Off Topic Technique question

[Powman]

When I play a root-5-octave combo I use my index finder for the root and my baby finger for the 5th and octave when the root is on the A string.

But when the root is on the E string, I have a hard time using my baby finger. I can't seem to press down on the A and D strings with my baby finger very well. Using the ring finger helps, but the hand posture is not as relaxed.

What I am doing wrong?? How can I improve this?

 

[Bass Control]

I had the same problem when I was working with this a year or so ago. I would use

Root - Pointer
Fifth - Ring
Octave - Pinky

It will take a little bit of time to get used to, but it will feel much better and easier in the long run. It seems elementary, but just think of how you would hold down chords on a guitar.

I hope I've given you some help and haven't insulted you.

 

[five7]

Make sure your thumb is in the right position on the neck. Also use only your pinky for a week or two wherever you would use your ring finger. This will help build up strength and dexterity in it. It will come!

 

[fly]

I had the same problem when I was working with this a year or so ago. I would use

Root - Pointer
Fifth - Ring
Octave - Pinky

It will take a little bit of time to get used to, but it will feel much better and easier in the long run. It seems elementary, but just think of how you would hold down chords on a guitar.

I hope I've given you some help and haven't insulted you.

same.........i apply guitar chords to the bass often......does help.

 

[Bill]

I had the same problem when I was working with this a year or so ago. I would use

Root - Pointer
Fifth - Ring
Octave - Pinky

It will take a little bit of time to get used to, but it will feel much better and easier in the long run. It seems elementary, but just think of how you would hold down chords on a guitar.

I hope I've given you some help and haven't insulted you.

This is how I play it, too. Works fine for me!

 

[Powman]

My two bass teachers used pinky for the 5th and octave. It just looks so much more relaxed than ring for the fifth and picky for the octave. Hmmm...what to do, what to do.

Ed Friedland if you are reading this, what do you suggest???

 

[maddog]

I use pinky for the 5th then "roll" the pinky onto the octave. The ring finger "shadows" the pinky and helps with fretting at times.

and sometimes I don't bother with the 5th and just go for the half gallon.

or maybe I simply just self-incriminate myself.

Not sure what Ed has to say for the advanced students but his beginner books outline using index, middle and pinky, no ring finger. I worked a long time at using all 4 and never felt comfortable. Picked up Ed's beginner book series, saw the 1-2-4 fingering and was astounded at how comfortable it makes things.

 

[Steve-O]

Carole Kaye advocates 'helper' fingers for this situation. In other words, use the ring and pinky for the same fret on adjacent strings, or the index and middle. You then have more independent control than when barring the strings. Works for me. As does 1-2-4 fingering.

 

[Powman]

I like to use Ed's 1-2-4 method at least up to the 5th fret. after that I am ok with using one-finger-per-fret method as the frets are closer together after the 5th fret.

 

[five7]

Antman posted a good excercise on another thread if I remember right. Give it a try! It should help build up the needed dexterity.

 

[EdFriedland]

I use the 1st and 4th fingers for R-5-8, but I don't barre them. I play the 5th on the tip of the finger and roll across to the 8ve. I don't want the strings to ring together usually, and it's too much pressure in the hand to hold them both down. I see people using 1st, 3rd and 4th fingers for this, and I suppose it's okay, but it messes with the hand position and ties up the use of a finger unnecessarily. But, if you must go ahead, it won't hurt you. Using 1st and 3rd for R-5-8 is definitely not recommended below the 7th fret - unless you play a short scale bass - but I know you are playing on an EB!

 

[T-bone]

Because I have smaller hands, I use the first and fourth fingers. My ring finger then pushes down on my fourth (or pinky) finger. It works for me but probably not the best technique.

tbone

 

[Bloodfist]

Do exercises using your pinky finger. Force yourself to use your pinky as much as possible.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I use the 1st and 4th fingers for R-5-8, but I don't barre them. I play the 5th on the tip of the finger and roll across to the 8ve.

That's what I do, and I've never had a lesson in my life. I naturally gravitated to 1-2-4 fingering over the years.

 

[spencer]

1 2 4 does not sound comfortable at all. It should be one finger per fret which means no 2. However I learned guitar chords first so it would make sense and the next note is usually a 3rd held down by the 2nd finger.

 

[five7]

1 2 4 does not sound comfortable at all. It should be one finger per fret which means no 2. However I learned guitar chords first so it would make sense and the next note is usually a 3rd held down by the 2nd finger.

If you are playing a third wouldn't you have your second finger on the root and your first finger on the third?

 

[oli@bass]

If you are playing a third wouldn't you have your second finger on the root and your first finger on the third?

Thinking about this made me realize that I often play the root with the 3rd finger to comfortable play those root/7th/3rd lines, but then switch to 1-2-4 to go on with the scale. Thinking too hard about this makes me dizzy...

 

[spencer]

If you are playing a third wouldn't you have your second finger on the root and your first finger on the third?

No.. Remember one finger per fret.

1ST FINGER ON ROOT
2ND FINGER ON 3RD [4th string above root]
3RD FINGER ON 5th
4TH FINGER ON OCTAVE

 

[Powman]

I use the 1st and 4th fingers for R-5-8, but I don't barre them. I play the 5th on the tip of the finger and roll across to the 8ve. I don't want the strings to ring together usually, and it's too much pressure in the hand to hold them both down. I see people using 1st, 3rd and 4th fingers for this, and I suppose it's okay, but it messes with the hand position and ties up the use of a finger unnecessarily. But, if you must go ahead, it won't hurt you. Using 1st and 3rd for R-5-8 is definitely not recommended below the 7th fret - unless you play a short scale bass - but I know you are playing on an EB!

Ahh, ok, thanks Ed. I was trying to barre the fifth and octave. I need to roll them so I can get more pressure on the individual string.

But what about the other direction? Eg, when I am playing "Money" by Pink Floyd. There's a good example in which you often start at the octave and then go to the fifth below and then the root on a lower string. How do you roll in the opposite direction?

 

[five7]

To play Money, use your first and fourth fingers only. Spencer, that doesn't make any sense. If you play A at the fifth fret on your E string the major third is on the A string at the fourth fret. I don't understand what you mean by fourth string above the root.