Ok, that picture does look painful. Don't do anything that gives you pain. You need to extend your left arm, it's too close to your body. Also I think you have the bass too low. Try adjusting the strap so that the bass is at the same height as it is when you're playing while sitting straight on a chair. The part where the neck meets the body has to be approximately at your belly button. Your fingers should be more straight and relaxed. If you extend your arm, there will be less of an angle on your wrist which is what you want.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Very new, and upset. Please help if you can.
- Thread starter MayaMorena
- Start date
Okay, so how is my wrists and fingers? I'm working on getting my fingers on the strings at the same time, but for now it causes a horrible fret buzz unless I move lower on the neck.
I'd like to ideally keep my fingers down closer to the strings as well. I'm just happy I watched enough youtube videos to get my wrist somewhat straighter. I wish I could get that Scott guy to be my teacher. He's much less miserable than my teacher, and cuter.
Looks awesome, a far cry from feeling like your wrist is broken! Just stay the course, Rome wasn't built in a day and neither are good bassists. Glad to see things have changed for the better.
Okay, so how is my wrists and fingers? I'm working on getting my fingers on the strings at the same time, but for now it causes a horrible fret buzz unless I move lower on the neck.
I'd like to ideally keep my fingers down closer to the strings as well. I'm just happy I watched enough youtube videos to get my wrist somewhat straighter. I wish I could get that Scott guy to be my teacher. He's much less miserable than my teacher, and cuter.
You gotta keep all your fingers down behind the one that you're fretting. I tried doing it the way you are and it KILLED my wrist. Keeping all fingers down will use the totality of muscles in your hand. I also no longer care about 1 finger per fret. I just want to make my hand comfy.
As for Scott - he's awesome, isn't he? You can subscribe and get access to that and many other lessons from other top players on his site for like $168 a year.
I'll give that a try. The bass is pretty high, I don't know if you can see from the picture. The problem with moving it higher is that then I run into my chest, which is probably bigger than yours...
I'm starting to think the bass might not be instrument physically. This posture is not painful at all. I've been trying to kick my arm out more, but it just feels funny to me unless I'm playing at the end of the neck by the head. Until I get my fingers stretched out I'm staying where the frets are a little more "friendly" I'm going to keep working on it.
They just aren't spreading so they end up resting on the frets. Which sounds awful.
I'll give that a try. The bass is pretty high, I don't know if you can see from the picture. The problem with moving it higher is that then I run into my chest, which is probably bigger than yours...
Ok, then the picture is tricking my eye.. It's always a good idea to do the finger exercises starting at the upper register where the frets are closer to each other, and then slowly move towards the first feet.
I think I'm just going to return the bass. When I just played along on Songsterr, it was fun. Now it's painful and stressful and it's not fun at all anymore. I'm spending hours a day, and nothing is working out. I don't think it's meant for me physically either. My chest is too big and gets in the way, my hands work better when I put them in a different shape than what it's supposed to be. My fingers don't spread like they are supposed to, my thumb wants to be in another part of the instrument. I hope they give me my money back. I probably won't get the money for the lessons back but that's just a lesson learned. Thanks for all the help guys, but I highly doubt anyone needs three lessons and hours to figure out how to hold any instrument if it's meant for their body.
I wouldn't worry about sound now. I'd work to get my hand right. IMO keeping those fingers up will hold you back in the long run, because you'll still need to fix that at some point.
Think of it this way: even though you can move all your fingers independently, they work best when in tandem, that's when they have the most strength. And their strength is directly proportional to their size. So the smaller the finger you use, the more help it needs. The pinky works best when all other fingers are down behind it. It wants help!
Like others have said, this isn't going to be an overnight thing.
Jeez, I was a pro playing out before someone (rudely, drunkenly) pointed out to me how bad my technique was. He was a major bassist in the area and the guy I replaced in the band with whom I was playing. So rather than get angry, I took a lesson from him. It took awhile, but he straightened me right out with a single lesson, and my work to do what he said. Then In college studying contrabass was a whole different flavor of heartbreak.
Point is it takes a while and a lot of knowledge and the desire to tell yourself that you suck and you will put in the hours to make it right.
But small consistent changes over time will reap big rewards.
And, practice slow to learn fast.
Think of it this way: even though you can move all your fingers independently, they work best when in tandem, that's when they have the most strength. And their strength is directly proportional to their size. So the smaller the finger you use, the more help it needs. The pinky works best when all other fingers are down behind it. It wants help!
Like others have said, this isn't going to be an overnight thing.
