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Picked the wrong bass or my hands need more training?
- Thread starter villarddefender
- Start date
Some times you need to stretch.
Kinda hard to "shift" in the first four frets when you are doing a sixteenth note C or F minor scale thing.
Kinda hard to "shift" in the first four frets when you are doing a sixteenth note C or F minor scale thing.
Very coolSX basses can be sweet. I've got two of them, myself!
If you are curious what 32" feels like, get a hold of a guitar capo and put it at the 1st fret of your 34" bass. If you want to experience what 30" feels like, move the capo to the 2nd fret.
If your technique is good then you can easily play these lines without stretching.
Reducing stress and strain in the hand will ensure a better speed and agility when the player has to play faster runs.
I am curious but don't have a guitar capoSX basses can be sweet. I've got two of them, myself!
If you are curious what 32" feels like, get a hold of a guitar capo and put it at the 1st fret of your 34" bass. If you want to experience what 30" feels like, move the capo to the 2nd fret. It won't give you the exact sensation, but it is a cheap and easy "try before you buy."
If I stick with my 34" scale bass, could we say that the distance between the 1st and 4th frets on a medium scale is like the distance of the 4th to 7th fret on a long scale and the distance between the 1st and 4th fret on a small scale is like the distance of the 6th to 9th fret on a long scale am I close?
Stretching the fingers of the hand out is not straining.
It's exercise.
Keeps you limber.
Especially when playing an open inversion form.
If you don't have a capo, then here is another experiment: measure your 34" bass with a ruler or tape measure, and you'll see it's approximately 32" from the 1st fret to the bridge, or 30" from 2nd fret to the bridge.
You can simulate what it would be like to play a shorter scale by playing a riff or lick on 34", then shifting the entire pattern up 1 fret to feel like 32", or 2 frets to feel like 30".
So, for example, the distance between the 1st and 4th frets on a 30" bass is like the distance from the 2nd and 5th frets of a 32", or the 3rd and 6th frets of a 34".
I bet 5 string bassists have it easier most of the time with their lowest E on the 5th fret of the B string lol
I realize that even with a small scale bass I would still have to shift but my thumb would go from being perpendicular to forming an angle of 15 degrees instead of 45 degrees
Oh thank you now I was blind but now I see (or feel!)You can simulate what it would be like to play a shorter scale by playing a riff or lick on 34", then shifting the entire pattern up 1 fret to feel like 32", or 2 frets to feel like 30".
So, for example, the distance between the 1st and 4th frets on a 30" bass is like the distance from the 2nd and 5th frets of a 32", or the 3rd and 6th frets of a 34".
I realize that even with a small scale bass I would still have to shift but my thumb would go from being perpendicular to forming an angle of 15 degrees instead of 45 degrees
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Exactly, that's one of the top benefits of playing a 5 string! @gebass6 mentioned how "flat" keys like F minor can be a difficult stretch on 4 string. On 5 string, you can play the F at the 6th fret of the B string. Then you only have to reach 2 frets to catch the Ab at the 4th fret of the E string. Another way to achieve this fingering benefit is by stringing a 4-string bass in low tuning, like BEAD or DGCF.
Exactly, that's one of the top benefits of playing a 5 string! @gebass6 mentioned how "flat" keys like F minor can be a difficult stretch on 4 string. On 5 string, you can play the F at the 6th fret of the B string. Then you only have to reach 2 frets to catch the Ab at the 4th fret of the E string. Another way to achieve this fingering benefit is by stringing a 4-string bass in low tuning, like BEAD or DGCF.
Wow so many options it looks like a 2nd bass wouldn't hurt (that cheap pink medium scale SX PJ bass comes to mind) and that one could have a different tuning BEAD it would be cheaper than getting a 5 strings I guess
I’m only 5’8” and own/play a variety of scale lengths and fingerboard widths, including basses of 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-strings.
It’s just a matter becoming accustomed to your fretboard. Find a comfortable position. Try placing your thumb in different locations. One person’s method of comfort may or may not work for another.
It’s just a matter becoming accustomed to your fretboard. Find a comfortable position. Try placing your thumb in different locations. One person’s method of comfort may or may not work for another.
I like that and I don't feel like owning many basses for I am a minimalist lol
OK here's what's up since I got my Squier a few weeks ago it came a with a free full month of support from a luthier I'm going to go for a different tuning: B-E-A-D!!!!
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Totes agree. It’s a perfectly legitimate technique, and tons of great bassists use it.Generally, when my index is on the 1st fret, my pinky is on the 3rd fret. If I want to play a note on the 4th fret, I move my entire hand. Some of the names for this technique include "1-2-4 fingering," "upright bass technique," "Simandl method," or "shift; don't stretch!"
That said, there certainly are players who stretch all the way from the 1st to the 4th fret. I'm not saying they are "wrong" by any means, but if you can't make that stretch comfortably, my advice is, don't force it or hurt yourself.
I was fortunate enough to see victor Wooten recently. Not a tall guy, and his fingers actually looked pretty short and stout. I'm 6'5 with big hands and long fingers. I bet you'll never guess who is the better player!
Develop hacks. Cheats. There are no set rules when it comes to approaching an instrument.
1-2-4
1-3-4
2-3-4
0-1-4
0-3-4
0-0-7
Whatever doesn't hurt at that particular moment.
My 2 euro.
1-2-4
1-3-4
2-3-4
0-1-4
0-3-4
0-0-7
Whatever doesn't hurt at that particular moment.
My 2 euro.
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I like that! Started "hacking" my bass with a different tuning but there's further hacks for me to discover!
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
You get used to the bass you play ... it is called muscle memory ... I like 32, 33,and 34 scale basses ... I don't like 35
Try to keep the headstock up around face level. I’m 5’8” and I can do 1 finger per fret in the first position and do a 5+ fret stretch from the 5th fret and up. Your pinky can become very strong and dexterous, you just have to work at it. Most factory guitars have too high nut slots since they’re erring on the side of caution, but it can contribute to requiring more force to push the strings down in the first position.
Sometimes it's not your height but the size of your paws. I play very few open strings, and I tend to play 2nd position and higher. Unless I'm playing fretless I really don't move my hand.
I started on upright at 12,
This might sound strange but I work on muscle memory using a guitar, or a mini-squier once I feel comfottsble I switch over to bass.
I started on upright at 12,
This might sound strange but I work on muscle memory using a guitar, or a mini-squier once I feel comfottsble I switch over to bass.
