Great lesson. I will add that when I played in my old band, sometimes the rest of the band would gradually start playing louder so I would pluck harder to be heard. I now set the volume knob on my bass to half or three quarter max so I can play louder without playing harder. I just turn up the bass volume and play with the same touch.
If you have a varying volume band - you don't want to change your playing technique to compensate. You should always play "the same way" (your way) Some counters - 1) As they get louder, stand closer to your speaker. That way your personal position in the mix gets louder BUT you aren't getting louder to the audience (if you shouldn't be) 2) set your Amp to the loudest volume they can migrate too, then back off using a Volume pedal to vary your loudness as needed.
My man Dan ! Thank you, especially for the freedom you give, when you say things like “If your thumb hangs over the top of the fretboard, it’s fine if that works for you”. I don’t do that, but you are so realistic and forgiving. I’m really starting to feel at home with your instruction. Thank you my friend !
Another great discussion on the 1 finger per fret rule that hits beginners on a snag, thanks for this upload again. I think a lot of players starting out are frustrated with the finger stretch myself included. I've realized I was too focused on the stretch from 1 to 4 instead of starting the microshifts on frets 2-3 then 3-4. A bassist I've been watching lately is a 10 year old girl playing on a full scale bass and if her hands are comfortable my small adult hands should be able to make it through as well.
After playing bass longer than Dan has been alive, just saying. I've learned A LOT from this guy. This vid addressed more than one of my problems. Thanks, Dan.
@ 3:05 Nice! All other bass videos say that I must place my left thumb opposed to my ring finger. But to me that feels very strained and within a few minutes my thumb gets cramped. So I keep my thumb opposed to the index too. Glad to see that I'm not the only one. And indeed I use my left thumb, depending on the context, as a pivot - it can make microshifting easier. Like you I have narrow hands but relatively long fingers. But I can't spread them nearly as wide as you. So down on the fretboard the one finger per fret system often is unnecessarily clumsy, eg when playing E-Fis-G-E (0 2 3 0) on the E-string (Therapy?, Moment of Clarity). Here I use my index and ringfinger. I totally agree that relaxation is essential. I've seen several professional violists and violinists with serious injuries due to neglecting pain and cramp. Now I can proudly say that I can play my bass for over an hour without feeling any. It's my head that gets tired, not my hands or wrists.
Thanks for this. I'm grateful to my frist teacher whose approach was, "there are 4 different left hand fingering approaches. You're going to learn all of them." Eventually he made it clear that the point was to have a vocabulary of these techniques, so you'd always be able to find a way to play something that's relaxed, efficient, and sounds good. Every now and then I'd get hung up on if I was doing something the right way, and I'd show him. He might say, "it sounds good. It looks good. What's the problem?"
Being relaxed is essential in more than just bass playing. Playing high level sports for many years it is much the same - you want to avoid tension and play in a relaxed state. It took me YEARS to figure out how to not get too amped up and tense. It's more about containing and channeling the energy - kinda Zen Buddhist stuff. Occasionally you can aggressively force things, but more often than not, you should just 'go with the flow'. Not too relaxed where everything is loosey goosey, but being tension-free allows you to slip into the FLOW STATE a bit easier I find... Cheers folks. Thanks Dan 😎
This is the video I needed! Been practicing some Disco and playing the octave shape starts to hurt after a while. Holding the bass at a little bit more of an angle and fretting softer does feel better! Great content as always!
Excellent Lesson! I would add to "Good technique all starts from your Bass positioning" that you should NOT have to hold the neck in place with your left hand to keep the fretboard from "floating out of reach." The ONLY thing your left hand should be doing is freely moving up and down the neck (and "thumb pinching" as you fret for support)
Dan - it's ALL obvious... except when it's not! (depends on each viewer) It's always better when feeding a group to have too much food than not enough. I love your detailed style of teaching. Even if I already know most of what you are saying (as a veteran level viewer), it still has GREAT value as we can never get too much reinforcement of core-truth principles! Plus, something that is commonly overlooked is that as musicians, if we are not frequently polishing our abilities... we "rust!" So hearing common knowledge (to some) still serves to keep these concepts fresh on our minds and in our playing. Never feel bad about your teaching style (or troll comments) - you're doing great! 😁👍
Thanks very much! Really appreciate that. I’m lucky not to have too many trolls pay me a visit but it’s the nature of being on this platform, unfortunately. They love a snide comment! Thanks again.
