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Yet another pinkie thread (and I've made some pictures)
- Thread starter random fat guy
- Start date
I'm actually using that pinkie to fret. And when I apply a little bit too much pressure in some positions on the fretboard it looks like in the picture above. Most of the time it looks kind of like this:
Attachments
![IMG_1189[1].JPG](/data/attachments/2760/2760902-2c2f599ab5095f2809bd1b7fc710d616.jpg?hash=LC9ZmrUJXy)
Although there are people that can play amazingly well with poor technique, why would you limit yourself? Also, if you've never had good technique then you can't really say that the way you are playing doesn't limit your speed or accuracy.
The real question is, "What are your goals?" If you are happy with your playing and don't care to get any better, don't change a thing. If you want to get as good as possible, learn good technique.
I played for years without using my left pinky at all. At the time I didn't realize how bad it was hurting me until I took some theory lessons to learn scales/modes and the guy told me there was no way I was going to be able to run through the scales right without using all four fingers. He was totally right. Now I'm getting older and lazier, so I tend to use my pinky in instead of my ring finger for full intervals on the low end of the neck, or in basic chords.
If you are running quarter notes on the root or some slow walking between, you can get away with it. At some point you may want to get on that horse though. The sooner you start learning, the better you will get at it. The height of your bass doesn't change if you can use your pinky.
If you are running quarter notes on the root or some slow walking between, you can get away with it. At some point you may want to get on that horse though. The sooner you start learning, the better you will get at it. The height of your bass doesn't change if you can use your pinky.
I feel so much better about my hand position now, my playing on the other hand (no pun intended) is still poo.
See!! that's what happens when using flats! Oh sure it's so cool now!but look what will happen to your pinky!!!! switch to rounds and your pinky will straighten out just fine!!!
I would have probably done that already, but the higher it is the lamer it looks.
You should worry more about your playing and how you sound than how you look. Many bass players wear their basses high.
Who says you can't?
It all really depends on how stupid you want to look
and how you want to play your instrument.
Who says you can't?
It all really depends on how stupid you want to look
and how you want to play your instrument.
Actually from a mechanical point of view he's kinda pulling it off. Neither wrist is doing anything too weird and his fingers are placed reasonably well to work efficiently. It's the upright angle of the bass that makes it work. I sure wouldn't want to be trying to use a pick that low though...that would be asking for wrist injury.
jeffbony's comment is spot on.
The neck angle aspect makes generalized comments about strap height less reliable.
The neck angle aspect makes generalized comments about strap height less reliable.
