Alert icon
We're changing our privacy policy. This stuff matters.  Learn more  Dismiss

Bass Guitar Basics : How to Position the Left Hand for Bass Guitar

Loading...

Sign in or sign up now!
7,433
Loading...
Alert icon
Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon
There is no Interactive Transcript.

Uploaded by on Jan 20, 2008

When playing the bass guitar, the left hand should make a "C" shape around the neck of the guitar to get into position for playing notes. Find out how to properly use the melody hand with help from a bass guitar instructor in this free video on bass guitar hand positioning.

Expert: Casey Cormier
Bio: Casey Cormier has been playing both the guitar and bass for 10 years.

  • likes, 3 dislikes

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (9)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • @Cereal1116 Kinda depends on your style. But the books say the “proper” way is 1st on 1st, 2nd on 2nd, etc.

  • @Cereal1116 It really doesn't matter. Some people use a 1 Finger Per Fret Rule to where anywhere on the fretboard in a range of 4 frets, you'll use your 1st finger for the 1st fret, 2nd finger 2nd fret, and so forth. But when you use the lower pitched frets, it's harder to go from 1st finger to 3rd finger (especially in Hammer-Ons), so people use 1st finger and 4th finger. So basically it's whatever's comfortable for you.

  • How do you know what fingers to use on what frets???

  • I use my hand way different, and I can play just fine, thanks.

  • Are you supposed to use your fingertips to press the strings down or arch your fingertips over the strings to hold them down with the flatter part of your finger?

  • This lesson assumes everyone plays with the same size hand.

  • So for 1st Position, I'm reading this out of a book :/, Do I have to have my Index, Middle etc ON the frets? Cause if so I can't reach it and I'm not sure if that's a problem, and on the higher frets (the ones closer together?) I can't even stretch my fingers their either?

  • Not bad :@ more like not good at all

    learn ur left n rights

  • Not bad at all!

Loading...

0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more