Lead fretting finger

[-Asdfgh-]

As an adjunct to my other post, in terms of fretting, my lead finger above 5th fret is my second finger, with a pattern on 5th and 7th frets over say the E and A strings being with fingers 2 and 4. Am I making things hard for myself? I've been doing this for a long time. In the above example I'd then add the index finger in if I needed something on the 4th fret.

If things are clearly needing a run up of a minor scale then I will use 1-3-4.

 

[AGCurry]

"Lead finger?"

It all depends on where you're going and to a lesser extent where you've been ... what the next note is after you've hit that note with the "lead finger."

Let's imagine that the "base note" is an E on the A string.
If my next note is a fifth up from that (B), I play the E with my index finger and the B with my little finger.
If my next note is a major third up from that (G#), I play the E with my second finger and the G# with my first finger.
If my next note is a minor third up (G natural), I play the E with my pinky and the G with my first finger.

If my next note is DOWN, then it depends on which direction you're headed on the fretboard after that note.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

If my next note is a fifth up from that (B), I play the E with my index finger and the B with my little finger.
If my next note is a major third up from that (G#), I play the E with my second finger and the G# with my first finger.

For me, in both those cases I'd start with my second finger on the E. The G# is always easily accessible, and it's an easy drop to hit a Eb or D with the index finger with little to no hand movement, depending on what the overall key structure is. Which is what I mean by leading with the second finger. At least above the 5th fret. A more relaxed hand position spanning fewer frets seems to work lower down. Obviously, it depends on overall context, but I mean if all other things are equal, in both those scenarios I would start with my second finger.

 

[SteveCS]

...
my lead finger
...

"Lead finger?"
...

I'm also not sure about the concept of lead finger. It all depends on what position you are playing in and what fingering method is adopted. For example, in a 1/2/4 Simandl-type approach, B on E is stopped with Pinky (4) in 3rd position, with middle (2) in 3½ position and with index (1) 4th position. The position will be determined by a number of factors, including the key, where the note fits in the line and where shifts are placed. The positions themselves should be located and secured primarily by the thumb on the back of the neck, not any one finger on the front.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I have no idea if this is orthodox or not but I think I totally get what you mean. I think you're saying for instance if you're playing in the key of A, you might place your second finger on the A at the 5th. From there you're set up to do a standard one finger per fret a major scale in the box pattern, ending with your pinky on A on the 7th fret of the D string.

Yeah?

Works great for me on an EB as a basic position and I dont see how it could impair my playing. Other more expert guys may have more informed things to add. And if I were to play an octave or root-5, I'd do it with my first finger and 4th, but not really move my hand from the position where my second finger at A on the 5th fret is conceptually, for that time, the root of my position.

Is that what you mean?

 

[AGCurry]

I have no idea if this is orthodox or not but I think I totally get what you mean. I think you're saying for instance if you're playing in the key of A, you might place your second finger on the A at the 5th. From there you're set up to do a standard one finger per fret a major scale in the box pattern, ending with your pinky on A on the 7th fret of the D string. Yeah?

I won't get into the double-bass position thing like @SteveCS (I play double bass but there are multiple "position schemes" taught, and they don't help me) because bass guitar is a somewhat different animal.

Your example above involves "microshifts" or "pivots" no matter how you play that A major scale, so the "pentatonic box" doesn't apply perfectly. Playing the low A with your middle finger means a stretch to get the next note (B) with your pinky. I'd be more inclined to use index finger on A if my next note is B (unless it's B on the A string, in which case my pinky would fret the A!). BUT ... if playing a triad, where the next note is C#, I'd use the second finger for the A.

The real point I'm making is that fingering choices should answer the question: Where am I going next, and what's the easiest way to get there? Any finger works on any note if you take it out of that context.

Works great for me on an EB as a basic position and I dont see how it could impair my playing. Other more expert guys may have more informed things to add. And if I were to play an octave or root-5, I'd do it with my first finger and 4th, but not really move my hand from the position where my second finger at A on the 5th fret is conceptually, for that time, the root of my position.

I was with you until you approached the end of that statement. Why and how would your second finger be "conceptually" - or otherwise - the root of the position if you're playing octaves or fifths up? We like being able to stay in one position, but we better not depend on it. Shifting is part of the game.

 

[AGCurry]

For me, in both those cases I'd start with my second finger on the E. The G# is always easily accessible, and it's an easy drop to hit a Eb or D with the index finger with little to no hand movement

Let's say you're playing "Hit the Road, Jack" in the key of Em. Wouldn't you want to use the index finger on the E and play the descending line on the E string (pinky D, middle C, index B)? So the note you're playing AFTER that Eb or D matters. Which finger to start with depends totally on the line you must play.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I won't get into the double-bass position thing like @SteveCS (I play double bass but there are multiple "position schemes" taught, and they don't help me) because bass guitar is a somewhat different animal.

