? I'm down to accept any or all of the above, I just don't know where to turn to even start to fix the problem and I feel like I've tried a variety of options over the course of a year. It's infuriating to say the least. I practice mostly in headphones and it drives me mad when the G starts ringing out notes. I've even gone through my old studio recordings and it really doesn't seem like this was an issue prior, absolutely makes me think twice about getting back in the studio though.

Appreciate any and all insight!

Maybe try a lighter short scale bass with a slim neck

 

[eriky4003]

A cheaper solution may be fretwraps which would reduce ringing to unplucked strings.

 

[CubanB]

Have you done PT to rehab your shoulder?

I get the sense there's a problem with their overall bodily relationship to the whole bass or at least the neck, through their shoulder, arm, wrist and hand, with a poor thumb placement at the back of the neck, preventing them from reaching the intended notes in a sufficiently relaxed manner to allow them to merely touch the G string only enough to mute the string, rather unintentionally fretting by pressing too hard.

They're clutching the neck too hard.

The shoulder injury, such as it is at this point, is restricting them from doing probably what used to work for them before the injury. I think they need adapt by adjusting their body relationship to the bass, including adjusting their strap and possibly other habits how they play, standing or sitting.

I did PT for a month and was given some exercises to help the shoulder. You are spot on though I've definitely had trouble clutching the neck too hard throughout my bass playing. Since the injury, I put massive focus on thumb placement to reduce stress to the hand, wrist, shoulder, etc., really trying to hone in on the most comfortable positions to reach each fret.

I feel somewhat neurotic that I keep adjusting my strap every few weeks. It's in a comfortable spot and when I think I feel the shoulder pain flaring up I'll adjust only one notch higher or lower. I'll make larger adjustments for comparison, but I think I have good general spot for strap length within 1-3 notches on my leather strap. It feels like every 1-2 weeks I'll make these small adjustments that seem to resolve for the time being.

I think you're right about needing to adjust the body relationship to the bass. Would you know any books, references, or insights that might help steer me in the right direction? When trying to relearn posture after the injury, I would honestly try to picture how the Vitruvian Man might've held a bass..

Appreciate everyone's input! Honestly I'm open to all suggestions to remedy this. Will attempt to make a video this evening showing thumb and left hand placement as well.

EDIT: have definitely been considering a short scale - just stubborn to go down the route of buying a new bass, but I should at least find some in store to play and get a feel for.

 

[Grinderman]

I did PT for a month and was given some exercises to help the shoulder. You are spot on though I've definitely had trouble clutching the neck too hard throughout my bass playing. Since the injury, I put massive focus on thumb placement to reduce stress to the hand, wrist, shoulder, etc., really trying to hone in on the most comfortable positions to reach each fret.

I feel somewhat neurotic that I keep adjusting my strap every few weeks. It's in a comfortable spot and when I think I feel the shoulder pain flaring up I'll adjust only one notch higher or lower. I'll make larger adjustments for comparison, but I think I have good general spot for strap length within 1-3 notches on my leather strap. It feels like every 1-2 weeks I'll make these small adjustments that seem to resolve for the time being.

I think you're right about needing to adjust the body relationship to the bass. Would you know any books, references, or insights that might help steer me in the right direction? When trying to relearn posture after the injury, I would honestly try to picture how the Vitruvian Man might've held a bass..

Appreciate everyone's input! Honestly I'm open to all suggestions to remedy this. Will attempt to make a video this evening showing thumb and left hand placement as well.

EDIT: have definitely been considering a short scale - just stubborn to go down the route of buying a new bass, but I should at least find some in store to play and get a feel for.

I've done PT for a right shoulder injury. I'd stick with meeting with a therapist on a regular schedule for as long as it takes to resolve the issues, if to that extent isn't possible, then as long as possible toward that end.

I'd very specifically involve this concern, as a priority, with the therapist.

 

[mrcbass]

Try pulling the neck back behind our chest rather then push it out. It may require that you the whole bass a little to your left. So get the position, sit down. The horn probably rests about on our right leg. Move the bass to it sits on your left leg and stand up. You'll be plucking more over your belt buckle then your pocket. This will give you a better wrist angle.

 

[fretlessman71]

A cheaper solution may be fretwraps which would reduce ringing to unplucked strings.

It's not the open G that's ringing; it's the unintentionally fretted note with the base of his finger when he reaches for the E string. Like getting a C with your A.

If you make sure your bass rides high enough on your body, you can get your thumb to support the neck, and then it will be much easier to reach around with your fingers. This might be a radical change to your technique, but it may help you find something that works for your specific issue.

 

[Les Fret]

A cheaper solution may be fretwraps which would reduce ringing to unplucked strings.

Better to fix your technique first before applying help aids.

