A lesson on developing on safe and comfortable left hand technique for bass guitar. My own problems with RS injury lead me to develop my concept of “neutral position,” which I teach to my student in hopes that they don’t have the same problems I did. Here are some of the things I talk about in the video that are important to keep in mind. 1. The shoulder holds up the arm, and allows all the rest of the arm to relax and go limp. 2. The elbow is most relaxed when it is bent at moderate angle. 3. The wrist is relaxed, flexible and straight. 4. The joints of all the fingers are curved, and the finger tips are all on the same horizontal plane 5. The thumb is to the left of the index finger and is roughly perpendicular to the second finger segment. Hope you enjoy! EDIT: Here are some photos of me playing in the lower positions on a 7-string bass. The same lessons apply for all you ERB people. img.photobucket.com img.photobucket.com Video Rating: 4 / 5
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I’m playing a 4-string bass. I’m having trouble playing my E string when employing this technique. I’m having trouble reaching it while trying to keep my arm/hand in the neutral position.
Outstanding! I just started on bass…played Hammond organ for 30+ years. My left hand and shoulder would really pain me after practicing . Physics kept telling me something was wrong the thumb behind the index finger, etc. Your video is tremendously helpful…thanks for sharing knowledge. Do u have some exercises to help with flying fingers on the fretboard?
I just picked up bass after years of playing guitar and was killing my left hand trying to apply the same (classical guitar) technique. This video saved me a lot of pain. Thank you.
Dude! I knew there was something wrong with the whole middle finger-thumb thing ever since I saw this other guy’s video about floating thumb technique for the *right* hand, so thanks for putting this up. Now I know I was onto something!
Thanks for the advice. Im just starting and i ran across si vids that were teaching the other finger position. I play also and i noticed a conflict between bass and electric guitar. I think u just cleared it up for me.
Really well done and informative video. Thanks for posting.
Hey Havic.
Could you sight your sources for this information? Any books, private lessons from professional musicians, magazine articles, whatever…. or did you come up with all of this on your own.
Where did you get the idea near 2:20 that your finger should not be parallel to your index or middle fingers, but instead aimed towards the headstock?
Where did you hear this term “neutral position”?
Can you point me in the direction of some other bassists who utilize these techniques?
Thanks
Do a video on the correct way to do hammer ons and pull offs.
Well, why do you have to “stretch?” Just move your hand. If you move away from the idea that your fingers have to “stretch” to reach notes, you can compensate by simply moving your hand with your shoulder, thus staying neutral, and using MUCH more powerful and nimble muscles than your hand (your shoulder/biceps).
Then how to stretch them while staying neutral? How to play harmonic scales on the first frets?
Thanks.. That feels much better.. less fatigue!
Your video is so informative. I’ve been trying to learn a better left hand technique and I think I found it thanks to your video.
I’ve been playing for 15 years and this video has helped hugely, thank you. I’ve been keeping my thumb behind my middle finger and my wrist has been all wrong. I do find that my middle finger now seems glued to my 1st finger though.
I concur. I blew out both of my wrists with bad technique about 13 or 14 years ago. I’ve only recently been able to really dig in again.
The threat is real; and it is ultimately quite painful to disregard comfort in left hand position in the long term.
Thank you so much, best advice I’ve found in a while after I noticed my left hand hurts as fuck after playing.
Also, it’s nice that there’s a left hand technique video that doesn’t just go “put your thumb behind the neck” (duh!),
The neutral position is proving to be rather uncomfortable, not painful, just uncomfortable, just keep practising? I’m trying to iron out all of my bad habits
Your voice is really great for explaining, also, your video was very helpfull ! I just start with bass (I’m a guitar player too) and i had some problems with the position of my hands, thanks again, you’re doing an awesome job.
Great video man, it helped a lot!
Finaly somebody who can realy explain it. without complete nonsense.
Thank you so much. This helped me.
I used to have problems with my thumb when I was around the first three frets!
Neato, but I always place my thumb directed to the neck, following the brown stripe.Is this wrong? Someone told me it was the ‘double bass’-technique… Not sure. Your opinion?
Thanks man,this is great!! Can i ask you a question…what kind of strap or anything are you using to keep your bass perfectly firm while not holding it with your hands on? Thank you!
My wrist always hurts after I play,even though I tried looking up online how to hold the bass. I have a good feeling about the neutral position, thanks
This is really great. I had heard some confusing stuff about hand position but you put it clearly. Thanks. Now I won’t mess my arm up with carpel tunnel or anything like that.
Thanks! This is definitely going to help me get rid of my aching thumb.