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Double Bass Left Hand Technique

T

thedbman4265

Sep 6, 2011
55
0
Bloomington, IN
#1
Hey everyone, I'm usually not one to post this type of question, but I just wanted to hear a variety of input on this. I am working on changing the shape of my left hand, specifically for faster/more technical orchestral passages, to arch my fingers more and play closer to the tips, rather than collapsing the smallest knuckle on my 2nd finger, which has been an unfortunate lifelong habit of mine. I'm sure it will eventually help my playing to become cleaner but it's a real pain at first because I've never played that way before. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to work on this or enlighten me on how you shape your hand for different types of playing? Thanks,

-AK
 
#2
I almost never play with collapsed fingers. I come from classical guitar and electric bass and you are not supposed to collapse your fingers on these instruments. I apply the same technique on double bass (with different fingerings of course). The only time I collapse my fingers is in some occasions in high thumb position (especially with vibrato, like cello players do sometimes). Or sometimes I do it on purpose with jazz pizz on very low notes. You get a more buzzing/singing sustained sound that way.

If you have only played with collapsing I guess each time you do it you have to remind yourself not to do it. Just work slowly and concentrated on your scales. Eventuality it will become automatic.
 
#3
Unless your finger is double-jointed, then the reason it's been collapsing is, in part, lack of muscle in that joint (i assume you're talking about the joint closest to the fingertip.

This joint often needs strengthening in thumb position, mine did.

You'll need to strengthen this joint over a period of weeks, and you can work on this away from the bass.

This exercise strengthens that specific joint.

FINGER PRESS-UPS:

1. Take your RH and give a thumbs up, straight and strong, as if to someone standing in front of you.

2. Now, coming in from the side, place the weak finger along the left side of the thumb, also pointing up, with the middle joint (not the closest-to-the-tip joint, not the closest-to-the-hand joint, the one in-between!) at the same height as the tip of the thumb.

3. Keeping the LH at this height, bend the weak finger so that the tip touches the top of the RH thumb (it's ok if the LH has to move a little away from the RH, but only just as much as is needed.

4. Apply lots of pressure down on the thumb from the LH finger. It should be bent like a letter 'n' rather than a collapsed, 'u' shape.

5. Now deliberately collapse the finger while under pressure. You should find that it 'pops' into the collapsed position.

6. Now deliberately 'uncollapse' the finger; it should pop back to the n shape.

7. Slow down the motion and the pressure so that you can feel the exact point at which the joint wants to 'pop'.

8. Slowly and with as much control as you can, move the joint beyond the point of popping in both directions. You might have to use a bit less pressure to achieve this, but the idea is to be using as much pressure as the finger can take.

9. Repeat as often as you can. With time this exercise strengthens the joint, and you can do it any time you're bored - like when someone is telling you a boring story, you can discretely be making your finger into a MONSTER.

enjoy.
 
#6
Your thumb isn't supposed to be doing any work anyway, except for in thumb position where that is actually an advantage because it brings your thumb around more square to the string. Essentially in lower positions your thumb is the reference for position, and that's all. So long as you can use that reference consistently, there's no need to worry much about the thumb.
 

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