My two bad habits are gipping too hard and stretching too much with my thumb planted. For the latter, during practice, I wrap a hair elastic around my fingers with a half twist between the second and third fingers to make a figure 8. Just enough tightness to remind me to move my hand!
Very good question. You adapt, it might mean you can’t play certain chords though. You may need to search for a voicing higher up the back where the frets are narrower. Try some open strings. You’ll find some shapes that work for you. Maybe I’ll do a lesson on easy bass chords…
I do have question, regarding something I feel is hindering progress. On a good day I can play pretty fast (halve notes at 150+ bpm, eg Therapy's Stories). But playing runs (eg the break of Status Quo's Big Fat Mama and 4500 Times) is hard - I'm happy if I can do it at 120 bpm. Does your book have exercises for that?
I am past that point - from my time as a violin/viola player I already know how to start practising new techniques. Eg I started with Therapy's Stories at 80 bpm and have played it nearly every day since February. I remember how proud I was when I got it right at 120; now that tempo feels so slow (it must be played at 160, so I'm not there yet). But I also remember that my teacher back then made me practise runs, beginning with easy ones. So I'm looking for concrete exercises. I've found one (one finger per fret per note up and down, starting at fret 12) and that will keep me busy for quite a while. Today I'll start using the metronome with it. But after that I'll need more.
Great lesson. I will add that when I played in my old band, sometimes the rest of the band would gradually start playing louder so I would pluck harder to be heard. I now set the volume knob on my bass to half or three quarter max so I can play louder without playing harder. I just turn up the bass volume and play with the same touch.
Great solution!
If you have a varying volume band - you don't want to change your playing technique to compensate. You should always play "the same way" (your way)
Some counters -
1) As they get louder, stand closer to your speaker. That way your personal position in the mix gets louder BUT you aren't getting louder to the audience (if you shouldn't be)
2) set your Amp to the loudest volume they can migrate too, then back off using a Volume pedal to vary your loudness as needed.
My man Dan ! Thank you, especially for the freedom you give, when you say things like “If your thumb hangs over the top of the fretboard, it’s fine if that works for you”. I don’t do that, but you are so realistic and forgiving. I’m really starting to feel at home with your instruction. Thank you my friend !
Another great discussion on the 1 finger per fret rule that hits beginners on a snag, thanks for this upload again. I think a lot of players starting out are frustrated with the finger stretch myself included. I've realized I was too focused on the stretch from 1 to 4 instead of starting the microshifts on frets 2-3 then 3-4. A bassist I've been watching lately is a 10 year old girl playing on a full scale bass and if her hands are comfortable my small adult hands should be able to make it through as well.
After playing bass longer than Dan has been alive, just saying. I've learned A LOT from this guy. This vid addressed more than one of my problems. Thanks, Dan.
🙏
@ 3:05 Nice! All other bass videos say that I must place my left thumb opposed to my ring finger. But to me that feels very strained and within a few minutes my thumb gets cramped. So I keep my thumb opposed to the index too. Glad to see that I'm not the only one. And indeed I use my left thumb, depending on the context, as a pivot - it can make microshifting easier.
Like you I have narrow hands but relatively long fingers. But I can't spread them nearly as wide as you. So down on the fretboard the one finger per fret system often is unnecessarily clumsy, eg when playing E-Fis-G-E (0 2 3 0) on the E-string (Therapy?, Moment of Clarity). Here I use my index and ringfinger.
I totally agree that relaxation is essential. I've seen several professional violists and violinists with serious injuries due to neglecting pain and cramp. Now I can proudly say that I can play my bass for over an hour without feeling any. It's my head that gets tired, not my hands or wrists.
Thanks for this. I'm grateful to my frist teacher whose approach was, "there are 4 different left hand fingering approaches. You're going to learn all of them." Eventually he made it clear that the point was to have a vocabulary of these techniques, so you'd always be able to find a way to play something that's relaxed, efficient, and sounds good. Every now and then I'd get hung up on if I was doing something the right way, and I'd show him. He might say, "it sounds good. It looks good. What's the problem?"
