Bass In 60 Seconds : Strength and Dexterity

[SheepAteMyFanBoys]

My hands do not like me....

[jplanta95]

@SheepAteMyFanBoys then cut if off hahaha just kidding :P

[bromixsr]

Been playing for a while, and I think my ring/pinky combo is physically impossible to seperate, but I don't sweat it.. However this is a good exercise. Saves money spent on gripmasters, tennis balls, balls of yarn, and all that good stuff.

[nightwng]

Damn bloody Ring FINGER!!!

[MurasakiIssa]

DANG THIS PINKY FINGER!!

[MrILIKESINGING]

Dang,I worked up a sweat.

[juicynaru]

WOW, THAT HAND IS COOL. It does speak, and teaches how to exercise before playing Bass! Rofl.

[Batoo21]

tnx dud

[justinlaboy]

hey, that's MY million-dollar finger technique exercise!!! don't give that away!!!

[MatteOttantanove]

it works? u.u



[Colbz1994]

HAHAH! Now I have something to do when I’m bored! xD

[azure10570]

this one will take some work to perfect, but it's good! Thank you :D

[Skizzit24]

I felt the burn, Now I'm in the emergency room for 3rd degree burns. Thanks a lot.

[ewaters70]

everytime I try to do it with my pinky my ring finger bends to! ugh

[arsenicblue]

loved the sign off!!!

[juglaresco]

not 60 sec, just 59

[mortfreak]

jjeeez how did you... howw do you... mu pinky is a pain in my hand!

[weaksinico]

feel the BURN HAHAHA!!!

[srvgravesdime]

hahah funny

[CoolBear777]

@countessaleena LOL No. Keep practicing! You'll get it!

[bruinmechanic]

@CoolBear777 Thank you for posting videos showing tips and tricks like this..It's so informative.I had a question though, I can't bend my thumb without my index finger bending as well. Would you happen to know any exercises that might help with that?

[CoolBear777]

@bruinmechanic Slow but sure you'll get it. These are some of the best exercises I know for independence. Keep at it!

[parasite626]

what hand should i exercise the one that for pressing the string or the finger picking

[CoolBear777]

@parasite626 Both.

[Gerrard230]

Lol i cant do this thing without moving my thumb, but i have only tried twice. And my finger closest to my pinky just cant do this at all, and it had no strenght and i can not use it on frets either. Lol it is useles..

[simmyludilo]

i play bass quite a long time, but i envy your pinky man...just can't do it without moving the next one...tried a million times before and you had just reminded me of that... XD

anyways as always tnx

[CoolBear777]

@simmyludilo So sorry! I'm a bad person LOL

[simmyludilo]

@CoolBear777 no man my pinky is :P

[marsvoltian]

My issue isnt pinky based, i play only using 1st 2nd and 4th. Its my third on the fretting hand that has no strength nor can hit notes independently. No one else seems to have this issue.

[Cathayano]

thanks, I`m practicing them and it works!

[binjoman]

Sweet! This is what I have been looking for. Some finger excersies. Now do you have a trick to keep that pesky thumb from cramping?

[CoolBear777]

@binjoman Think through the pain! Think through the pain! LOL The thumb will eventually learn what not to do. Keep at it!

[RLJB25]

This must be one of the most overlooked things I don't do. Much thanks

[ChubbyBackTV]

do you recommend cracking your knuckles before playing?

[CoolBear777]

@ChubbyBackTV I don't. Cracking your knuckles is ok as long as you're gentle about it.

[333ac]

Here are a few ones I came up with:

Index, Pinky, Middle, Ring,

Index, Ring, Pinky, Middle

[Crodon]

Bass in 60 seconds? But this is 59 seconds...

[music4life2989]

@Crodon and there's no bass xDDD

but it's still bass in 60 seconds XD

[CoolBear777]

@Crodon Silly person! LOL

[patrik8585]

wow...the motions from 0:32 to the end are almost impossible for me to do. how can i keep the other fingers from moving? sick hand control...awesome vid!

[CoolBear777]

@patrik8585 Keep at it. You'll do it!

[JeffIsMyHarDylicious]

@patrik8585 LMAO That was my same though,our fingers are outta shape xD

[kevzsayam17]

chi joe can you show the scale of jazz??