Your example above involves "microshifts" or "pivots" no matter how you play that A major scale, so the "pentatonic box" doesn't apply perfectly. Playing the low A with your middle finger means a stretch to get the next note (B) with your pinky. I'd be more inclined to use index finger on A if my next note is B (unless it's B on the A string, in which case my pinky would fret the A!). BUT ... if playing a triad, where the next note is C#, I'd use the second finger for the A.

The real point I'm making is that fingering choices should answer the question: Where am I going next, and what's the easiest way to get there? Any finger works on any note if you take it out of that context.



I was with you until you approached the end of that statement. Why and how would your second finger be "conceptually" - or otherwise - the root of the position if you're playing octaves or fifths up? We like being able to stay in one position, but we better not depend on it. Shifting is part of the game.

If I play an octave on the 5th of rhe E string and 7th of the D I might execute it with the index and pinky yet stay conceptually with my second finger on the A. That’s situationall, of course, with regards to answering your questions about direction. I'd do the same if I was playing a root 5, A at 5th and E at 7th. For me staying home conceptually would be valuable if I want to apply horizontal concepts to any lines. Also, it helps me to stay home and learn to play entire songs in a closed position. One last thing: I'm not talking about a pentatonic box, but a typical major scale pattern.

 

[el murdoque]

For me, the only finger I don't like to be the 'lead' finger is the pinky - but I will use it if needed, just not comfortably so.

As AGCurry already mentioned, the second note I play decides which finger I use for the first.

More often than not:
Major chord means I fret the root with my middle finger so I have the major scale under my fingertips without shifting.
Minor chord means I fret the root with my index finger so I have the minor scale under my fingertips without shifting.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Let's say you're playing "Hit the Road, Jack" in the key of Em. Wouldn't you want to use the index finger on the E and play the descending line on the E string (pinky D, middle C, index B)? So the note you're playing AFTER that Eb or D matters. Which finger to start with depends totally on the line you must play.

I'd have to listen to it to understand the context. I haven't listened to it or run it through my head in years.

 

[David McIntire]

For me, the only finger I don't like to be the 'lead' finger is the pinky - but I will use it if needed, just not comfortably so.

As AGCurry already mentioned, the second note I play decides which finger I use for the first.

More often than not:
Major chord means I fret the root with my middle finger so I have the major scale under my fingertips without shifting.
Minor chord means I fret the root with my index finger so I have the minor scale under my fingertips without shifting.

Exactly as I approach it. And was about to write... thank you.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Major chord means I fret the root with my middle finger so I have the major scale under my fingertips without shifting.

That's basically what I am saying - that all things being equal then if that is the dominant scale, I'll start with that finger, and then it becomes a reflexive starting point for anything that is not planned otherwise. So if I am jamming something unfamiliar, that will tend to become the default start finger unless there is an indication to do otherwise. I wasn't sure if that was how others tended to operate, or if people tended to start on other fingers to have another formulation or sequence of notes easily to hand, as it were.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I have no idea if this is orthodox or not but I think I totally get what you mean. I think you're saying for instance if you're playing in the key of A, you might place your second finger on the A at the 5th. From there you're set up to do a standard one finger per fret a major scale in the box pattern, ending with your pinky on A on the 7th fret of the D string.

Yeah?

Yes.

 

[J Wilson]

Oh! You meant leed finger, not a led finger. Sometimes it sounds like all of mine are lead.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

So an option could be leading on 4, so root, major 3rd, 5th would become 4, 3, 1 on successive strings. 4, 2, 1 for minor. I am not sure how that would help, but it might be a way of breaking out of ruts in playing.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

So an option could be leading on 4, so root, major 3rd, 5th would become 4, 3, 1 on successive strings. 4, 2, 1 for minor. I am not sure how that would help, but it might be a way of breaking out of ruts in playing.

I do this all the time.
It helps in all sorts of situations.
It enables you to play I-II-V-I without changing position, for instance.

 

[Les Fret]

So an option could be leading on 4, so root, major 3rd, 5th would become 4, 3, 1 on successive strings. 4, 2, 1 for minor. I am not sure how that would help, but it might be a way of breaking out of ruts in playing.

So I think by lead finger you mean starting finger?
It can be any finger really, depending on the line. Just as @AGCurry said. Don’t fixate on one finger, you want to be flexible. Play scales starting on 1,2 and 4 and even 3 in some cases.

 

[SteveCS]

...
I won't get into the double-bass position thing like @SteveCS (I play double bass but there are multiple "position schemes" taught, and they don't help me) because bass guitar is a somewhat different animal.
...

Yes it is different. My point wasn't to say that DB methods are the only way to approach EB - far from it. The point was to break the thinking that there is only one way to play any given element and that - as @lesfret intimated - avoiding fixed pattern-based thinking can help keep you out of the ruts. Take the first 4 notes of a minor scale and at least 4 possible, feasible and reasonable left hand fingerings. The slurs are used here to indicate shifts:

 

[-Asdfgh-]

So I think by lead finger you mean starting finger?

Default starting finger as a matter of habit.

 

[chris_b]

I don't have a default starting finger.

I start with which ever finger works on the bass line. Whatever finger puts my hand in the right position. It's all about flow and smooth hand movements.