Back to the basics ! ... Great Lesson dan, Thanks ! Mind your fingerzzzz !!!!
Great advice
Being relaxed is essential in more than just bass playing. Playing high level sports for many years it is much the same - you want to avoid tension and play in a relaxed state. It took me YEARS to figure out how to not get too amped up and tense.
It's more about containing and channeling the energy - kinda Zen Buddhist stuff. Occasionally you can aggressively force things, but more often than not, you should just 'go with the flow'.
Not too relaxed where everything is loosey goosey, but being tension-free allows you to slip into the FLOW STATE a bit easier I find...
Cheers folks. Thanks Dan 😎
Great comment, Richard. Thank you. 🙏
This is the video I needed! Been practicing some Disco and playing the octave shape starts to hurt after a while. Holding the bass at a little bit more of an angle and fretting softer does feel better!
Great content as always!
🙏
Thanks Dan, excellent advice as always. That answers my questions….😊
Excellent Lesson!
I would add to "Good technique all starts from your Bass positioning" that you should NOT have to hold the neck in place with your left hand to keep the fretboard from "floating out of reach."
The ONLY thing your left hand should be doing is freely moving up and down the neck (and "thumb pinching" as you fret for support)
Absolutely! I mentioned that towards the beginning. It’s crucial.
Thanks Dan. I tend to play too hard & get tendon pain, this seems to be due to practicing with the amp turned off - I suspect many people do this.
Good point. Headphones can help if it’s volume disturbing others that’s a problem (just don’t have them up too loud!).
Dan - it's ALL obvious... except when it's not! (depends on each viewer) It's always better when feeding a group to have too much food than not enough.
I love your detailed style of teaching. Even if I already know most of what you are saying (as a veteran level viewer), it still has GREAT value as we can never get too much reinforcement of core-truth principles!
Plus, something that is commonly overlooked is that as musicians, if we are not frequently polishing our abilities... we "rust!"
So hearing common knowledge (to some) still serves to keep these concepts fresh on our minds and in our playing.
Never feel bad about your teaching style (or troll comments) - you're doing great! 😁👍
Thanks very much! Really appreciate that. I’m lucky not to have too many trolls pay me a visit but it’s the nature of being on this platform, unfortunately. They love a snide comment! Thanks again.
I have a super long forearm - when I move up past the 10-12th fret or so I feel super cramped.
It helps if I hold it like Hadrian.
My two bad habits are gipping too hard and stretching too much with my thumb planted.
For the latter, during practice, I wrap a hair elastic around my fingers with a half twist between the second and third fingers to make a figure 8. Just enough tightness to remind me to move my hand!
How do you feel about the way? The tune pegs are on this type of base does it take away from the functionality of a pbass p/j
Never thought about it! They don’t affect anything for me apart from whether you’re in tune or not.
How do you play a chord if your stretch is not long enough
Very good question. You adapt, it might mean you can’t play certain chords though. You may need to search for a voicing higher up the back where the frets are narrower. Try some open strings. You’ll find some shapes that work for you. Maybe I’ll do a lesson on easy bass chords…
I do have question, regarding something I feel is hindering progress. On a good day I can play pretty fast (halve notes at 150+ bpm, eg Therapy's Stories). But playing runs (eg the break of Status Quo's Big Fat Mama and 4500 Times) is hard - I'm happy if I can do it at 120 bpm. Does your book have exercises for that?
I have a few lessons on that including this one: ua-cam.com/video/Y6pQVPpBhEY/v-deo.html. Check that one out first.
I am past that point - from my time as a violin/viola player I already know how to start practising new techniques. Eg I started with Therapy's Stories at 80 bpm and have played it nearly every day since February. I remember how proud I was when I got it right at 120; now that tempo feels so slow (it must be played at 160, so I'm not there yet).
But I also remember that my teacher back then made me practise runs, beginning with easy ones. So I'm looking for concrete exercises. I've found one (one finger per fret per note up and down, starting at fret 12) and that will keep me busy for quite a while. Today I'll start using the metronome with it.
But after that I'll need more.
Fret, but don't Fret, life is short.😂
Excellent advice!