[arghydoodles]

Nice! :D

[MomichiZabuza]

haha nice!

[Escapist3434]

I dont know if this is bad, but when I bring my middle and pinky fnger, my pinky doesnt bend at all...it stays straight and feel like it pops out of a socket thought it isnt...is this bad or normal? Thanks joe!

[CoolBear777]

@Escapist3434 I think with practice it will get better. Is there any pain? If there is, stop. The last thing you would want is to add injury. It took me a while to get this. I experienced a bit of aggravation in my tendons but not really to the point of pain. They would "click" sometimes. Just be careful.

[Paperdoll666]

awesome. i'll try it every day. my hands are super weak and start hurting fast

[yuuichikamikaze]

Oh, god. I can do it with my first and third, but the second and fourth? Forgeddaboutit.

[PhuckHue2]

what sucks about playing bass is your hands aren't as durable as you get older. Now I get wrist sprains and tendonitis. that was unheard of when I was 21

[Mgnizzlle]

this was great, u should post some more

[777static777]

ROFL "Feel the burn!"

[VuLeTrung]

Thanks Joe

[wellsphere1]

lol thanks!

[MetalHeadTin]

THANKS JOE !!!! NOW I CAN PRACTICE BASS ALSO IN CLASS WHEN I HAVE HISTORY xD thanks

[CallOfTheHammer]

im gonna do this stuff at school

[GregIrwin2008]

Cool tips for hand exercising! Have you ever heard of the Finger Fitness Exercise program?

Thanks Joe

[iceymanjack]

i do this at school when im bored

this helped me a lot actually

[jeppebertelibertel]

nice :D. haha i like that finger in the end:D

[Ziggynes]

That's what she said. Ha. I do this exercise at school too.

[6Nagas6]

dude THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[androide992]

thanks dude good excercises

[kenjoi]

i have a weird coordination issue... some times ill associate picking with one finger to fretting with another, like ill associate fretting with my first finger to picking with my right hand pointer. it gets frustrating trying to alternate picking. any tips?

[CoolBear777]

Slow alternation with different combinations of fingers. Painfully slow! Do every exercise I offer very, very slowly. I know it will be boring, but your brain and fingers will process the information better that way. Let me know how you're doing. Take care.

[clintdiamante99]

my 4th finger is dead.

[aleksandros14]

lole'd :D

i can't get my third and fifth finger together...

and tip?

[TheKobeChannel]

thanks bro

[basspl4y4]

if i do that exercice would I be able to play fluidly with 3 fingers?

[TheShockerPoper]

it would definatlly help, the more strength you have in your hands the more easily you can play, but you would still need to practice three finger plucking to get the feel of it

[beanzdabeatsmith]

lol hand model..great vid but u shudve used the middle finger at the end lol

[ruskinricky]

haha love it! im gona be getting some dodgy looks tmora at work!!

[pbassn]

I have the same problem with the second and fourth finger. I wasn't able to do the 3 finger alien peace symbol until I stretched my second and fourth fingers apart a little bit everyday. In doing this I created muscle in inside of my second and the outside of my fourth. I don't see why this wouldn't also apply to separating your finger movements.

[CoolBear777]

There are so many variations on this theme. I'm saving some of the really difficult ones for some other time.

[TheChrisX93]

hey that is not easy

[CoolBear777]

Nope. It isn't. If you stay with it your dexterity will increase tremendously. Hang in there.

[iceymanjack]

everytime i squeeze my hands my bones click and its a noticable click but no pain

is that normal?

[CoolBear777]

It happens to me sometimes. I wouldn't worry about it too much. If anything changes you should go see someone about it. I believe as long as you warm up and start slow, you'll keep your hands and fingers happy.

[Chrippahnarutoftw]

When i try this with my right hand doing second and fourth finger, my third finger automatically comes with 'em, got any technique to train that away?

[fieldofpads]

I had this same problem, just try as hard as you can to resist it and keep going at it! You get there in the end :) frustrating as it may seem

[clanvvars]

man thats my genetic problem too your finger knuckel joints are connected together at birth probally unfornuatly theres no sergury to reselove this disorder man you jsut got to live with it

[lokeshraj400]

thanks a bunch... mate

TATS WORKING FOR ME...

