Playing short scale vs long scale tips?

[brianrost]

Just stick with it. I play 30", 34", 35" and upright (40"+) scales and really don't think about it after decades of going back and forth.

I haven't played my Silvertone on a gig for a couple of years. I want to start using it for busking, so out of the case it came a few days ago (had to clean the strings...they were grungy). It was like I had never left. Plus I forgot how cool it sounds

 

[pingvuiini]

After three decades of playing long scale and extra long scale basses I’ve been exclusively playing fretless 23” scale uke basses since 2017 due to pinky and ring finger pain on my fretting hand. It’s a drastic change losing 11+ inches of scale length, but I am finally able to play ‘normally’ now. Intonation beyond the 12th fret can get challenging, particularly with a blank fingerboard. But it’s still a fun challenge.

 

[HolmeBass]

I doubt it will really take too long in the grand scheme of things. Like a month at most.

I just bought a medium scale bass, 32”, and it felt pretty good although I did misfret some things. I tried a couple of 30” basses while I was there and those were nice too, but the one I bought had more tonal variations.

 

[sgiacomo]

So is it helping with the thumb pain ?

Hard to say at this point, maybe a little.

 

[Smith357]

It only takes me a few minutes to transition from one scale length to another, But I have been playin multiple scale length basses for many years. I find it harder to transition between string spacing than scale length

 

[covermego]

Give it time, Kimosabe. Give it time. You’ll eventually get used to it.

^^^this^^^

As above, it took me a few days, maybe a week. I honestly railed some frets early on but it’s really not different than playing a capo on first fret. It’s ok to use your eyes to get through the adjustment. Soon you’ll be able to play naturally and easily swap between long and short scale. Your brain will beat you up for a short while as it adapts. Don’t panic. You got this.

^^^THIS^^^

Just keep playing it. It’s a matter of time spent.

^^^ AND THIS!!! ^^^

I play 30" mainly, but have been getting back to 34" scale, now that I'm retired and I am healing from quite a bit of overhead lifting, etc.....just took it's toll on my rotator cuffs, plus I also have arthritis. Didn't take too long to get back into muscle memory. I just like to do little fretboard exercises, like running riffs in E and ending up on the high E at the 9th fret, G string......... without looking. I'm amazed that I can do this. I almost always hit it, spot-on. I will rotate between the 2 scales, just to make sure I wasn't just "lucky", lol.
Keep on keeping on. You've only had this for a few days....it'll happen, probably sooner-than-later.
And I must say that bass is a beauty....... and KEEP THE BLACK HARDWARE!! Lol.

 

[Chicken Wing]

I think "time" is your friend here. The more you play it, the more it becomes the "norm"

 

[mikecd1]

If you have some regular songs you play with a band or just like to play start with those and as others have said "time is on your side" as you'll feel at home quickly. If you have routine songs you'll feel the acclimation quickly. Let us know if the Gibson helps with the arthritis pain. I've got it in both hands and the biggest problem for my thumb is my acoustic guitar. Playing that and going over to bass is some awful pain.

 

[JangoMike]

I routinely play between 32s and 36 scale Basses. Proper posture, position and technique obviously play a factor but you just gotta put in the time and practice practice practice.

 

[Jim T.]

A right hand (picking hand) adjustment can also be a big help. The looser short scale strings along with the fret distance reduction can throw you at lst, dividing your subconscious brain power between adapting to the shorter distance between fret and adjusting for the relative wiggly thang.
Try picking close(r) to the bridge to "stiffen up" the string feel and bring it closer to what you've been used to with the longer scale length instrument. It can help a lot when switching between different scaled instruments too.
ALSO, the style of short scale bass you have (Gibson/Epiphone) have pretty thick (fretboard to back of neck) necks. If you can, try a thinner (front to back) neck like an Ibanez's. There will likely be a significant difference in playing comfort if your hands are compromised by arthritis.

 

[sgiacomo]

A right hand (picking hand) adjustment can also be a big help. The looser short scale strings along with the fret distance reduction can throw you at lst, dividing your subconscious brain power between adapting to the shorter distance between fret and adjusting for the relative wiggly thang.
Try picking close(r) to the bridge to "stiffen up" the string feel and bring it closer to what you've been used to with the longer scale length instrument. It can help a lot when switching between different scaled instruments too.
ALSO, the style of short scale bass you have (Gibson/Epiphone) have pretty thick (fretboard to back of neck) necks. If you can, try a thinner (front to back) neck like an Ibanez's. There will likely be a significant difference in playing comfort if your hands are compromised by arthritis.

Yeah I pluck over the bridge pickup and it feels and sounds pretty tasty. Believe it or not, I actually choose thicker neck profiles because I have worse pain using the thinner necks. I have above average size hands so maybe that is why, or I could just have crummy technique perhaps haha

 

[bassrique]

Playing a 30 requires more touch. They don't like heavy plucking which is fine by me as I started playing lighter years ago for other reasons.

 

[nonohmic]

Trade them both in for a medium scale.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I play 30 to 35" fretlesses only...I find it's like choosing a long board vs short on skateboarding or snowboarding.

Or between this...

And this...

 

[Engle]

Now that you have both, you'll get better at switching between them over time. Nice bass!

 

[T McClure]

How long ago is “recently”? I found the transition took less than a few days. Trouble is I play it so much I now have to transition back to my P bass whenever I pick that up. I should probably make more of a habit of using both.

Sounds like an opportunity to buy a short scale P.

 

[2F/2F]

Just keep playing.

Look at the fretboard if you have to. There’s nothing wrong with that unless you’re sight reading.

 

[dalkowski]

It’s been a few days.

You're very close. Don't think too much, just enjoy the comfort and trust your musculature to re-program itself.

 

[gazzatriumph]

I recently changed too after 45 years of long scales, TBH it took a few days of playing to get used to it. The most difficult was above the tenth fret but soon got used to it. It feels normal now.

 

[micguy]

Any tips on making this transition easier? I don’t use a pick or slap much.

It’s been a few days.

Different people adapt to different mechanics at different rates. Persistence is key in developing muscle memory. Actually, persistence is key to a lot of things.

One thing I do when I think I know a set i'm about to play on a gig is...I play the set with my eyes closed - the whole thing. Although it'll be hell the first time you try it, over time you get much better if yo do this as an exercise. That helps immensely in developing muscle memory, and how much better you can play at a gig when you aren't visually tied to your fretboard - being able to play and make eye contact with your bandmates and the audience brings another level of fun into the mix. I've played in a few bands where the whole band did this as an exercise - turn out the light and play. A couple of times, band I was in were playing a gig when the lights failed, and it really impressed the audience that we finished the song without a hitch. I also play a lot of gigs where there isn't much light back by me - the singers are pretty far in front of me, and on a big stage, not much light gets back to where I am. In those situations, muscle memory is a life saver.