proper left hand technique R-5-8

[BassChuck]

I agree that comfort is primary. But also, once that is found consistency is important also.
Personally I use R=middle, 5=pinky, 8=pinky for major key/chord and R=index, 5=ring, 8=ring for minor keys/chords.

 

[drewphishesp]

Very interesting.
The same notes - Root / 5th and 8th but fingering is different?
(How do they differ those Root/5th/8th between MINOR and Major chords?
And, NO, there was no question, What if I need to play something else..."
Very interesting indeed.



Very interesting technique indeed.
(And, NO, there was no question, What if I need to play something else..."



I was just a first grade question without any other "context".

dude no offense but That sounds like jibberish to me

 

[drewphishesp]

My dear TB member.
Please explain to me how the Root, the 5th and the 8th note on the FRET, on the FRETBOARD is different between the A major and A minor Chords.
I'll be waiting for you answers patiently.

thats the only part I got of what you said obv thoase notes are the same

 

[Mushroo]

My dear TB member.
Please explain to me how the Root, the 5th and the 8th note on the FRET, on the FRETBOARD is different between the A major and A minor Chords.
I'll be waiting for you answers patiently.

"Box pattern" type players will generally be more comfortable with their 1st finger on the root for minor keys and 2nd finger on the root for major keys. I don't want to put words in drewphishes mouth but I think the way a lot of players learn the fretboard is by finding the root and then playing a familiar box pattern with the same consistent fingers each time. You can move the box up or down the neck to play in different keys, without having to learn new fingerings or incorporate open strings. It is comfortable and orienting to always use the same consistent fingerings for the same scales, even if you end up not playing every note of the scale. That is my understanding of that style of teaching, anyway.

 

[SteveCS]

My dear TB member.
Please explain to me how the Root, the 5th and the 8th note on the FRET, on the FRETBOARD is different between the A major and A minor Chords.
I'll be waiting for you answers patiently.

Here's my WAG...

Middle/Pinky in the major key keeps Index free for M3 one string over and one fret back.
Index/Ring in minor keeps Pinky free for m3 on same string as root.
Keeps the boxes nice and neat, even if not playing all notes, but...

Think yourselves lucky. The basic Stick fingering is Middle, Ring, Index...

 

[RustyAxe]

It makes no sense to me to teach or recommend techniques without regard to context. One can play a R-5-8 with any fingers one wants to ... but bad habits and techniques are hard to "unlearn".

 

[BassChuck]

Very interesting.
The same notes - Root / 5th and 8th but fingering is different?
(How do they differ those Root/5th/8th between MINOR and Major chords?
And, NO, there was no question, What if I need to play something else..."
Very interesting indeed.



Very interesting technique indeed.
(And, NO, there was no question, What if I need to play something else..."



I was just a first grade question without any other "context".

The point of the different fingerings for major and minor is that notes of other chords. In minor the 6th (of the scale) would be under the pinky on the middle string, and the flatted seventh under the pinky on the string below Root. In major the 6th would be played with the first finger on the top string and the leading tone (low) would be first finger below the root or ring finger on top string.

 

[LowActionHero]

Depending on where I am on the neck I'll use both those fingerings. I think it's worth practicing both and have them both at your disposal. Your hand will pick which one it wants to use if you don't overthink it.

Sometimes I'll purposely practice something uncomfortable to try to get used to it and add it to the toolbox.

 

[MVE]

It makes no sense to me to teach or recommend techniques without regard to context. One can play a R-5-8 with any fingers one wants to ... but bad habits and techniques are hard to "unlearn".

I strongly disagree, I've never had a problem learning new techniques that take over for less efficient or less useful techniques.
It takes me about 1-2 weeks to teach myself a new 'better' way, but I am always the wiser for knowing more than one way to do something.
I disagree with the common statement that "bad habits are hard to unlearn" unless it's smoking cigarettes.

 

[Josh Kneisel]

R-5-8 (root - 5th -octave) to mean means index finger then pinky for the other 2 notes since you can kind of roll the pinky down and hit the 8th (sort of like a bar chord on a guitar)

 

[SteveCS]

...
I disagree with the common statement that "bad habits are hard to unlearn" unless it's smoking cigarettes.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[BassChuck]

Well if the root is 'C' (and you're not in C major) the 6th scale step is more than likely going to be Ab, the fingering works. Melodic minor scale would be an example. Most of the music I'm playing these days is music theater. Modulations, and key shifts are a constant. I play a good big of big band music and ALL that music is sight read on the gig, no rehearsals.

Really, I have 2 music degrees, but I just don't get hung up on exact modes. Frankly, I can't bring to mind what a "Dorian Minor Mode" would be. I mean, it already sounds minor, what more do you want?
By using the middle finger for Major keys and chords, the 3rd is readily available (index) without a shift or extension, and using the first finger for Minor, again, the 3rd is available (pinky).

 

[SteveCS]

Only if that M3 is permanently situated in some constant riff of Root/M3/5th/etc...; otherwise,
I would use my Index/Pinkie finger structure for the Root/5th combination with rare inroad on the M3 with my Index(!) finger.
(I'm just trying to imagine playing the Root/5th combination for 6 or 7 measures/bars with Middle/Pinkie, and waiting for the one M3 note in Bar/Measure 8.)
But it's only my opinion.

Totally! I wasn't saying how I play but how one might explain the approach described...

 

[inanimate_carb]

There really aren't any standard fingerings for electric bass, period. There's been a few attempts at it, but it hasn't been accepted and nobody's interested.

The electric bass is not a very old instrument compared to others, and there isn't a longstanding academic tradition as to how to play it, since so many successful players are largely self taught.

Every single one of my favorite players uses certain physical approaches and technique that would be considered "wrong" by many players concerned with perfection. Oddly enough, they all still seem to have impressive credentials, stellar track records, and recording catalogs that span over decades, and still inspire legions of listeners with the music the make.

 

[MVE]

There really aren't any standard fingerings for electric bass, period. There's been a few attempts at it, but it hasn't been accepted and nobody's interested.

The electric bass is not a very old instrument compared to others, and there isn't a longstanding academic tradition as to how to play it, since so many successful players are largely self taught.

Every single one of my favorite players uses certain physical approaches and technique that would be considered "wrong" by many players concerned with perfection. Oddly enough, they all still seem to have impressive credentials, stellar track records, and recording catalogs that span over decades, and still inspire legions of listeners with the music the make.

Sure, but that doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't discuss it.
By talking about it, we are often exposed to or inspired to try out something new that we probably wouldn't have just stumbled upon on our own.

 

[Mathilda]

I do a lot of octaves like this too.

Index------------------- pinky on root
G|---8---|-------|-------|-------|
D|---5---|-------|-------|-------|
A|--------|-------|-------|-------|
E|--------|-------|-------|---R---|

It may be a stretch in the lower frets, but I have big hands.



Me too... just not on bass .

impossibleeeeeeeee

 

[Watchootognbout]

I do Root- index finger.
5 and 8 - ring finger.

Or Root- index finger.
5-ring finger.
8-pinky.
It depends on what I'm doing.

 

[Duanestuermer]

OP I'm curious as to how you place your thumb? This is an important component to the way the energy flows while playing.
If your thumb is draped over the neck, that could be a problem. (Not saying this is what you do)
I have seen many self taught players do this constricted right hand position, and had students that emulated some of the "rock stance" players and had a hard time breaking the habit.

But placing the thumb in the middle of the back of the neck like my upper pic, allows for much more fluid movement.