https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:59:31 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-344765 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:12:46 +0000 Bass Players Discussion Shake Your Bottom https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-344765 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-343760 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:18:14 +0000
Probably you all gave the reasons for each fingering. When I am playing with one-finger-per-fret or when I watch somebody, I recall the image of somebody playing guitar. Now I can not remember an example of bass player who plays in that way. The other fingering is very usual. I told Willie Weeks but Jack Bruce and many others play in that way. And Bruce plays an electric fretless.

By reading the Tom's post I remember a YouTube video on upright basses I watched last summer. The player (I think he was teacher and he had classical instruction) speaks about the benefits of using 1-2-4 fingering. He recommended to put a tape or string (or thread?) for joining the ring and pinky fingers. Thus you are forced to use "only" three fingers.

And it's true, classical and jazz players always use that fingering (or at least I can not remember a counterexample now)!]]> Bass Players Discussion Nuno https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-343760 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-343755 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:53:54 +0000 Bass Players Discussion jwmartin https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-343755 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-343753 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:30:48 +0000
I play bass with one finger per fret, but that's because I played guitar before learning bass. My fingering logic just transferred from guitar to bass, stretching as needed. Call it second instrument logic - I learned to play bass so I could double and get more gigs.

But if fretted bass is your first instrument, I'd encourage using 1-2-4 fingering, with four fingers in three frets. Call this primary instrument logic - people pick a primary instrument because that instrument's range and tone "speak" to them. So if you learn fretted bass first, what's the most logical instrument to learn next? It's fretless bass (upright or electric). And upright bass players, in either classical or jazz, use 1-2-4 exclusively.

They do that because the strings are so big. A 4/4 (full size) upright bass has a scale length of over 42", compared to a fretted bass length of 34 to 35". With strings that long, you'll need the pinky for the third note in a position, because your third finger won't have a comfortable reach. On top of that, the low E will be about 150 for a medium gauge, compared to about 105 for a fretted bass E string; with strings that heavy your pinky alone won't do the trick - so upright bassists finger the third note in each position with BOTH their 3rd and 4th finger at the same time. The pinky does the fingering; the ring finger comes in behind it for support to get that monster down to the fingerboard.

Learning 1-2-4 from the get-go will make that transition easier later on.]]> Bass Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-343753 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-343740 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:30:14 +0000
I also found that playing scales on the bass was very beneficial - helped me learn the notes on the fretboard a lot easier than playing chords all the time ever did. I found that playing bass for an hour a day was very beneficial all round for my guitar playing - rhythm and lead, it helped me change focus from just strumming chords.

And of course, after you've played bass for a while, when you switch back to acoustic or electric guitar they seem so much smaller and so much more manageable!

:D :D :D

Vic]]> Bass Players Discussion Vic Lewis VL https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-343740 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-37896 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:36:35 +0000 economic position. For example, Willie Weeks practically doesn't move his fingers! There are also many others play in this way.

I use the position that David describes in his book (and also appears as recommended in many YouTube videos). Basically each finger for a fret (or sometimes four fingers for three frets).

I must improve my technique a little bit, mainly because sometimes I don't keep the fingers near to the strings while I am not playing them. But I am thinking if it is also better try to get used to the "pro" way. It seems much more economic for many songs (for example, when they are based on "the box"). By using the "official" way I use a lot my pinky and sometimes I feel some pain (mainly if I also must stretch the fingers to reach several frets).

Any thoughts?

Thanks in forward!]]> Bass Players Discussion Nuno https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/left-hand-technique/#post-37896