New player with pinky pain.

[JZQuantum]

Without seeing your playing style, I'll make some general comments.

First, make sure you play with your thumb behind the neck, about halfway up or a little less.

Next, you should play one fret per finger. Do this for simple chromatic exercises up and down the neck for each string.

Then, start playing thr basslines to your favorite songs. Try to envision how you should play the notes, then practice that.

Watch a ton of YouTube videos. You'll eventually see who is a good teacher and who isn't.

Doing this, you should develop some new bass playing muscles.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

If it hurts, stop. If you play through pain it becomes chronic. I'd also recommend find a good teacher. I didn't watch the posted video so I'm not commenting on that one specifically, but just remember, anyone can post a video on Youtube, you don't need any credentials, knowledge, experience or common sense. I can tell you that if you've been playing guitar and you can't play the bass for more than 10 minutes without pain, something is wrong.

The posted video is Adam Neely, who is about as credentialed as it gets.

 

[lfmn16]

The posted video is Adam Neely, who is about as credentialed as it gets.

You may want to actually read a post before responding to it. "I'm not commenting on that one specifically,"

 

[NoSlapForYou]

You may want to actually read a post before responding to it. "I'm not commenting on that one specifically,"

And I "actually" did read that, thanks. But I thought I'd point out for others in the thread that Adam Neely is an uber-famous and great bassist. Kind of surprised he's not instantly recognized by a thumbnail around here.

 

[lfmn16]

And I "actually" did read that, thanks. But I thought I'd point out for others in the thread that Adam Neely is an uber-famous and great bassist. Kind of surprised he's not instantly recognized by a thumbnail around here.

Everybody thinks the person THEY know is famous. I don't live on Youtube, I've never heard of him.

 

[pigpen1]

So I'm a guitarist just getting into bass and I've been practicing (Rocksmith mostly) and using my pinky instead of my ring finger for two fret gaps lower on the neck as I hear that's usually best practice for bass. Makes sense to me too as the frets are much larger, especially down that end of the bass. I'm getting a bit of stiffness and pain though. I can't play for longer than about 10 minutes or so without it getting a bit weak and sore. I've also noticed I'm feeling it in the side of my arm (same side as the pinky). Is this normal? I use my pinky a lot with guitar so I thought I'd be okay. I've watched so many videos on fretting technique to make sure I'm doing it right as well.

How high is your action? What guage strings? Maybe go.lower and lighter for now?

 

[James Collins]

Everybody thinks the person THEY know is famous. I don't live on Youtube, I've never heard of him.

I don't know that Adam Neely is "uber famous" or that it makes him a good teacher. He studied bass guitar at Berkeley. He has some pretty good videos about theory and copyright law with regards to music.

 

[red_rhino]

I don't know about that pinky thing. Unless your hands are quite small, I'd practise one finger per fret.

I mean, when that's how you want to play in the future, where is the sense in using the pinky at first and then, at some point, decide you are 'there' and re-train yourself to use the ring finger instead?

When practising bass, there are two kinds of pain. One is of the 'pain is just weakness leaving the body / no pain no gain' sort, and the other is bad.

Respectfully, I disagree. Using your pinky is a very common bass technique. I started off using one finger per fret, and naturally gravitated to Simandl before I even knew what it was called. It just made ergonomic sense. Let comfort and economy of movement be your guide. I'm not saying that one finger per fret is bad per se, just that you should be able to use your pinky without the pain you are describing.

There is a difference between fatigue and pain. When it comes to playing, no pain is good pain. Reaching fatigue can increase your ability to play longer or more difficult things, but you need to rest and recover in order to do that. Crossing from fatigue to pain is counter-productive.

But it's the pain along the arm in the OP's case that most concerns me. It may or may not be a result of technique or a non-playing related injury, but it sounds like the type of injury that's going to require some rest in order to heal properly. Try alternating ice and heat. Ibuprofen is your friend.

 

[Playbyear]

I didn't see it mentioned yet. How high or low is the bass? Get the headstock fairly high so you can get around it, your thumb behind it, a better wrist angle and easier stretch. Don't try to get the pinky strong all at once. Practice the lightest fretting you can, with all fingers.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Right so it definitely could be the action. I've lowered it to the point where I just get a bit of fret buzz (only acoustically) so I'll see how I go there. Honestly it's not excruciating, I just got a bit worried. I'm definitely taking it slow for now. I also find I notice it more on the G string. It currently has 45-100 strings on it so I might try some 40-100 and see if that helps too.

Also I'm sitting down so no worry about the bass being too low. I never played the guitar low string either.

Oh, also to the point of one finger per fret, I'm more than happy to try that too. I just heard it's a good idea to use the pinky a lot for a guitarist trying bass, especially at the lower frets.

Keep playing and pay close attention to your fretting hand technique. If you have small hands and short fingers (like me) you will get used to moving your entire hand to the appropriate positions.