Maybe the OP presses to hard causing an unwanted hammer-on?
Maybe the action is too low? We don’t know unless we see a video.
Or visit a teacher.

 

[CubanB]

Try pulling the neck back behind our chest rather then push it out. It may require that you the whole bass a little to your left. So get the position, sit down. The horn probably rests about on our right leg. Move the bass to it sits on your left leg and stand up. You'll be plucking more over your belt buckle then your pocket. This will give you a better wrist angle.

This sounds like how I played pre-injury. I have recently attempted to go back to this method, but I feel I have more of an issue with the G string fretting and I'm not convinced that's the best wrist angle for the left hand. As the neck strap goes up however, it's pretty much hard to avoid centering the bass and playing just over the belt buckle.

 

[CubanB]

Better to fix your technique first before applying help aids.

Maybe the OP presses to hard causing an unwanted hammer-on?
Maybe the action is too low? We don’t know unless we see a video.
Or visit a teacher.

Agreed! The fret-wrap wouldn't work anyway since it is more of an unintentional hammer-on / tap. I do have a fairly low action, but also had it set up recently by a professional since I thought that was affecting the issue. Also have spoken with two different bass instructors I've taken lessons from but not much to report from that.

I've considered lowering where the neckstrap connects on the right side of the bass, bringing the body up and angling with a bit of a down curve might make the B string an easier reach without the fretting issue... but I am not apt to be drilling new holes in her so that's more of an 'I wish, but not likely' thought.

 

[Papageno]

Difficult to answer without photos of your playing posture and of your left hand.

But anyway, even if you accidentally fret the G string, it should not sound without being plucked. Actually, touching (lightly) the high strings with the base of the left hand fingers is a method to mute those strings. So, I really don't understand what you are doing.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Hey All, looking for any and all advice! Short story is a injured my shoulder roughly a year ago and had to put the bass down for a few weeks then. It's made me hyper neurotic of my left hand technique to avoid injuring myself again while still playing 3-4 hour gigs comfortably. I *think* I've found a pretty comfortable, proper technique over the last year, HOWEVER anytime I reach for the B or E strings, I consistently fret the G string with either my pinky or first finger. It seems like no matter how I adjust, I cannot avoid ringing out notes on the G! I try practicing slower, curving my hand more avoid the G, but it seems pretty unavoidable in most circumstances.

Has anyone else come across this in there playing or practicing? Maybe I just have terrible technique? A bad bass setup? Tiny fingers? I'm down to accept any or all of the above, I just don't know where to turn to even start to fix the problem and I feel like I've tried a variety of options over the course of a year. It's infuriating to say the least. I practice mostly in headphones and it drives me mad when the G starts ringing out notes. I've even gone through my old studio recordings and it really doesn't seem like this was an issue prior, absolutely makes me think twice about getting back in the studio though.

Appreciate any and all insight!

Try muting the G string by anchoring the little finger on your right hand on it when you are plucking the E or B string.

 

[MrDinsdale]

How's your lefthand muting technique?

I find that as long as I'm muting the higher strings I'm not playing with my left hand I'm significantly less prone to accidental fretting/noise. I guess the I'm already muting means unintentional pressure is unlikely to be heard.

 

[Koshchei]

Hey All, looking for any and all advice! Short story is a injured my shoulder roughly a year ago and had to put the bass down for a few weeks then. It's made me hyper neurotic of my left hand technique to avoid injuring myself again while still playing 3-4 hour gigs comfortably. I *think* I've found a pretty comfortable, proper technique over the last year, HOWEVER anytime I reach for the B or E strings, I consistently fret the G string with either my pinky or first finger. It seems like no matter how I adjust, I cannot avoid ringing out notes on the G! I try practicing slower, curving my hand more avoid the G, but it seems pretty unavoidable in most circumstances.

Has anyone else come across this in there playing or practicing? Maybe I just have terrible technique? A bad bass setup? Tiny fingers? I'm down to accept any or all of the above, I just don't know where to turn to even start to fix the problem and I feel like I've tried a variety of options over the course of a year. It's infuriating to say the least. I practice mostly in headphones and it drives me mad when the G starts ringing out notes. I've even gone through my old studio recordings and it really doesn't seem like this was an issue prior, absolutely makes me think twice about getting back in the studio though.

Appreciate any and all insight!

You can (and should!) mute with your right hand as well.

 

[DrBnz]

Yeah, we really need to see a video of you playing. You either have REALLY short fingers (kidding) or there is something odd with your stance. Without seeing it, I'm thinking you may benefit from a short scale - which one, depends upon your stance again. Then I start thinking about neck angle changes (bring the neck down towards the floor more ??? ) ... yeah, we gotta see ya play. You stand there and play some scales and let somebody else walk around you and film. Show the angles of your shoulders and wrists as well as the LH.