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I just can't stretch myself anymore!!!!

C

chickbassist007

Jul 14, 2010
6
0
#1
Hello Bass Dudes and Chicks!

So i get this whole thing about you have to stretch your fretting hand even if you have small hands, but its JUST SO HARD!!!! I have a 5 string so it just makes it that much more fun to try to cover 1 fret per finger, and i see all these other bassist and it seems as easy as breathing. does anyone have any insight on how to maybe make it a little bit easier???


Em :bassist:
 
#3
move your hand down as you go using your thumb as a pivot underneath the fretboard - don't just rely on your finger/hand size alone. and the more you practice scales/arpeggios etc, eventually your fingers will automatically conform to the fret distance.
 
#4
The one thing I learned from playing bass - well, one of the thing anyways - is your pinky is your friend! When I played just guitar I could get away with not using the pinky too much, but on bass it helps tremendously to use your pinky. Also, try to play with a light touch, in other words don't press down on the strings with a death grip, it tenses up your left arm and you won't be able to move as freely as you could with a light touch.
 
#9
Just a couple of ideas, first you don't have to play everything down in the first four frets. Especially since you have a 5-string do a lot of practicing/playing farther up the neck where the frets are closer together. With a 5-string you are not going to lose a lot of notes by playing up higher. And, after a while you will find things easier as you gradually develop your hands.

Also you could look at using a 1-2-4 fingering that is commonly used on the double bass, where the string length is much longer than on electric. I am 6' 6" and have very large hands, but for sheer comfort I often use the 1-2-4 fingering on electric also, depending on what I am playing. 1-2-4 basically means you are only stretching over 3 frets.

Rich
 
#11
millertx said:
Just a couple of ideas, first you don't have to play everything down in the first four frets. Especially since you have a 5-string do a lot of practicing/playing farther up the neck where the frets are closer together. With a 5-string you are not going to lose a lot of notes by playing up higher. And, after a while you will find things easier as you gradually develop your hands.

Also you could look at using a 1-2-4 fingering that is commonly used on the double bass, where the string length is much longer than on electric. I am 6' 6" and have very large hands, but for sheer comfort I often use the 1-2-4 fingering on electric also, depending on what I am playing. 1-2-4 basically means you are only stretching over 3 frets.

Rich
Click to expand...

+1 I encourage the use of the 1-2-4 method down in the basement where the frets are farther apart; as you work your way up the fingerboard, where the frets are closer together, you can switch to one-finger-per-fret if you like.

When you're playing 1-2-4, it's OK to keep your thumb planted on the back of the neck, and pivot or shift your fretting hand to extend your reach by a half-step; it's common practice on DB, and it works just as well on electric.

There are no "Technique Police" who admonish bassists who eschew the one-finger-per-fret method. ;)
 

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