[sebajo82]

great lesson...

[bladesaint21]

*LOL* Very funny and especially helpful!

[iwantadrumset]

i cant do this excersice because i have a problem with my pinky. i think its about the bone structure T_T

[CoolBear777]

Slow and steady. It takes a little time. Don't be discouraged. All the best!

[iwantadrumset]

yup. my fingers are now softer :D thanks again :D

keep on grooving :D

[TheMetalMan9000]

Haha, awesome vid man

[7095777]

Great! It help's to me :)

[BigBadBassMachine]

Cool exercise, man. I have to do this more often. I don´t practise very much, lately, but this will come handy in terms of stamina (which is THE thing, that goes first, when not practicing !)

Thank you !

[CoolBear777]

Absolutely! Muscles atrophy when you don't use them enough. I'm glad I could help. Take care.

[coolbut12]

how many time aday do i have to do this each hand?

[Jdudeo]

can I just say this lesson rules I'm going to be doing this all the time now!!

[xxdrag0nzxx]

Hey, Does this help me on playing guitar hero 3? xD sorry for the randomness.

But im having trouble controling my pinky im soo slow at it :(

Will this help at all?

[CoolBear777]

I would have to say yes.

[DamageIncM]

Yes, it's about controlling every finger separately in general, even if playing guitar or using a game-controller. :)

If you have the control, then apply to how you have to move to play what you want.

[GottaWatchShit]

Whenever I try to connect my middle and pinky finger with my thumb, the ring finger comes done with them and Ive never been able to make them not do that >_>.

[djEmk0]

Curse you pinky!

[CoolBear777]

LOL That's what I think!

[parasite626]

@djEmk0 i like you comment very much thank you

[RageicaNiels]

Feel the calories burning off?! woooo

[CoolBear777]

My fingers are sooooooo much thinner now. ;)

[fabionogscp]

Cool, really helpfull :)

TY man

-fabio

[CoolBear777]

Thank you very much!

[artista67]

oh i felt the burn!!!!

thanks!

[CoolBear777]

Too much will start a fire! ;)

[NamelessKW]

How long did you need to get your fingers this independet??

Great video. It helps alot

5/5 stars

[CoolBear777]

I've been playing for 36yrs. But I really got serious about exercising my hands only a few years ago. It's done wonders for my playing and endurance. I think exercises like these are good for just about any musician. A little bit every day will get you there in no time. Warm up with these and you'll be ready for any gig or practice session. Thank you so much for stopping by. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Take care.

[gothscreamo]

this helps with guitar too

[teaismylife247]

"feel the burn" -> haha

I'm watching a few of these (bass in 60 sec) vids, they're really good. very helpful, thanks man *thumbs up*

[fungas4201]

cool vid man thanks!

[CoolBear777]

Thank you very much. Anything you have a question on? Let me know.

[kylermt]

thanks man u rock

[NathanielFriend]

wow... i've played bass for 4 years and I can't do that. (the one where you you touch your index and ring and then your middle and pinky) ... i think it's just the way my hands are, but i'll keep trying.

[CoolBear777]

Be patient, It will come together in time. Thanks for stopping by.

[betabeta986]

i could see the double fingers being alittle tougher for bass players...guitar makes it easier, itll come will time, and itll get alot faster too

[dulli78]

Nice ending lol thanks for the tips!

[CoolBear777]

My pleasure. Keep coming back.

[Pewpewlazerslol]

I just recently picked up a bass and started learning, this exercise has helped me a ton. Thanks a bunch!

[CoolBear777]

Thank you. Makes me feel so good that I can help in some way. Take care.

[Kenshred]

hey man, i tend to pick up my bass sporadicly throughout the day, but i also might play for an hour or so at a time. Should i do this exercise every time i grab my bass? Also, how long should i do the exercise for? Just a few times like you demonstrated, or like for a minuet or so? thanks for the help, I appreciate it.

[CoolBear777]

Just a little bit everyday when you can will make a world of difference. I've noticed that when I go onstage and play without warming up I tend to play slower and cramp at times. Not good at all. Maybe a couple of minutes before you play should do. Thank you so much for watching. Write again soon. Take care.

