Developing Safe Left Hand Technique for Bass Guitar

[NLRedFox]

I LOVE the neutral position!

[saidaminhaaba2]

What if you have a double jointed thumb? Everything else you have said has helped but I still have to figure out this thumb thing...

[Sodom616]

I'm getting my 1st bass in a couple of weeks...cant wait!!!! this lesson was really helpful,I applied all you're rules on my electric guitar and it eliminated all the tension on my left arm and wrist!! thank you.

[neil125681]

Hello Adam, I've been using your technique and advice as a model for my own technique and I've found your videos hugely informative, so thanks. I've noticed that when you play standing up, the position of your bass strap is pretty high, now this is the way I've been playing and it feels good, however when I experiment with a lower strap height, I find the position of my arm/wrist changes and this relaxed neutral position is gone. It would seem to me the high strap is best. Cheers for the help.

[9winters5]

im only 16 years old and a beginner at bass. ive been playing for about 2 months and ive had major wrist pain. i started taking the day off from playing becuz i thought it would do more harm than good to play with the pain. im pretty sure it was my hand position so im going to try and change to your advice. wiht this position, tho, it seems harder to hit the low E string with all my fingers except my middle one without changing my wrist position a little. thx for the help :)

[Fiiidla]

Hmm..why does this video keep stopping at 52 sec's?

[MonkeyyDG]

Damn my teacher, he tought me wrong!

[Chadburry79]

do you have any lessons talking about right hand technique?

[onzki]

@havic5: great lesson. A question on placing the thumb at bottom- does it add more stress to fingers because it exerts more effort to press? What is your neck relief setting, is it flat? Do you recommend low action?

[andyhan76]

Thanks! It really helped me playing without pain. BTW, when I go higher frets(12th and up) with this technique, it is very uncomfortable. Is there a different way to play up high?

[KeyOfHex]

I can't believe you just explained in a free youtube video why 14 years of expensive cello lessons caused my hands so much trouble and pain. This is a revelation, and an incredible relief. The immediate difference in comfort, both on cello and on 5-string bass, is stunning and delightful. Thank you so very much, sir!

[whiteboy7890]

wrist feels fucked lately hopefully this helps haha

[Sojourneer]

Great that you are giving advice on this very important subject.

In the lower positions, because the arm is at an angle to the neck axis, the thumb can be behind the 2nd finger from the viewpoint perpendicular to the back of the neck, but still to the left of the fingers from the viewpoint of the arm.

I think that tapping instruments should be a lot easier on your joints...

[sebahsix]

Thank you!!!

[guerraintima]

you have no idea how much you helped me with the thumb advice, Thank you very much

best technique is always the one that comes from relaxed and natural positions

[makke1977]

Thanks a lot. You are really onto something here.

I used to try to go with what many teachers say - thumb straight up, opposite to index or middle - the schoolbook "correct" technique. Your approach makes so much more sense, and I am already playing much more relaxed!

[munkeytoolmaster]

thanks for the lesson. bascially he's saying keep arms, hands, wrists relaxed AT ALL TIMES.



[blazin1307]

When you say the wrist needs to be straight exactly where do you defeint he wrist ending and the hand beginning?

Because no matter what the very end of my wrist seems to be bend if I'm playing certain things.

Could you circle which bit needs to be straight?

[Basstard22]

well now i know why i screw up my technique... i was teached too hold my middlefinger and thumb in the same position... great...

[limiabean]

Really helpful video. I would have never guessed that the thumb was the main culprit in all my left hand woes.

Much appreciated.

[joncast64]

Safe?? I can see how this is more comfortable, but I don't think safe is really the right word here....I mean what isn't safe about playing bass?

[havic5]

@joncast64 There is a very real and constant threat of painful repetitive stress injury that can come from playing bass, or any instrument, without body awareness and safe technique.

[tvrulesnation]

@havic5

Again great video, just one question though (not in lessons with school anymore) I notice when standing my left hand (fretting hand) starts jutting at an awkward angle down at the lower first 5 frets that puts strain & tires it. The only way to ''straighten'' it is to comprimise flexibility & balance by bringing my thumb & elbow up behind the E string on the back of the neck. Is there anyway handily around this? (bass is worn up around the tummy with the neck at a 45 angle upwards)

[szymonrock]

@havic5 Thanks for your advices friend . I had problem with pain in my wrist. Now it's gone:)

[Erc888]

@joncast64 Tendonitis is no joke.

[The1993HondaAccord]

I've been "playing" (heh) for less than 2 weeks, have a bunch of instructional material for beginners. Those instructors keep emphasizing putting the thumb behind the index finger and that's how they play, but it just seems all wrong to me. Makes me contort my hand into weird positions. This makes much more sense. Thanks.

[duffmasterofpuppets]

This is really helpful. I've been playing for a while, but I've never really considered moving my thumb to the bottom of the neck in the upper positions. I just tried it, and I immediately noticed a huge difference. Thanks.

[robyncanflyy]

Thanks, this really helped :)

[autopsist]

Oh wow, I've searched for information on bass ergonomics, but all I found is info about the right hand, or they reveal no more than "keep ur wrists straight". Lately I noticed it was my left hand that needed improving. Now I moved my thumb towards the headstock and suddenly my wrist is straight O.o I still find it hard to play stuff like octaves on the lower frets without wrist bending, though.

[theplayerofbass]

great lesson man. thanks a lot

[positiveKani]

thanx man

[SLDPotato]

Great explanation

[russrodgers]

Good Stuff, Thanks - Russ Rodgers

[robbertou]

Finally after all these other youtube videos!

[DumassSquad]

dnt play guitar but good Technique...haha that sounds wrong

[thedarkener]

Dude I got to this vid from talkbass - this is just what I needed today! Thanks for posting this, very insightful and helpful. Peace

[russrodgers]

Really good & thought out ideas, I look forward to working with this.

[ericwolff6]

Just saw Christian McBride last night (on upright) and noticed how his fingers are never spread out at all. His hand position looks so relaxed, and easy no matter what ridiculous runs he's playing, like yours. Thanks for sharing.

[Jinxerz010792]

This has probably got to be the best LH technique video I've seen on Youtube.

Now... if only you had vids on how to improve right-hand dexterity with two fingers.

(Trying to play Disposable Heroes by Metallica and do crazy 16th runs with two fingers. It's a real challenge... >.>;)

[HolidayInGuantanamo]

Thanks for this video. My former teacher was teaching me that exact position at 3:25, with the thumb in the middle of the hand. Ironic that he was telling me all this stuff on keeping things relaxed, avoiding strain, but pushing the thumb to be in the middle of the fingers adds to the strain.

[dingman94]

Interesting.  I always enjoy your lessons especially since electric bass stuff is not standard and I still change my technique often even though I'm a "professional" I took some of this to heart.

[RDog4484]

Great lesson! Thanks.

[fingerboy18]

I have a 6 string bass and my hands aren't large. Are there any specific tips for reducing the angle of the wrist while playing in the low positions on the B string?

[302861]

@fingerboy18 Maybe wearing the bass higher?

[havic5]

@fingerboy18 Hopefully the photos I just added to the video information will help you... I took them when I owned a 7-string bass. Try angling your forearm at more a parallel angle to the neck that you might be used to. Remember also to point the thumb towards the headstock.

It's hard to help without being there to show you!

[fingerboy18]

@havic5 I already have a similar technique, but chromatic runs on the B string really stretch out my hand and, in turn, my wrist. Should I move my entire arm while changing fingers? I usually do whatever causes the least strain and requires minimal effort while keeping my wrist straight.