Jeez, I was a pro playing out before someone (rudely, drunkenly) pointed out to me how bad my technique was. He was a major bassist in the area and the guy I replaced in the band with whom I was playing. So rather than get angry, I took a lesson from him. It took awhile, but he straightened me right out with a single lesson, and my work to do what he said. Then In college studying contrabass was a whole different flavor of heartbreak.
Point is it takes a while and a lot of knowledge and the desire to tell yourself that you suck and you will put in the hours to make it right.
But small consistent changes over time will reap big rewards.
And, practice slow to learn fast.
It just isn't working. When I put all my fingers behind the one I'm using they will rest on the frets. I really am just going to return the bass. I really enjoyed this before it turned into whatever this is. This is not fun. This is the absolute opposite of fun.
I have reviewed the video a little more intently. You seem to have the same problem I had when I started classical guitar at the age of 8. There are three basic positions on the back of the neck to anchor your thumb and reach most of the positions with your fingers. Only you know where it is that you can reach the first 4 or 5 frets (position-1) comfortably with all your fingers and not move your thumb (or rather pivot your thumb, please, try to keep your thumb anchored!) because we all have hands slightly different. This is called conservation of movement and allows you to play for longer periods of time without tiring your fingers out too quickly. Remember, the pinching movement you make with your thumb and fingers is what makes the string fit in a valley against the fret board. The stronger your fingers get, the more you will find the notes will make a solid sound without buzzing. Once you have your basic positions for your thumb anchor figured out then its a matter of practice and leaning the positions of the notes on the fret board. You will find most common popular songs may only have you move from one position to another position only rarely.
I actually think I might be pressing too hard and the strings are bending instead of just going down.
You shouldn't be pressing so hard the strings are intending. Your hands will eventually find the best way to play and the thumb will find where it works the best on the back of the neck.
This takes time, it won't happen in hours, more like months. Everyone starts at the same point, it's where you take it that's up to you. We all get frustrated, and that's normal. If you have the desire to get past the initial stage, you will do fine. I'd suggest maybe a short scale bass if this is too akward for you. That might help. Just like gloves, basses are made differently to match all different sizes of people.
This takes time, it won't happen in hours, more like months. Everyone starts at the same point, it's where you take it that's up to you. We all get frustrated, and that's normal. If you have the desire to get past the initial stage, you will do fine. I'd suggest maybe a short scale bass if this is too akward for you. That might help. Just like gloves, basses are made differently to match all different sizes of people.
I just saw the video. For day six you are doing fine, I wouldn't sweat it.. You are developing a major skill set, that takes time. As you become more comfortable, your fingers will get closer to the frets, and your form will improve. Right now you are building hand strength, stamina, and callouses. This is a tender and sore period. You need to take ample breaks to let your hands heal as well.
I banged my finger on Friday, and had to let it heal for a few days before I could play again and work on songs for a show this weekend. Sometimes a few days off to heal will allow you to play with less pain or tenderness.
I banged my finger on Friday, and had to let it heal for a few days before I could play again and work on songs for a show this weekend. Sometimes a few days off to heal will allow you to play with less pain or tenderness.
I am sorry to hear this. The fun will come, but we all had to do the work first to get there. From what I have seen your progress is good for only a week at it. Keep at it, and I think you may even surprise yourself. We all had to commit and work at it to get better. It just isn't as easy as some people without this experience think.
From what I saw in the video,yes bending the string a little at this stage is not a problem. That's a fingering technique that you can work on over time. Accurate fingering will get better with time. No, I don't think you can finger the string too hard. Just keep up the good work you have shown here and your on your way.
It just seems like everyone is telling me different things. I'm literally putting hours into this a day, and my lessons are 29 minutes long. If I can't figure out how to even hold the thing, after two lessons, how many lessons will it take? I've begged for a lesson long enough to iron out the wrinkles, but the answer is no. My money means nothing to them, which peeves me off to no end, but that's another story.
Anyways. This isn't fun anymore. It's literally the opposite of fun. I don't want to be famous, I don't want to even be in a band. I just want to have fun. The exact same thing happened when I played violin. My fiddle teacher quit teaching and I had to find another teacher. In comes this violin teacher with all this conservatory experience, and all of a sudden everything I did was wrong. It all sounded great, but it was "wrong". And then it wasn't fun any more. I'll tell you, the students in my first class didn't look miserable like those conservatory students standing perfectly, afraid to breath on the wrong beat.
