Left hand exercises

[Samuel J. Lagueux]

Hi,
I just passed a new level on bass and started playing some Rush. But it's really difficult and wonder if anyone here could give me some tricks to be more fluid in my left hand movements.

 

[Robert Spencer]

thumb behind neck & use a light touch with finger tips on strings.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Hi,
I just passed a new level on bass and started playing some Rush. But it's really difficult and wonder if anyone here could give me some tricks to be more fluid in my left hand movements.

I think in Nashville numbers so everything is based upon the Major scale box. I can do the Major scale box in my sleep.

Major Scale Box.
G~~|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D~~|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A~~|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E~~|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string​

• If my bass line is pounding out roots, yes WE ALL can pound out roots in our sleep.
• If my bass line is going to be R-5's I can do that in my sleep, i.e. from ANY root the 5 is up a string and over two frets, or down a string same fret. All over the neck. If you want a 5 you can find it in those two places. Every time no matter where your root is located.
• If my bass line is going to be R-5-8-5 I can do that in my sleep. That 8 is up a string same fret from the 5.
• If my bass line is minor R-b3-5-b7 yes that to is in muscle memory. The b3 is after the 2 and the b7 is up a string from the 4 same fret.

See the A, B, C's and my fingers are already moving to the 1, 2, 3's.

Course I had to spend a lot of time making all that second nature. See the chord/note and your fingers are already on their way to sounding out that note, or pattern of notes.

Good luck.

If Nashville numbers are throwing you, think scale notes, i.e. D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#. On the bass I found thinking in Nashville numbers much quicker. Yes I have to transpose my fake chord. Takes about 2 minutes per song. But once done it's in the key of 1. Changing keys for the fat lady is not a problem.