I can’t reach the lower strings. What do I do

[Mr_Bass_Man]

I just got my first bass and unfortunately have relatively small hands. With my thumb resting on the top pickup I can’t consistently reach the g and d string. Is there a way I can shift down or something like that. Please help

 

[Killing Floor]

Try floating your arm on the top of the bass instead of anchoring your thumb. Also if you use your thumb as anchor practice using the next lower tuned string as an anchor. If you’re playing the G string rest thumb on A or D, for example.
Everyone has different shaped hands. Keep it up.

 

[FatStringer52]

Short answer. The technique is called a "moveable anchor," which refers to the anchor points for your thumb. For example, when you are playing on the E-string, anchor your thumb on the pickup. When you are playing on the A-string, anchor your thumb on the E-string. Then, when you are playing on the D- and G-strings, anchor your thumb on the A-String. When your thumb is anchored on the A-string, it should also touch the E-string (muting). When you are playing on the G-string, your rest strokes will serve as a mute for the A-String. Hope this makes sense!

 

[Mr_Bass_Man]

Try floating your arm on the top of the bass instead of anchoring your thumb. Also if you use your thumb as anchor practice using the next lower tuned string as an anchor. If you’re playing the G string rest thumb on A or D, for example.
Everyone has different shaped hands. Keep it up.

Cool thank you

 

[Mr_Bass_Man]

Short answer. The technique is called a "moveable anchor," which refers to the anchor points for your thumb. For example, when you are playing on the E-string, anchor your thumb on the pickup. When you are playing on the A-string, anchor your thumb on the E-string. Then, when you are playing on the D- and G-strings, anchor your thumb on the A-String. When your thumb is anchored on the A-string, it should also touch the E-string (muting). When you are playing on the G-string, your rest strokes will serve as a mute for the A-String. Hope this makes sense!

This does help a lot. Do you know of any exercises to speed up the movement at all?

 

[Killing Floor]

This does help a lot. Do you know of any exercises to speed up the movement at all?

Repetition

 

[FullumMusic]

If this 13 year old kid with small 13 year old kid hands can reach, you too can reach.

Most 4 string basses have at most 19mm between strings. That means the D string is only 3.8 centimeters away from the E string. The G is only 5.7 cm away. That’s 2.25 inches. I’d put money on the fact that your hands, thumb to finger tips are longer than 2.25 inches. Even with your thumb anchored, you can move your hand downward and reach the G string.

But if you just got your first bass, just keep practicing. It’s not something that’s just gonna be easy in a couple weeks. It’s a lifetime of learning and improving, which is why it’s so fun and rewarding. So don’t be discouraged. Practice. If lessons are an option they usually help. There’s a lot of great instructional videos on YouTube. Scott Divine’s bass lessons are a great place to start. (Be careful, like everything these days, there’s also a lot of garbage and misinformation out there.) Experiment with different hand positions too. Try anchoring your thumb on different strings as you play the higher strings or floating thumb or resting thumb over the strings. (I think Scott’s YouTube covers a lot of beginner hand positions too.) If its still physically not possible for you for whatever reason, try playing with your thumb or a pick.

And most of all don’t give up. It’s a process.

 

[FatStringer52]

 

[JonathanPDX]

Can you post a picture or short video of yourself in playing position? There are so many factors, from arm angle to bass position, it's nearly impossible to determine via text what would help you.

For context, my hands are small, I once had a 12-year-old female student who had identical finger length to me. And Victor Wooten's hands are literally the same size as mine (in length, he's got a lot more wrist/tendon strength.) So, hand size isn't a deal breaker, especially when it comes to right hand technique!

 

[Lobster11]

Here's a video demonstrating the "moveable anchor" technique:



And here's one demonstrating the related, but different, "floating thumb" technique:



After spending a month or so experimenting with both I found that I prefer the floating thumb, but YMMV. Both are good techniques not only for reaching the strings but also for muting unplayed (lower) strings.

 

[Ekulati]

The G and D are the higher strings, not the lower. In music, it's the pitch (note) that determines high vs. low, not the physical position.

 

[Ewo]

I'm singing with the choir on this:

Don't anchor your plucking hand thumb on the pickup. Put some time into getting comfortable with either the floating thumb technique (I use this on a fiver) or the movable anchor technique. The vids linked above will explain the difference.

Sure, it'll feel awkward at first; every new technique will! But that change in your plucking technique will solve the reach problem you're having. Start at a very slow tempo, concentrating on your form, and repeat until you don't even need to think about what your plucking hand is doing. Be patient, but I'm confident you'll be pleased that the speed at which you can do this increases.

 

[el murdoque]

When you can't reach the D and G string with your thumb anchored, you're doing it wrong.
Let someone with more experience than you have look at your technique and point out the flaws.

 

[franklindayala]

I just got my first bass and unfortunately have relatively small hands. With my thumb resting on the top pickup I can’t consistently reach the g and d string. Is there a way I can shift down or something like that. Please help

 

[Groove Doctor]

If your plucking arms elbow is close by your side then it’s harder to skip across the strings.

Try that elbow out to your side more, just enough to have a straighter wrist and more relaxed plucking hand.

Anchored thumb is the easier step for beginners, but floating thumb opens a whole bunch of other possibilities technique-wise.

 

[Ketbass]

Here's a video demonstrating the "moveable anchor" technique:



And here's one demonstrating the related, but different, "floating thumb" technique:



After spending a month or so experimenting with both I found that I prefer the floating thumb, but YMMV. Both are good techniques not only for reaching the strings but also for muting unplayed (lower) strings.

In fact Nitti’s technique is how I learned to play 6 string. He has great videos on this. But like others have said, practice and repetition will bring you what you’re looking for.

 

[BarfanyShart]

Don't worry, those strings are so low, nobody can hear them anyway.

 

[calypsocoral302]

Here's a video demonstrating the "moveable anchor" technique:



And here's one demonstrating the related, but different, "floating thumb" technique:



After spending a month or so experimenting with both I found that I prefer the floating thumb, but YMMV. Both are good techniques not only for reaching the strings but also for muting unplayed (lower) strings.

Adam's video in particular is useful, but I'm also captivated by that gorgeous vintage Tobias he's playing!

Todd's video was useful when he mentioned the shoulder-- I really need to be mindful of that, as letting it drop makes more work for myself.

So, I can see how the "floating anchor" method works to mute strings as you're working upward, but how do you mute when you're coming back down from higher strings to lower ones? Are they using left hand technique in those cases?

 

[MrLenny1]

It takes time to get a good approach. I anchor thumb on the pickup
of a 5 string bass so my D & G is an extra reach.
My DB teacher was a small Italian guy with short stubby
fingers. He was a monster on upright bass & bowing.
Keep at it.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

If you can get lessons from a good teacher now, it will save you years of trying to unlearn bad habits that you pick up trying to teach yourself.