Right Hand position with respect to the strings!

[SteveCS]

Just to be certain, we are actually talking about my right hand technique, not my left.
I screwed up the main post title.....it should say "Right Hand position with respect to the strings"!

Sorry, I missed that clarification earlier. But then unfortunately I have to say that I agree with this

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Yeah I had someone critique my right hand playing recently and claimed that it was "terrible".
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and that, IMHO, your right hand probably needs some serious re-working. Watching the video you are playing >95% of the notes with your index finger. In and of itself this is not a problem - most classical players use just index for pizz - but it means that your middle finger is very weak by comparison. This, combined with the radically different angle of attack, means that middle generates an audibly and detrimentally (IMHO) different timbre and shape to the notes - dull, soft and lacking authority by comparison to your index finger. When you do use it, the 'reversed' position of your hand - index finger almost horizontal - means that the middle finger needs to be curled right in just to get the tip onto the string. This creates high and unbalanced tensions in your hand - one tendon is holding index straight whilst the adjacent tendon is pulling middle into a deep tight curl:

Again. there is no need to be perpendicular to the string, but I think your right hand position would be better reversed so that the fingers approach the strings facing vertically down. With the bass angled up at 45° the tips and strings will then align with minimal bend in the fingers. There will be curves in the fingers but the important point is that they will be equal and balanced. From there you can start to work on developing middle finger (or even middle and ring) to play an equal part with index:

Although my fingers in the above images are angled with respect to the strings, the movement of the actual tip across the string is perpendicular to them.

Just my opinion based on what can be seen and heard in the video.

 

[bassballs27]

Then I'm sorry to say that I agree with this


and that, IMHO, your right hand probably needs some serious re-working. Watching the video you are playing >95% of the notes with your index finger. In and of itself this is not a problem - most classical players use just index for pizz - but it means that your middle finger is very weak by comparison. This, combined with the radically different angle of attack, means that middle generates an audibly and detrimentally (IMHO) different timbre and shape to the notes - dull, soft and lacking authority by comparison to your index finger. When you do use it, the 'reversed' position of your hand - index finger almost horizontal - means that the middle finger needs to be curled right in just to get the tip onto the string. This creates high and unbalanced tensions in your hand - one tendon is holding index straight whilst the adjacent tendon is pulling middle into a deep tight curl:
View attachment 4498989
View attachment 4499011
Again. there is no need to be perpendicular to the string, but I think your right hand position would be better reversed so that the fingers approach the strings facing vertically down. With the bass angled up at 45° the tips and strings will then align with minimal bend in the fingers. There will be curves in the fingers but the important point is that they will be equal and balanced. From there you can start to work on developing middle finger (or even middle and ring) to play an equal part with index:
View attachment 4498999

View attachment 4498998
Although my fingers in the above images are angled with respect to the strings, the movement of the actual tip across the string is perpendicular to them.

Just my opinion based on what can be seen and heard in the video.

Really appreciate this response Steve!

Yeah, I'm definitely aware I need to use my middle finger more and that definitely comes in with counting beats. Index should be 1 and middle should be either "and" or "2" in 4/4.

That might be a good check is to watch where my finger tips end up.

Question - How deep do you pluck the strings with your right hand?
Close to your finger tip? Halfway between the tip and first finger joint?

 

[Lobster11]

From the pics it looks to me like @SteveCS is using the floating thumb technique I mentioned a couple of posts ago. I wonder if laying your thumb across the strings, perpendicular to them, would help straighten out your plucking technique....

 

[SteveCS]

Question - How deep do you pluck the strings with your right hand?
Close to your finger tip? Halfway between the tip and first finger joint?

Right on the tip, just off the corner of the fingernail. The black rings are ink, not a tropical skin-eater...

 

[bassballs27]

Thanks to Bryan R Tyler for updating the thread title!

 

[bassballs27]

From the pics it looks to me like @SteveCS is using the floating thumb technique I mentioned a couple of posts ago. I wonder if laying your thumb across the strings, perpendicular to them, would help straighten out your plucking technique....

That's a great suggestion! I think it's starting to click now! LOL!

 

[bassballs27]

Right on the tip, just off the corner of the fingernail. The black rings are ink, not a tropical skin-eater...
View attachment 4499122

Ah, that's right about where I'd typically get blisters on my index, which proves I'm putting my effort on my index than my middle finger! Great post again Steve!

 

[SteveCS]

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typically get blisters
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Yes - mine look like blisters but they aren't - they are hard, polished callouses caught in bad light! Blisters might be telling you to lighten up a bit more.

 

[SteveCS]

From the pics it looks to me like ... the floating thumb technique...
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Yeah, I've been doing it that way since I started in the mid '80s.