Short fingers / Long fingers

[Bent77]

I have really small hands, same or smaller than some women

so my fretting hand pinky actually does have to work. It’s not usually a problem, but I do have to pay attention if I try to play a 5 string or longer scale. I figured that everyone does if they’re use to a 4 string

 

[Shorelinegold]

For me the ultimate equalizer of talent:size ratio, below. Love this kid sooo much.

 

[Fynn]

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?

I mean, you can always sort of compensate with getting a smaller neck haha.
I have fairly large hands (even though I'm not that tall), but there's many things that I can't do. When I started playing, one of the first songs I learned was to defy the laws of tradition (Primus) and there's this awful stretch in the intro, where you play notes on the 5th fret of the D and A string and simultaneously hold a droning e on the 9th fret of the g string. That's one hell of a stretch and Les had the advantage of playing a 32" bass instead of a 34. I believe things like that might be impossible for people with smaller hands, but that's not to say that there's not some sort of workaround for such situations.
Another situation where long fingers (and thumbs) could come in handy, is when you want to mute with your thumb alot. A little extra definitely makes that easier too. But again, very specific scenario and there's tons of workarounds!

 

[SilverWind]

Thanks everyone for all the insightful comments. I appreciated the insights, plus the real world experience that was shared.

 

[Ggaa]

Joe's fingers weren't very long ...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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?

Pressing your hand palm down flat with fingers spread out as far as you can, measure from the tip of your thumb to the tip of your pinky. Mine is 9 1/2”. My middle ring finger is 3 1/4”long, ring finger 3 1/8” index 2 7/8”, pinky 2 2/3”. My fingers diameter is average, not stout, but not slender either.

With the hand I’ve been dealt, I have felt zero limitations regarding my hands playing guitars, ukes, 4 string or 5 string basses, as well s DB. However, there have been fingering issues from time to time (more on the DB) but with a little work become smooth and second nature.

 

[Frndmoretti]

I have long, skinny fingers. The type that would be perfect to play the violin.

It helps with the bass, but my fingerstyle playing sounds really trebly in comparison to other players with thicker fingers.

 

[KenD]

IMO there are two basic things you can do do compensate for "smallish" hands, which I have learned because my hands are what I consider to be slightly smaller than average:
- play a 32" or 30" instrument and use closer string spacing at the bridge
- work on and perfect your shifting technique to make it as legato as possible.

 

[SloFingers]

It’s more important to have opposable thumbs. That’s why monkeys can’t play bass.

Monkeys have it made - 4 thumbs My dog, on the other *hand* can't play Bass and it pisses her off to no end.

 

[micguy]

I have very big hands. I can wrap my thumb and play the B string on a wide necked 5’er with it without putting my wrist in an awkward position. I play faster on wide necks than on skinny necks. Regardless of my long reach, I don’t play one fret per finger down low on the neck.

I play church gigs. One of the world’s best church bands has a female bassist who’s 5’2” tall - she plays a full scale bass. Looks huge on her, but she can flat out play it. She plays a lot of running 16th notes - maybe short fingers are better for precise movements?

However big or small your hands are, there are things you can do to work with what you have. Practice and imagination are far more important than how long your fingers are.

 

[BismarckHerring]

This video illustrates some of the points that others have made in this thread.

 

[Jxff]

I have med/sm hands and I find a 34" scale easier to play than a 30".

 

[MDBass]

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?

At the end of the day it’s just an excuse for why they aren’t a better player.

Steve Bailey and Vic Wooten have small hands and are monster bassists: scores of others are similar.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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?

No. Just different playing techniques.

If you can't stretch 5 frets from the nut, effortlessly, you've got small hands.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Most humans view themselves as innocent and the victims of outside circumstances. This extends to things like blaming "hand size" for one's lack of abilities, whereas the true cause is their own lack of desire to practice.

Sure, there can be certain factors that would cause some physical limitations, but the vast majority of people making excuses just aren't willing to do the work they need to do to get over the hump they're on. I rarely see people with true physical deficiencies making excuses; they are often further advanced in their abilities in spite of their limitations. I include myself in this, but I'm at least willing to acknowledge that my lack of skill is my own doing, and not some nebulous perceived physical deficiency.

My point is, don't start lamenting the size of your hands as the reason you can't advance. If your hands work, then the issue isn't the size of your hands.

 

[chris_b]

Guys with a good technique don't seem to suffer from small hand syndrome.

 

[MrLenny1]

Size should not matter. My first DB teacher had short stubby
fingers and he could play anything.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Most humans view themselves as innocent and the victims of outside circumstances. This extends to things like blaming "hand size" for one's lack of abilities, whereas the true cause is their own lack of desire to practice.

Sure, there can be certain factors that would cause some physical limitations, but the vast majority of people making excuses just aren't willing to do the work they need to do to get over the hump they're on. I rarely see people with true physical deficiencies making excuses; they are often further advanced in their abilities in spite of their limitations. I include myself in this, but I'm at least willing to acknowledge that my lack of skill is my own doing, and not some nebulous perceived physical deficiency.

My point is, don't start lamenting the size of your hands as the reason you can't advance. If your hands work, then the issue isn't the size of your hands.

Exactly. Here’s Nick Vujicic.

 

[bassGtar]

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?

I wonder if people who complain about having small hands really have severely inflexible finger joints, hands devoid of fast-twitch muscle fibers and possibly poorly trained ears. Small hands alone are an advantage because people will hold you up as the example that breaks the rule … provided you’ve got everything else going for you. My problem is my gear.

 

[Lo-E]

Tal Wilkenfeld has very small hands and plays like a monster on full scale instruments. Anthony Jackson has stubby, little fingers, plays giant instruments and plays better than most of the people on the planet. Those are just two well known examples.

My first bass teacher, Ken Freeman, was a small guy with small hands (and still is) and was a wonderful player. My next teacher, Kim Clarke, has long fingers for a woman her size but her hands are still not very big and she’s an incredible player on both electric and upright.

I’m a little under 6’ tall and have reasonably large hands and I do think that it’s helpful and makes certain things easier but when I have to play difficult passages they’re still difficult and the ease with which I play is still completely dependent upon how much practice time I’m devoting to the material. It’s unlikely I’ll ever play half as well as Tal Wilkenfeld despite having much larger hands. The bottom line is that she’s put in a lot more work.