Using One Finger Per Fret And Being Uncomfortable

[prowla]

Look at the bassists you admire and see how they hold their bass.
A lot of the good ones do it all "wrong", so there is no single proper way.
As far as the tutoring goes, you can either choose to accept their method or shake hands and go elsewhere.
Of course, there's no harm in learning multiple techniques either.
Ah, decisions, decisions...

 

[jthisdell]

My fingers are fairly short and a few years back I got an upright. So working with a 42" scale forced me to use my pinky but more importantly it made me move my left hand a lot more. I now shift my left hand constantly. Now many instructors may say my technique is terrible but it works for me and has made playing more enjoyable. Shifting your fretting hand just a fraction of an inch makes a big difference.

 

[InhumanResource]

My teacher wanted me to use the pinkey and ring finger to play the 7 and the eight scale degree. I'm finding this uncomfortable and I prefer to shift to using my pointer finger and middle finger to play the bass lines. He says it's better to get more "strength" by using them independently, but I tend to get more fret buzz and mess up notes more often by doing this. Should I keep practicing using one finger per fret?

Just keep practicing, it will get easier as you get stronger and as your technique improves.

 

[InhumanResource]

No one practices OFPF technique while keeping all the other fingers down in place.
While one finger frets the others are hovering over their fret.

I was taught this way and I’m sure others were too. If finger 4 is fretting, 1 2 and 3 are down. If 3 is fretting, 1 and 2 are down but 4 can hover and so on.

 

[InhumanResource]

Look at the bassists you admire and see how they hold their bass.
A lot of the good ones do it all "wrong", so there is no single proper way.
As far as the tutoring goes, you can either choose to accept their method or shake hands and go elsewhere.
Of course, there's no harm in learning multiple techniques either.
Ah, decisions, decisions...

When I was learning (and struggling) to read, my teacher said that George Benson can’t read either. And when I can play like George Benson, then I can forget about reading (in other words, do it anyway cause you ain’t George Benson).

 

[WG Plum]

This makes no sense. What established double-bass method are you using that doesn't use pinky in lower positions?

I misspoke. I use my ring and pinky together as one, as others have described. 124.

 

[conttador]

My teacher wanted me to use the pinkey and ring finger to play the 7 and the eight scale degree. I'm finding this uncomfortable and I prefer to shift to using my pointer finger and middle finger to play the bass lines. He says it's better to get more "strength" by using them independently, but I tend to get more fret buzz and mess up notes more often by doing this. Should I keep practicing using one finger per fret?

Yes, keep practicing it. What you’re experiencing is being outside of your comfort zone. Keep at it and it will come, if you avoid it it won’t come. I constantly revisit my fundamentals and always find aspects I can improve. Usually when you practice new stuf it may sound bad the first iterations but if you keep at it, it will get better. First inclination is always to revert, don’t do that…

 

[Donald Thompson]

My fingers are fairly short and a few years back I got an upright. So working with a 42" scale forced me to use my pinky but more importantly it made me move my left hand a lot more. I now shift my left hand constantly. Now many instructors may say my technique is terrible but it works for me and has made playing more enjoyable. Shifting your fretting hand just a fraction of an inch makes a big difference.

Ironically, my bass teacher is saying I'm shifting too much for whole tones on the double bass. I think I need to work on my thumb position.

 

[Slevage]

Building strength is important. It is also important to use all of your fingers on your fretting hand. Because I play DB too, I sometimes use 1 finger per fret in the lower positions, but often use DB fingering in 1/2 position. I've been playing over 50 years, so I do these things without thinking about them.
Besides doing scales and exercises, using a proven method book is very helpful because the exercises are designed to move you from easy stuff to difficult fingering. This is when you will see the importance of good technique. I had a great teacher when I was learning and because of his approach to teaching the instrument, my musical world still rewards me.
I am also a strong advocate for learning to read standard notation while learning the instrument. We used Carol Kaye's books though there are other good method books available.

