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Ring Finger Blues

T

TexBass

Feb 2, 2012
26
0
#1
I am fairly new to bass switching from guitar and only been playing since January of this year. One of the books I am using is Bass Method Book 1. In it, I have been taught so far that only fingers 1,2 + 3 are used (Index, Middle and Pinky). I have applied this to the book Bass Aerobics and have been doing fine until recently, without thinking, my ring finger has been trying to do what my pinky usually does. It's messing up my playing worse than what it already is. I think it may be due to either 1) muscle memory is taking over from playing guitar or 2) practicing scales a lot more which involves my ring finger.

My question is, what am I doing wrong and how do I fix it?



My next question concerns the book Bass Aerobics. I have been playing tracks 1,2 and 3 for several weeks now and I thought I was ready for track 4. I was wrong. It seems to me, IMO, that track 4 is way too advanced and should be placed further in the book. It's pretty fast and involves string crossings that happen pretty darn quick.

Should I skip it and move on or just keep at it playing at the speed I can and not with the CD?
 
#2
TexBass said:
I am fairly new to bass switching from guitar and only been playing since January of this year. One of the books I am using is Bass Method Book 1. In it, I have been taught so far that only fingers 1,2 + 3 are used (Index, Middle and Pinky). I have applied this to the book Bass Aerobics and have been doing fine until recently, without thinking, my ring finger has been trying to do what my pinky usually does. It's messing up my playing worse than what it already is. I think it may be due to either 1) muscle memory is taking over from playing guitar or 2) practicing scales a lot more which involves my ring finger.

My question is, what am I doing wrong and how do I fix it?

My next question concerns the book Bass Aerobics. I have been playing tracks 1,2 and 3 for several weeks now and I thought I was ready for track 4. I was wrong. It seems to me, IMO, that track 4 is way too advanced and should be placed further in the book. It's pretty fast and involves string crossings that happen pretty darn quick.

Should I skip it and move on or just keep at it playing at the speed I can and not with the CD?
Click to expand...

Try using both fingers. The pinky for the 1 - 2 - 4 fingering and use the ring finger to reinforce the pinky. So basically the fingering becomes 1 - 2 - 34. Also, don't be afraid to slide around a little. A lot of new players think you always have to stretch your fingers. I keep my 1 - 2 - 4 fingers evenly spaced, and if I can't reach a fret with my pinky, I'll simply slide up to it rather than stretch.

As for exercises or songs that have fast bass parts, always practice slow and steady until you don't even have to think of it, then increase the speed. Keep notching it up until you've got it.

I bought a great application called The Amazing Slow Downer that really comes in handy for stuff like this. It's great for learning songs, too, because it doesn't change the pitch, only the tempo.

http://www.ronimusic.com/
 
#3
Yes, and well-said, u84six.

Tex, if you ever play upright you will notice that two frets up is about all you can reach comfortably when you're up toward the nut. The 1-2-34 thing is essential. I usually play that way all over the electric bass, too, even though it's not hard to often use four fingers. But, as long as the part is slow, and as long as I have time to move around, I feel much more relaxed that way. If a part requires all four fingers, one for each fret, then I will do what is required. But, 90% of the time I'm 1-2-34. As a matter of fact I play more things just 1-4 than anything. I have much bigger callouses on those fingers, just to prove it. Sounds weird, but I play well.

I'm an old guitar player, too, and I admit that there are times when the third finger does duty. I welcome it, though, rather than fight it, as it helps keep that finger in shape.
 
#4
I use my ring ringer to reinforce my pinky a lot between frets 1-5 or so. I don't quite have the reach or strength to pull those off, and that help a bit more than sticking "to the books." I'm getting better about it, but I've still got a ways to go.

Another thing I've found is that the more warmed up and loose my hand is, the better I can do on those stretches.

As far as the speed thing is concerned, most books don't tell you that you can practice it at half speed and work your way up. I play with a metronome, and slowly increase the speed a few ticks per practice or day until I can just about blaze through it, then I go back to the book, cd, or whatever it is I'm supposed to be playing along to.
 
#7
u84six said:
I bought a great application called The Amazing Slow Downer that really comes in handy for stuff like this. It's great for learning songs, too, because it doesn't change the pitch, only the tempo.

!Slow down and transcribe with Roni Music software - slow down the speed of music without changing the pitch
Click to expand...

In the same vein, I highly recommend the program 'Transcribe!' for slowing songs down. It even will help you in transcribing them by giving you the notes present at a given time. It's not 100% accurate so you'll still have to use your ear and judgement but it's by far the best tool I've ever come across.
 

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