I just realized tonight, I'm not having fun and I have enough things in my life that I must excel at - like making sure people don't get sued when buying and selling property and keeping people alive at 120 ft. under the ocean or even worse Lake Ontario!!! I wanted something fun. To play a few back beats for my husband. This is like going back to that conservatory teacher...Sure I might be amazing in ten years or so, but I'm just not going to have any fun getting there.
I just literally do not want to go see my teacher. And I have no other choice. I'm afraid I might tell him off or something. I just wish I could get a proper lesson, as long as I need to get this part right
Then don't go back. If playing with songster is what did it for you go back to doing that. You shouldn't hate playing, what playing is can be different for everyone. Do what makes you happy. Sometimes teachers and students don't click. It's ok, just do what feels right for you. People are telling you lots of different approaches because there are lots of different approaches. If Scott's bass lessons feel right for you try that, forget the other guy. Don't put undue stress or deadlines on yourself. Have fun, do what's right for you.I just literally do not want to go see my teacher. And I have no other choice. I'm afraid I might tell him off or something. I just wish I could get a proper lesson, as long as I need to get this part right
Thank goodness you didn't have this attitude then you were learning to walk. 
The reason you are getting so many different opinions is because there are many ways to learn. Your hands will find the places that will work for you, and as long as you follow some basic guidelines you will be fine. We all understand you are frustrated. We have all been there, and at many different levels as we conquer plateaus. The learning curve never stops if you don't want it too.
You will get past this point as long as you remember it's not going to happen overnight. If you have the patience you will get it. You are at the non glamorous learning stage right now, completely frustrated and sore. And all of a sudden you will find your stride and will be ready to move on. We all know because we have all been there.
The reason you are getting so many different opinions is because there are many ways to learn. Your hands will find the places that will work for you, and as long as you follow some basic guidelines you will be fine. We all understand you are frustrated. We have all been there, and at many different levels as we conquer plateaus. The learning curve never stops if you don't want it too.
You will get past this point as long as you remember it's not going to happen overnight. If you have the patience you will get it. You are at the non glamorous learning stage right now, completely frustrated and sore. And all of a sudden you will find your stride and will be ready to move on. We all know because we have all been there.
My advice for you is, watch some video of bass players having fun on stage! Watch their posture, how their bass is slung, what they are doing with their left hand, their right hand, their thumb, their fingers. I like to study successful bass players who have had decades-plus careers. Tina Weymouth. Adam Clayton. Sting. Paul McCartney. John McVie. In particular watch some players who are similar to your own size and body type. Each player has a slightly different approach to the instrument, and we can learn something from them all. Who are your favorite bass players? Learn some easy and popular bass lines, that you can play with one finger on your left hand, and have fun! When I was first learning, I spent hours playing along to U2 videos. Which bands excite you like that?
If you are looking for specific feedback on your video, great progress for one week. My suggestion is, don't use each finger individually on its own, those are your smallest muscles. Remember my analogy of trying to open a drawer, or pull open a doorknob. You get more power and less fatigue if you stay loose and use your larger muscles: elbow, upper arm, shoulder, torso, core.
When I am fretting the strings on my bass, I like to imagine I am burping a baby. When you burp a baby, you do not pinch it between your finger and thumb, like a lobster claw! Rather, your thumb stays neutral, and all four of your fingers move together in a soft and gentle motion. You want to touch the baby with soft hands. I think of it as giving my bass a gentle pat on the back or slap on the rear end. "Attaboy!" Hit too hard and it makes an angry racket! But caress those strings just right, and people will say, "that is some funky bass playing!"
Whatever else, though: play along to your favorite songs and videos. If you know any friends who play music, get together and jam. Have fun!
If you are looking for specific feedback on your video, great progress for one week. My suggestion is, don't use each finger individually on its own, those are your smallest muscles. Remember my analogy of trying to open a drawer, or pull open a doorknob. You get more power and less fatigue if you stay loose and use your larger muscles: elbow, upper arm, shoulder, torso, core.
When I am fretting the strings on my bass, I like to imagine I am burping a baby. When you burp a baby, you do not pinch it between your finger and thumb, like a lobster claw! Rather, your thumb stays neutral, and all four of your fingers move together in a soft and gentle motion. You want to touch the baby with soft hands. I think of it as giving my bass a gentle pat on the back or slap on the rear end. "Attaboy!" Hit too hard and it makes an angry racket! But caress those strings just right, and people will say, "that is some funky bass playing!"
Whatever else, though: play along to your favorite songs and videos. If you know any friends who play music, get together and jam. Have fun!
Last edited:
