I've seen a lot of bass players mention problems with short fingers or small hands but I have no idea at what point are your hands small, medium or large? Also is it really that much of an advantage in playing to not have small hands? Are there any advantages to having smaller hands/fingers?
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Short fingers / Long fingers
- Thread starter SilverWind
- Start date
His hands are small. Seems fine to me.
You'll probably have to move a bit more where others may stretch. But probably not even that much. Many prefer a small movement to stretching anyway. All in my humble opinion.
Thanks Warp, That is exactly why I'm wondering about the topic. I'm wondering how often a long span is really needed, and if it is, then is maybe a 5 string the answer?
it's not the size of your hands that matters --- it's the breadth of your ideas and the extent of your determination.
any hands will do! good luck with yours!
The size of your hand or length of your fingers does not matter much at all. It's all about speed and accuracy. Can you move from one note to the next seamlessly and fret the note properly. It really boils down to how experienced and practiced a player is!
My dad, while only 5' 10" tall, has very large hands. I'm 6' 4" with equally large hands and glad to have 'em. Certainly allows me to reach with less strain.
But @JRA is spot on with "the breadth of your ideas and the extent of your determination" being much more important.
But @JRA is spot on with "the breadth of your ideas and the extent of your determination" being much more important.
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It’s about what scale lengths you find easiest, most comfortable & efficient to play.
IME 30-32” is my sweet spot and I have average hands.
The more tired I get, finger stretching and position shifting feels noticeably harder. Age & decades of hard work with my hands has also started to slow me down too.
IME 30-32” is my sweet spot and I have average hands.
The more tired I get, finger stretching and position shifting feels noticeably harder. Age & decades of hard work with my hands has also started to slow me down too.
RIP Francis Rocco Prestia had regular size hands but never stretched over 2 frets because the way he muted with his left hand. I guess hand size is irrelevant, if you have the wish you will create the technique.
Jaco didn’t need small hands…
or a laundromat
or a laundromat
Not very long, even stubby fingers.
Doesn't seem to be a problem.
Doesn't seem to be a problem.
It's a non-issue. Human beings, their anatomy, and outlook, are remarkably flexible.
In the words of my grandmother, 'Can't Never Could'.
In the words of my grandmother, 'Can't Never Could'.
Hand size generally correlates to finger span, and a larger finger span can definitely make some things easier to play (usually involving positional playing) - specifically at speed.
Finger span can also aid in playing chords, especially on extended-range instruments that have more than four strings.
Due to the physical size of the average bass guitar, there aren't really any specific advantages to having smaller hands or a smaller finger span. That said, smaller hands/smaller finger span don't have to be disadvantages. It just depends on what you're doing. It's also worth noting that there exist physically smaller instruments which nullify the issue entirely - scale length, string spacing, and neck widths are all variable.
Overall, I think that having larger hands is advantageous on bass guitar, which is a generally large instrument compared to its cousins. But not having big hands isn't a dealbreaker.
Finger span can also aid in playing chords, especially on extended-range instruments that have more than four strings.
Due to the physical size of the average bass guitar, there aren't really any specific advantages to having smaller hands or a smaller finger span. That said, smaller hands/smaller finger span don't have to be disadvantages. It just depends on what you're doing. It's also worth noting that there exist physically smaller instruments which nullify the issue entirely - scale length, string spacing, and neck widths are all variable.
Overall, I think that having larger hands is advantageous on bass guitar, which is a generally large instrument compared to its cousins. But not having big hands isn't a dealbreaker.
I don’t have large hands and my 2 main basses for years were a fretless 6 and a broadneck 35" 5. I never felt like my hand size held me back.
My creativity, however, has waxed and waned throughout the years, and that's been more frustrating for my music than my anatomy.
My creativity, however, has waxed and waned throughout the years, and that's been more frustrating for my music than my anatomy.
I used to think my hands were too small to really be “one of those fancy bassists”, and for years, the bass was more of a secondary claim to my musical notoriety.
During COVID I woodshedded like crazy and learned that my small hands can do whatever I put my mind and rehearsal to. I’ve even learned that despite my small hands, I actually prefer 19mm spacing on 5 string basses, and I even like the extra fret room on a 35” LONG SCALE instrument! Other than perhaps reaching extraordinary intervals, I don’t see much of an advantage with bigger hands that solid practice and building your finger strength/dexterity won’t negate. ECONOMY of finger movement is everything. Getting to notes with less movement and less physical energy is a big part of getting really good at this instrument.
During COVID I woodshedded like crazy and learned that my small hands can do whatever I put my mind and rehearsal to. I’ve even learned that despite my small hands, I actually prefer 19mm spacing on 5 string basses, and I even like the extra fret room on a 35” LONG SCALE instrument! Other than perhaps reaching extraordinary intervals, I don’t see much of an advantage with bigger hands that solid practice and building your finger strength/dexterity won’t negate. ECONOMY of finger movement is everything. Getting to notes with less movement and less physical energy is a big part of getting really good at this instrument.
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I have above average but not huge hands. They seem to work. Doesn't matter though. I feel like mine are too big to play guitar (I've tried a lot/taken lessons/etc) yet Buckethead has catcher's mitts and does alright.
There is a certain point where some techniques will be unavailable to you if you don't have large enough hands to, say, easily fret the first four frets. Some right hand techniques just take more force. But clearly just about anything will work, even the dude in the sticky with one hand.
There is a certain point where some techniques will be unavailable to you if you don't have large enough hands to, say, easily fret the first four frets. Some right hand techniques just take more force. But clearly just about anything will work, even the dude in the sticky with one hand.
If you have problem witch too short fingers you can always do this... 
But really.. I think a physiognomy, especially length of fingers, affects on technique we play, dynamics in particular. Shorter fingers press on the strings differently than longer fingers, movements are different, etc.
But really.. I think a physiognomy, especially length of fingers, affects on technique we play, dynamics in particular. Shorter fingers press on the strings differently than longer fingers, movements are different, etc.
It’s more important to have opposable thumbs. That’s why monkeys can’t play bass.
Not only do they have opposable thumbs on their hands, but also on their feet, too.
They could play bass and guitar at the same time. They just prefer the drums.
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Go to YouTube and search for Eddie Gomez, Jimmy Garrison, Michel Petrucciani, or Django Reinhardt, and you'll never talk about small hands again.