 

[groooooove]

on the one hand, if you just want to play and that way works it's "fine,"

but if you actually want to play i'd work on it. you'd be amazed how much more comfortable this gets over time.

you should definitely be able to play a scale without shifting.

 

[thunesBARROW]

I would practice the chromatic scale if you’re having trouble playing one finger per fret. Start high and slowly go down the neck.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

I know I'm "supposed to" use my pinky. I rarely do. I can stretch my ring finger higher on the neck, and I can shift very quickly. When I was gigging, it never was an issue for me. I see you all going lightning fast with 1 fret per finger, and I am envious. I just don't want to use my pinky, and its ok.

 

[thunesBARROW]

I was taught this way and I’m sure others were too. If finger 4 is fretting, 1 2 and 3 are down. If 3 is fretting, 1 and 2 are down but 4 can hover and so on.

The “spider” method: only lift one finger at a time (similar to how a spider walks). This way your fingers are close to the strings and you can get a legato tone/long notes if you want.

 

[thunesBARROW]

I know I'm "supposed to" use my pinky. I rarely do. I can stretch my ring finger higher on the neck, and I can shift very quickly. When I was gigging, it never was an issue for me. I see you all going lightning fast with 1 fret per finger, and I am envious. I just don't want to use my pinky, and its ok.

I did this for a while when I hurt my pinky. It was interesting and showed me a new way to look at the fretboard. I do prefer using all four fingers to fret, but it was educational. I’ve read that Wes Montgomery only used his pinky to play octaves, and he played all his lines and voicings with 123.

 

[bassdude51]

Get a short scale bass. (Assuming you don't have one.) And it will be easier to fret with all four fingers.

My very first bass lesson was..........using all 4 fingers, left hand up to the 1st fret........open E, fret 1, 2, 3, 4.....open A, fret 1, 2, 3, 4......open D, fret 1, 2, 3, 4.....open G, fret 1, 2, 3, 4.

And then reverse...... 4, 3, 2, 1 open G.......4, 3, 2, 1, open D..........etc. Use a metronome, start out slow and after some time and practice, up the tempo.

You can do all 4 fingers! It's like learning to ride a bicycle or use a cell phone. A little at a time. Practice!

You can do it!

 

[BassBrass]

all us medium sized people should use 1 finger per fret, enliven the pinky, as well as any 2 finger combination necessary and move your wrists as well. 2 finger is quite useful for a low B string or fretting just above the nut and really does help ending fret buzz. Sometimes you have to hold a F or a D for anhour.

 

[mambo4]

I'm a firm believer that the best exercise gadget for improving bass technique is a bass.
Discomfort with OFPF is usually not a strength issue but a coordination issue.
Practice is the only path, assuming you are not injuring yourself.
For safety consult the holy trinity of beginner bass technique videos

 

[HolmeBass]

My teacher wanted me to use the pinkey and ring finger to play the 7 and the eight scale degree. I'm finding this uncomfortable and I prefer to shift to using my pointer finger and middle finger to play the bass lines. He says it's better to get more "strength" by using them independently, but I tend to get more fret buzz and mess up notes more often by doing this. Should I keep practicing using one finger per fret?

Yes, you should strengthen your fretting hand ring and pinkie finger.

I think stretching too much to reach between frets, especially below the 5th fret, is something to try and avoid. Subtly shift your hand by rolling on your fretting hand thumb (which of course is on the centerline of the back of the neck, right?) to prevent too much spread from your index to your pinky.

But don’t shirk getting your ring and pinky up to snuff on your fretting hand or you will cut yourself off from a lot of possibilities while playing.

 

[Topkat13]

Do what's comfortable. Rocco Prestia, late BP for Tower of Power, used his first 2 primarily and muted the strings with his 3rd and 4th.

 

[SpeakerBoxxx]

My teacher wanted me to use the pinkey and ring finger to play the 7 and the eight scale degree." "Should I keep practicing?

Yes, you should. Why would you question your teacher's lesson?