[Kenshred]

thanks bro, i'll do just that, and i can already feel the difference, much appreciated, later

[Nickster63]

Great exercise, really helps with dexterity. I have to learn the bass solo from Metallica's 'Orion' for a school assignement, and this has really helped

[CoolBear777]

Thank you! Sorry it took so long to post. How did the assignment go? Great pick for your song. Later...

[freeteacher]

Such a good bass teacher

[CoolBear777]

So very kind. Thank you.

[freeteacher]

WARNING:

Don't do this exercise if you're high.

[CoolBear777]

Do it when everyone else is high. You'll win bets that way. LOL

[alecb30]

Just brilliant Mate. Thanks.

[CoolBear777]

My apologies for taking so long to reply. Thank you very much for watching. Is there anything you would like for me to cover? Drop me a line. Take care.

[DespairsRox]

hey im wondering

im lazy and cheap (haha) so i made finger weights myself. would doign the 1st excersize with the weights help more?

also, if i put them on the part of my finger closest to the knuckle and practiced bass with those would that help more?

p.s. ive been playign for a year but mainly with a pick (cause i play metal) so i wanna open my horizons and start with my fingers

[CoolBear777]

That's cool, Rox! They may help. I can't quite say. Think about this: Making a fist is easy, pulling your hand open is hard. Those are the muscles that should really get a workout. The muscles and tendons on the back of your hand need to be strengthened. I recommend a rubber band. WHAT'S THAT??? Put your fingers and thumb together like your working a puppet. Put the rubber band around the tips of those fingers and thumb. Open your hand. If it's easy, double up on the bands. Take care. Rock on!!

[quatzu]

This is so simple, yet so hard for us beginners, that it is embarrassing! I'll be doing this all the time now. Thanks.

[CoolBear777]

Thank you. It's always the little things, huh? Every day I'm smacked in the head about the things I don't know. I think it's wonderful. I enjoy the fact that there is always so much more to learn. More videos on the way. All the best to you. Take care.

[TechnoDeathKorpz]

It is wonderful!

I never would have thought so, but this has helped me very much in such a small time span. Thanks man!

But I do have a problem. Whenever I close my ring finger, my pinky does the same, regardless of any willpower I can muster (don't they call this being double jointed?). Any excises to change that?

[CoolBear777]

What I've learned about that is your ring and pinky are connected by the same tendons. All other fingers are independent. That stinks. I know this is going to sound silly: visualization. Lay your hand on a table palm up. Raise your ring finger and lay it down. Like reps. Imagine your other fingers are being magnetized to the table. You may have to hold your pinky down for a while as you're gaining strength. Now try it with the pinky. Slow but sure, it will get better. Hope this helps. Take care.

[TechnoDeathKorpz]

It does help! Thanks alot, after only one week of this, and a few other excercises, my fingers are controllable.

I'm playing bass much better now, and I see you have more videos on that. I will check those out soon. Stay in touch, see ya.

[ADSTGREY]

this video has been a great help, its simple and easy to understand and i can already feel the excercises working, thanks

[CoolBear777]

Thank you! I'm a simple guy. I like simple exercises and instruction. I am so glad I could help. If there is anything else you would like for me to cover, please let me know. Take care.

[CoolBear777]

Pressing and relaxing. A little of both. You are absolutely right. Concentrate on using only the fingers you want to move at the the time. Try to keep the others straight. It is difficult, but with practice it most certainly can be done. Thank you so much for the question. Love the screen name. One of my favorite Steely Dan tunes. Come back soon. Take care.

[Bodhissattva]

Alright, thank you. I would really like to have that kind of finger independence. How long did it take from you started workin on it til your fingers were that independent? ..which to me looks very, very independent...

[CoolBear777]

Thank you. As a young player, I didn't have these sorts of things helping me out(YouTube,Myspace and like that). I learned a lot of bad habits that I've spent tons of time correcting. Watching videos like this will definitely cut your learning time. I don't know how long it would take, but I'm positive it won't take you as long as it did for me. There are lots of really good ones out there. All the best. Keep coming back.

[CoolBear777]

It shouldn't take long. Be diligent and patient. Sometimes it has to do with one's flexibility. Stick to it. It will be done.

[Bodhissattva]

That's great! But how do you practice? Are you supposed to press yourself or should you focus on being relaxed in the fingers that's not working at the moment?