Errr...I don't use my left pinky because I
only use my right one. I play lefty you know! LOL
(this is my very first message using my iPhone, amazing
stuff!)

Sean

My left pinky is a very busy digit indeed. I played upright in high school (my cello wasn't much use in jazz band) and my understanding was that standard fingering on bass was 1-2-4, so I have retained that. I use "stretch position" (1 finger per fret) on certain phrases, but it doesn't feel natural to me, so I avoid it unless necessary.

When it is not actively fretting a note, it may be muting strings (my right hand muting technique is lacking, due to my John Entwistle- influenced, percussive attack). Other times it is busy holding down an octave (or a fifth) for a nice little pop or accent. All in all, it stays pretty occupied.

The technique you described is pretty much exactly what I have switched to over the past month or so. I find it much more comfortable and versatile than 1 finger per fret.

Adam,

Weeeell, yes, on upright, because of the reaches
involved, and the action, often the ring finger is
used to "back-up" the pinky, so it's more 1-2-
3/4. This is an accepted technique on upright, and
is often still used by players who have switched
from upright to electric.

I'm not saying this is bad, but, since electric
basses have shorter reaches, and, often, lower
action, I would encourage you to give the one-
finger-per-fret technique a try.

Kelly

I learned the one finger per fret method starting off and have used it for several years. I still follow that if I'm, say, playing up a scale. But I've found it easier to use sort of a hybrid between the two styles, just based on whatever is more convenient for the line at hand.

Just to clarify, I haven't played upright in about twenty years, and although the scale on electric bass is shorter, I still fall back on this position, because it is more comfortable to me; it feels nice and loose.

I think the important thing to remember is that our instrument is only about 60 years old and that even the people who designed the thing had no idea what correct playing position looked like (remember the "thumb rest" so common on early basses?). It has been left to the players to figure out proper position, and many have had no formal training whatsoever. So play it however feels best to you. Either way, keep your pinky strong!

The reason I changed was comfort. And yes, my pinky still gets a workout!

I see you're from the Hoosier state. Where do you hail from? I live in Harrison county, fairly close to Louisville, KY.

I'm from Fort Wayne. I haven't been playing out for some time now, just messing around at home, learning as much as I can, trying new things.

Herb, I agree.

Electric bass is indeed a very young instrument,
and, as yet, there is really no standard
technique, at least as accepted and mandated by
the "hoity-toity" schools. :)

My approach is logic-driven, as dictated by
economy of motion. It is my contention that the
one-finger-per-fret technique allows me to reach
more notes without shifting hand position.

I do on occasion use my ring finger to supplement
my pinky, and I am certainly not saying this is
wrong.

What I am saying, however, is that upright has
certain limitations due to scale and action that
need not handicap us on electric bass.

Kelly

Kelly,

You are right. You can reach more notes with that method. I am glad that you are doing your thing your way and I hope that there never is a "hoity-toity" school of bass guitar technique.

I studied / played cello for eight years starting in the fourth grade, and believe me, there is only one correct way to play cello. That's part of the reason I play right handed despite being left handed: cellists don't have a choice. Maybe there are some left handed people who would have been brilliant cellists if only...

Well anyway, I said all of this to say that I encourage people to try different things and see what works for them. I have seen enough amazing bass players, employing all kinds of different techniques, to think that one way is inherently better than another.

Herb,

Well, regarding bowed instruments, there is a
reason that playing left-handed is not
allowed, and that is, of course, because in an
orchestral situation, the righties and lefties
would be "sword fighting" with their bows.

However, as a lefty, myself, I have always
contended that the standard way to play really
is left-handed, as it uses the coordinated
hand to do the hard stuff.

On "regular" guitar, especially, it always seemed
silly to me that for the right-hander, the
uncoordinated hand has to do all the weird chord
shapes, and all the coordinated hand has to do is
pluck the strings with a pick.:)

Kelly

Kelly,

That's very true. Even when I just played cello I felt that it was advantageous to be a lefty for just that reason.

Herb, let me ask you,

Although I have never played cello, it always
seemed to me from my observation of the cellists
that they pretty much subscribe to the one-finger-
per-fret method, although, on occasion, they would
back their pinkies up with their ring fingers, as
do I.

Admittedly, cellos do not have frets, but I'm sure
you see what I mean. They are much closer to the
scale of an electric bass, and the excursion of
the strings is much narrower than that of an
upright, so the action is generally much lower.

BTW, I have always wanted to learn to play the
cello. It can be so soulful, but alas, so
expensive for even a mediocre one...

Kelly

Hey, Kelly!

You would be correct (minus the frets, of course). The scale is much smaller than on double bass, and for that reason, the strings are tuned in fifths. From the bottom (right) to top (left) they are CGDA. In first position (think first finger at the second fret) on the C string, for instance, you finger 1-D, 2-E, 3-F, 4-F#. Your next open string is G, so you can see how this works out. As with any string instrument, half of your job while practicing is just working out position and fingering.

I'm the first to admit, I carry a lot of baggage from my years of playing orchestral instruments. I'm completely self-taught as far as bass guitar goes, so many things I am comfortable with stem from that prior experience. Aside from my fingering, I tend to prefer a narrower, rounder neck, and for that reason, as well as plain old stubbornness, I don't get too exited about 5+ string basses. I should probably go get a few lessons, just to keep my mind open.

One thing I have worked on is thinking like a percussionist and playing more rhythmically. I started listening to and playing Cuban music of various styles over the last couple of years. It has helped me concentrate on rhythm, and I have become a big fan of the music in the process.

Incidentally, I still have my cello, but the poor thing is so neglected that it needs a new bridge.

Anyway, good to hear from you again, I appreciate the correspondence. Feel free to send messages. It's always good to learn from other bass players.

Kelly,

Slight correction to my last post. Your second finger on cello would actually jump over the equivalent of one fret. The D# / Eb is typically stopped by the second finger, stretched back slightly. It's late, and I'm not thinking straight, but I hate to contradict myself.

Take care,

Herb

Herb,

Yeah, I was aware of the tuned in fifths thing.
Same with the viola and violin. I'm sure we all
carry baggage from prior instruments, and I am
self-taught as well, when it comes to bass.

I think both of us, however, are better off than
we would be if we'd been taught by a guitar
teacher who "also teaches bass." :)

Kelly