Incorrect Fretting Hand Technique?

Like you, I predominantly use the "pads" of my fingers to fret.

If you'd like to share some photos or a video of your playing, I'd be happy to give you my opinion on your technique.

You mention playing the bass feels "natural and comfortable" so I'd say you're off to a good start.

 

My default is the tip, but there is nothing inherently bad about using more pad, and on a fretless instrument it adds options to the tonal palette. Also, I sometimes use the entire distal phalange to barre 4ths across adjacent strings. The only thing to be mindful of, whether its pad or the whole phalange, is to not allow the joint to collapse backwards under pressure, which is where injury or long-term damage leading to future problems might occur. So, provided your fingers maintain some degree of 'unlocked' form, you should be fine.

 

I use the pad. Using the pad seems to put the wrist in a good position, and this seems to eliminate any CT pain.

You mentioned that the pad, tip, joint, etc. just kinda decide which will get the next note. I think this is a good thing. I use the four notes per fret method and the fingers have decided to get the note they want instead of following the "rules". I let them do what they like and it has not caused any problems. Understand it took years for them to take over, I'm not thinking about it. It just happens.

Relax and have fun.

 

Just avoid collapsed fingers, which are really hyper-extended fingers.

 

The height of your instrument and the angle of the neck can affect how you fret notes. Also where on your neck you are playing. There aren't a lot of hard fast rules, just guidelines to keep your from hurting yourself, or that might get you from point A to point B.
Possibly the only "rules" would be no to strangle the neck. Relax your grip so you don't tire out your hand. Also, avoid hooking your thumb over the top of of fretboard. Kind of a noob move.

 

More and more these days, left hand bass guitar technique is based on comfort, and not forcing your body to do things that it just physically should not be able to do.

Because we're this odd bastard instrument, we've adopted different things from different instruments, mostly electric guitar and double bass (even though mostly guitar). And, electric guitar adopted techniques from classical guitar that weren't really suited for electric guitar playing.

The whole concept of left hand thumb behind the middle of the hand was designed so classical guitarists could pivot to find individual notes and do a minimal amount of shifting while reading music. I hold my thumb behind the index finger and even as far east as between the index finger and middle finger. As I go up the neck, I can place the thumb closer to the middle of my hand, because it's closer to my body. As far as pads vs. tips, I actually use in between.

 

As you get into more advanced technique, and especially more strings, you'll discover the tradeoff between fingertip fretting, which is more like classical guitar technique) and flatter fingering, which is the essence of left-hand muting. Collapsed joints is generally thought of as 'bad' especially in the DB world, but they typically have only 4 strings, higher action, and more tension. You do have to be conscious about what you're trying to do. String muting is good -- unless you're trying to play chords or double-stops.

Fretting with the fingertips is probably important to playing fast, especially on fretless. Playing with the flats can be useful for those suspended fourths with a string higher, and fifths a string below. You really need to be aware of what both hands are doing, purposefully. It comes with time, and practice.

 

Worrying about injury is a legitimate concern. Worrying about appearing amateurish really isn’t. If you’re willing to try anything, but keep what works for you, and listen to what your body is telling you, you can’t go wrong. Some of the best bass players you’ll ever hear have their own unorthodox style of playing. But it works for them and their music. And at the end of the day thats all that really matters.

 

None of this is true:
1) Classical guitarists keep the thumb in opposition to the fretting fingers, not in the middle of the hand.
2) Holding the thumb here keeps the rest of the hand more relaxed and with a natural curve to make fretting easier.
3) Classical guitarists tend to pivot off an anchor finger, not the thumb when needed.
4) Classical guitarists frequently shift positions while reading music.

Anyway, TalkBass, but I do get tired of some weird thoughts about classical guitar technique. Once I read that the wider string spacing was because they don't Barre chords!

 

It can be smart to use the same technique on all fingers in all situations, and it can be smart to practice it from the beginning. The same type of touch (and where you press the string on the fingerboard) makes it easier to get a consistant sound, and may make it easier to play new passages. But, don't worry too much about it.

 

If using the pads works for you, and you get the tone you want, then don't change anything. It wouldn't hurt to practice using the finger tips, so that you are able if/when you need to. IMHO, using tips vs. pads changes the tone, especially on fretless, and on fretted bass I almost always use tips. However, the price of using tips is that you have to change your muting technique and rely a little more on your plucking/picking hand.

 

I'm just repeating what I've been told by legit guitarists, so by now that info is by way of third hand.

I will defer to your expertise.

 

Makes me wonder if your left wrist is significantly bent...that should be avoided.

 

Makes me wonder if your left wrist is significantly bent...that should be avoided.

 

What you are describing is called a "barre" and is a totally normal and valid technique on guitar-family instruments including the bass guitar.

 

Using finger tips is more appropriate for the narrow spacing and thinner strings of a guitar. Using the pads of your fingers on a bass is fine.

The one bad habit I see in many players is to anchor their left thumb and stretch for notes. Your thumb should never be static and you should never stretch your fingers. Always move your hand so your fingers are above the note you want to play. If that means you move your hand for every note, that's what you do.