• 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.

Where/what angle should my fingers be when fretting?

JJ08

JJ08

Jul 1, 2024
76
62
#1
Obviously i know to put them close to the fretwire, but i mean what part of the finger should touch the strings. I've heard to play with the tips, but i don't know what exactly classifies as "playing with your fingertips". Is it right up against the nail, perpendicular to the finger or something else entirely?

I've included a detailed and carefully constructed diagram to make it easier to show where to touch the strings with your finger, so you can just say the number on the diagram if you don't want to spend an hour explaining it in full detail.
20250608_103605.jpg

P.s. i know I'm an idiot, sorry.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BadMonk and Dust2Dust
#6
Context is important. If you're playing a big wide chord across the entire fretboard you're going to have to really arch your fingers and get around the 4-5 range just to make everything clean. If you're slogging away at Green Onions for a 10-minute guitar solo you can use pretty much anything, from 9+ to the side of your thumb to the edge of your palm.

Similarly, if you're playing a fast, complicated run across multiple strings you are probably going to be more arched than flat for precision. It's not a hard rule, but you need to be able to arch or flatten enough that you have the option to mute everything, or keep everything ringing, around your fretted note.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BadMonk, Deleted member 394512 and JJ08
#8
In my irrelevant opinion, the ( in this case ) LH fretting position is either in tune enough, or not, and painful ( in the long run ), or not. Don't overthink it: Hear it.

I think ( in this case ) right hand playing style, with the above being said, is more important to the audience's perception of your sound then the money frets.

Use the meats, pull the strings, blah blah blah like I have been preaching here for longer than anyone wants to admit - or listen too :)

Take that to the bank for your .005 interest! More-relevant posts to follow I am sure...
 
#11
JJ08 said:
Obviously i know to put them close to the fretwire, but i mean what part of the finger should touch the strings. I've heard to play with the tips, but i don't know what exactly classifies as "playing with your fingertips". Is it right up against the nail, perpendicular to the finger or something else entirely?

I've included a detailed and carefully constructed diagram to make it easier to show where to touch the strings with your finger, so you can just say the number on the diagram if you don't want to spend an hour explaining it in full detail.
View attachment 7246476
P.s. i know I'm an idiot, sorry.
Click to expand...
The correct answer will vary by person, where they are playing on the neck, how high the instrument is on their body, the shape of the neck, etc.

I would say the priority should be more on keeping the fingers arched, rather than playing on a specific part of the finger tip. However, there are also times when the fingers lose the arch. For example, when I play really high on my #1, my thumb moves from the back of the neck to the side of the neck, and possibly even over the top of the neck. In this range of the neck, I play closer to the finger tips, perhaps in the range of 3 or 4.
 
#12
My defaul position is 4-5-6 on your diagram, but as Wasnex says, its conditional. If my index finger is on the root, and my pinkie reaches up to play the 3rd, which is 4 frets away, its gonna be the side of my pinkie that hits that note. Paticularly if its a hammer-on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex
#14
I think there's no established pedagogy for electric bass. It's a pretty young instrument. I play fingertips, position 4 or 5 on your chart because I learned on upright, but some of the best electric bassists I know play with flat fingers, and barely any arch at all.

The best course would be to get a real live teacher, and follow their guidance i think.

Check out this guy.

 
Last edited:
#17
Will be influenced by left hand muting of open strings?

I started on fingertips like my violin playing, but progressively my hand is defaulting to flatter except when a more arched finger tippy approach is needed. And also affected by comfort of wrist angle etc. I'm less purest than I used to be. Get the note.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Groove Doctor
#20
To use the tip requires arching the hand. For fretless playing, having less contact area can help with intonation. It's also the way the double bass is taught. Whether using finger-per-fret or the 1-2-3 fingering as on DB, playing on the tips works better for me than flatter fingers.

Unless you are playing chords, having a flatter hand and using the 6-8 space as shown in the photo is common and helps with muting. It's also better than using the tip if you like doing a lot of slides.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Groove Doctor

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back