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I need an advice

Mustaineisbro

Mustaineisbro

Guest
Mar 29, 2016
8
11
#1
Hello, i don't know if this is an appropiate place to ask, but i have (a bit silly probably) question.
So i've been thinking about learning bass and i preffer 5 string basses, but the problem is that, as a girl, i have rather small hands. I mean they are not super small, but still. Would that be a problem with 5 string bass? Does it have much wider neck than 4 string one?
And also do you think it's a stupid idea to go for a left handed one? I wouldn't do it because i'm left handed (which i'm not) but because i have shorter 5th metacarpal as a birth deffect on left hand and this makes my pinky kinda useless (i really struggle while playing right handed guitar)
Sorry if my questions are stupid, I'd just really want someone's opinion on this.
 
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#4
Hi, Mustaineisbro. Welcome to the forum. No question is silly and I hope we can help you find a bass that works for you.

I cannot think of any 5 -string bass in a short scale. My understanding is that on a short scale bass, the low B string would be "floppy" and not sound as good as on a long scale bass.

Many 5 string basses do have a wider neck but there are a few that are narrow. I have an ESP ltd 5 string (long scale) that is very narrow.

There are many short scale 4 string basses in right and left hand. Left handed basses may be harder to find. If you can, try a left handed short scale bass and see if you that will allow you to use your pinky.

If it is more difficult to play or if it is impossible to try a left handed short scale bass, then try a short scale right handed bass. It may be possible to develop a technique so that you can adjust your hand so that you can use your pinky but I think you may be able to not have to use your pinky and use you other fingers and move quickly with the short scale. Moving shorter distance can equal more speed.

Good luck!
 
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#7
I'm a guy with the smallest hands of any male I've ever seen, and I can handle a long scale 5 with wide string spacing no problem. You can get them with narrow spacing and shorter necks as well, and that's fine if it feels better to you, but you can get used to anything, and it's all about your technique, not the build.
 
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#9
If you are just THINKING about learning bass why do you PREFER a 5 string?

Sure it gives you a little more range, and it also can keep you from going up/down the neck more... But it's not better or worse than a 4. Imo it's probably not even harder to learn, scales are still the same you just have an extra string to use/get used to). But many great players do just fine with 4 stringers as well.

As far as left handed, most people are more ambidexterous than they think. If you learn on a lefty it will just become second nature. I'm right handed but skate/snowboard goofy (lefty) and can do other things lefty as well. It is harder to resell lefties though.
 
#11
I know a girl who has a similar hand condition to yours except with her index finger and she plays a 36" scale six string bass no problem, she actually shows me up when it comes to gospel shredding!
Try a couple different basses and decide what you are comfortable with. We all have physical limitations and overcome them, its part of what makes being a musician so cool :)
Welcome to the forum and ask all the questions you like! Just give the forum rules a quick read and use the search bar and we're all here to share and learn
 
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#14
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#16
There are many options for you to choose from. Ibanez and LTD makes great instruments with tight string spacing practically in every price range. I'd recommend keeping eye on the used market for Warwick rockbasses too, since they aren't too heavy neither are they limited in setup possibilities.
 
#17
Mustaineisbro said:
ello, i don't know if this is an appropiate place to ask, but i have (a bit silly) probably question.
So i've been thinking about learning bass and i preffer 5 string basses, but the problem is that, as a girl, i have rather small hands. I mean they are not super small, but still. Would that be a problem with 5 string bass? Does it have much wider neck than 4 string one?
And also do you think it's a stupid idea to go for a left handed one? I wouldn't do it because i'm left handed (which i'm not) but because i have shorter 5th metacarpal as a birth deffect on left hand and this makes my pinky kinda useless (i really struggle while playing right handed guitar)
Sorry if my questions are stupid, I'd just really want someone's opinion on this.
Click to expand...

Not really a problem. There are many women bass players. Everybody has trouble playing bass compared to playing guitar if they play bass like a guitar. Bass has certain techniques for dealing with the long stretches:


In addition to technique and scale length options, you also have many options for low tension strings which will be a lot easier on small hands and sound really good too.

You could also get the ultimate in short scale and low tension, a Kala 5 string bass:





I'm left handed but I can't play a left handed instrument. So, I don't think you'll have a problem playing left handed if you learn to play that way, especially if you're a beginner because as a beginner you're practically a blank slate anyway.

It's more important to be a better muscian than a XYZ player. The instrument is just a tool that you can manipulate by various means. Enjoy.
 
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#18
Hey and Welcome to TalkBass!

First off, not a silly question. Once you have been here a while you will learn what a real silly question is. ;)

YouTube Victor Wooten. He stands at pretty much 5 feet tall and has the smallest hands I have ever seen on a grown man. I have held my hand up to his. My fingers are almost a solid inch longer than his. And he does bass acrobatics on every kind of bass you can imagine.....even a full sized upright.

I am left handed and play right handed. When first starting out your hands are going to feel as though you have hotdogs hanging off of them that refuse to obey your commands. So which way you strap it on won't matter. :D

Ibanez basses are known own for skinny necks. There should be quite a few available left handed.

Learning anything new is all in your head. There was a guy who used to make the rounds on TV shows and toured the world playing guitar......with his feet. He was born with no arms and just figured it out. Jeff Healey was born blind and figured out how to playing hot lead guitar in his lap! This is not intended as a lecture, rather an inspirational pep talk. You got this! You just haven't figured out how yet. :thumbsup:

(Unwritten Talk Bass rule #1. Once you acquire this new bass you have to post a NBD, or "New Bass Day" thread showing it off and bragging about it. It's required and doesn't count without pics!) :cool:
 
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#19
JimmyM said:
I'm a guy with the smallest hands of any male I've ever seen, and I can handle a long scale 5 with wide string spacing no problem. You can get them with narrow spacing and shorter necks as well, and that's fine if it feels better to you, but you can get used to anything, and it's all about your technique, not the build.
Click to expand...
If you learn proper technique you can play any bass you want. ;)
 
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