 

[Supranaut]

Thanks so much for all your help and support guys! Especially Mushroo, all that's given me some serious thought. If Geddy (playing Rush songs is definitely a long term goal) doesn't use pinky too much I feel better. I'm definitely taking on board all advice.

For what it's worth, I originally heard this advice in an Adam Neely video, this one:

Also it's worth mentioning before the pain the action was actually sky high and the neck relief was way too bowed. I didn't realise it was an issue at first not having other basses to compare too. So this could be stemming from struggling through that as well. It's all fixed now though.

I'm also stopping before it gets bad for sure. I won't have a chance to play tonight but from tomorrow I'll be trying again with more use of the ring finger. Also the song I've been playing mostly is Cissy Strut by the Meters. So lots of 3rd and 5th fret stuff which is why I was using pinky.

that was my first thought!

i'm definitely with the group who would warn against painful playing, but OTOH: using (tiny) muscles in new ways will produce some soreness/sensations in the beginning (especially). knowing when to push and when to rest will come to you, over time, but until it does = some occasional discomfort. and of course, simandl had it right! and hey --- how about that fingerpad soreness?

best of luck with your acclimation to an entirely different instrument!

The fingerpad soreness is definitely a new one haha. My picking fingers are not used to it at all.

and now ya know why we bass players call guitars lil wimpy things.....lol

I get it! I played my guitar last night and it felt like a toy!

 

[2playbass]

There are so many variations in technique used by different and very skilled players. Don't like feel like one is right or wrong based on advice you may get online. Try what the various posters have suggested, and see what works. Personally, I mix a bunch of techniques (left hand and right hand) based on what I'm playing. I can play 1 finger per fret no problem, but if I can effectively play a tune with a more "lazy" or relaxed technique (eg. 4 fingers over 3 frets), why not?

Just because you might start with one method now that limits your pain, there's nothing to say you can't adjust or add techniques later, as you get more proficient (and stronger and more flexible). If you cause yourself a chronic injury trying to achieve 1 finger per fret, you may not be playing anything after a while...

 

[JW56789]

IF you're one of those guitar players who are in the 'Gee-I-can't-use-.010's-'cause-they're-too-hard-to-bend' Club, Welcome to a Man's World. You're now going to a foot longer scale and the resulting longer reach, a bigger neck, and strings the size of brake cables, not fishing line.

It's a bigger, more demanding instrument. How and where you wear it on the strap, and your left hand technique (for gosh sakes, don't hook your thumb over the top of the fingerboard), the strength for the bigger strings can catch some guys out.

I'm pretty sure this is what your left pinky is telling you. I'd see if I could play a little longer every day until it either starts to fatigue and hurt again, and if so, it's like building your callouses, after a while it'll be over. If there's no advancement in that pain threshold, I'd start seeking pro help, both in an experienced bassist to look over your shoulder, and medical help.

 

[Adjectives]

I think you'll just need to get used to it. I played guitar for 20 years, then had some severe nerve damage in my left hand. I learned to play bass with a disability, and my pinky used to get all squirrely often. I've noticed it's gone away with time!

So I'm a guitarist just getting into bass and I've been practicing (Rocksmith mostly) and using my pinky instead of my ring finger for two fret gaps lower on the neck as I hear that's usually best practice for bass. Makes sense to me too as the frets are much larger, especially down that end of the bass. I'm getting a bit of stiffness and pain though. I can't play for longer than about 10 minutes or so without it getting a bit weak and sore. I've also noticed I'm feeling it in the side of my arm (same side as the pinky). Is this normal? I use my pinky a lot with guitar so I thought I'd be okay. I've watched so many videos on fretting technique to make sure I'm doing it right as well.

 

[Mushroo]

I'm also stopping before it gets bad for sure. I won't have a chance to play tonight but from tomorrow I'll be trying again with more use of the ring finger. Also the song I've been playing mostly is Cissy Strut by the Meters. So lots of 3rd and 5th fret stuff which is why I was using pinky.

I'm a huuuuge fan of George Porter Jr! I love the way he holds the bass with relaxed and comfortable technique. Such an influential player.

You can catch a good view of GPJr's hands in this live performance of "Cissy Strut." I would say, he has a confident pinky finger.

 

[Camarillo]

No pain, no gain.

 

[JZQuantum]

How high is your action? What guage strings? Maybe go.lower and lighter for now?

Good point. A great setup is very important for every bass player, especially a new one. If the action is .25" (I call that a GC special edition ) then one new to bass playing could easily get the wrong habits about bass playing.

 

[Supranaut]

So I've had a proper play around tonight and I think I figured it out. A lot of it is just using muscles I'm not used to. A major part though is I was pressing down way too hard on the strings, I didn't even realise I was doing it until I really concentrated on being light as possible. Incidentally I still find using my third finger much more comfortable so I will also continue to do that.

Thanks again for the help and advice everyone, much appreciated.