Left Hand Finger Fretting

[Aaron Deepneau]

So I'm new at the bass and have been practicing, scales, reading and doing everything I can to get better. One thing that I'm looking to learn a bit more is proper finger placement with the left hand. I spoke with a professional musician of almost 30 years and he said that when it gets down to it you might have to "wing it" with what you're comfortable with. I've played guitar and with the bass it seems to be more sequential notes, so many of the shapes (or chords) are taken out of the picture.

I guess my question is at what point do you use particular fingers to fret? I've seen a lot of debate about how many fingers to use, and I'm very open to any suggestions when it comes to exercises or methodologies with the fretting hand. Thanks, guys.

 

[JRA]

at what point do you use particular fingers to fret?

at the point you need to fret = choose a finger. after that: your finger choice may need to be scrutinized regarding:
1. does it allow for the next note choice in the most efficient way?
2. does it allow for the next note choice in the most efficient way?
3. does it allow for the next note choice in the most efficient way?

that's about it. good luck with your technique!

 

[Mushroo]

Many schools of thought on this topic. It's a personal preference that comes with experience. My basic, default, beginner-friendly technique, that works for about 80% of the music I play, is as follows:

1. My 1st (index) finger plays the root of the chord.
2. My 4th (pinky) finger plays the 5th and octave of the chord.
3. Then I shift my hand so my 1st finger plays the root of the next chord.

For example, the common I-V-vi-IV chord progression in the key of D Major, the chords are Dmaj - Amaj - Bmin - Gmaj. I would play that at frets 5-7-7, 5-7-7, 7-9-9, 3-5-5, using the 1st finger for each root, and the 4th finger for the 5ths and 8ths.

You can play a lot of great bass lines using this simple technique, with no strain or fatigue.

 

[Max Bogosity]

If you have guitar experience you may be used to a one-finger-per-fret technique for single note lines. e.g. if playing at the third fret, the index finger plays all notes at the third fret, middle finger fourth fret, ring finger fifth fret, little finger sixth fret. That doesn't always work at lower positions on bass because the frets are that much further apart.

An alternative technique brought over from the double bass world is to keep the third and fourth fingers together and only cover three frets from a given position. e.g. first finger on third fret, second finger fourth fret, third and fourth fingers together on the fifth fret. This requires more shifting but less stretching.

 

[mambo4]

Yes, the basic choices are One finger per fret (1234) and "upright" (124) fingering.
You should be able to execute both: that way the choice you make is informed.

A few other left hand details that took me a few years to appreciate:

• Minimal Finger pressure is important to practice
• You are allowed to move your left hand, even when your staying in one position. No need to freeze your hand and stretch your finger awkwardly to reach a fret.
• The shapes you learn at first can cause you to think in 4 fret "boxes", remember to allow you self to think in 5 fret spans (or more...the whole neck eventually)

also watch Adam Neely's advice.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

I suggest you learn the one finger per fret pattern right at first. Why? It will get you fingers moving over your neck and IMO this is what someone new to bass needs.

Major scale box showing scale degree numbers
and the root note on the 4th string.
….Index...Middle..Ring...Little
G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string
​

Cmaj7 chord coming up. Find a C note on the 4th string. Put the box's R over that note. The chord tones, aka the spelling, for a Cmaj7 chord are the R-3-5-7. Jazz guys stick with the actual spelling of the chord, you and I need not. Help yourself to some roots and when that flows add the 5. Yep it's up a string and over two frets. Still have room for some more chord tones? Add the 8 it's the root in the next octave. Roots, fives and eights will play a lot of bass. The R-3-5-7 or R-5-8-5 are safe chord tones for your bass line.


As to what finger to use to fret the note you will hear all kinds of things. Why? Well we all have adapted to what works for us. For example; I learned the OFPF method and played this way for years. All of a sudden the fingers started deciding which finger would get the note. I let them. This worked for a year or so and then I found my self using my index to fret the note and sliding where needed. I do not have a problem with this and it is now my preferred method. So we all have adapted what works for us.

I do suggest you learn OFPF and let things happen from there. My point; OFPF us a good method, however, I think you will find that what works for you will kinda happen. If it does not cause pain go for it.

Good luck.