Developing Safe Left Hand Technique for Bass Guitar

A lesson on developing on safe and comfortable left hand technique for bass guitar. My own problems with RS injury lead me to develop my concept of "neutral position," which I teach to my student in hopes that they don't have the same problems I did.

Here are some of the things I talk about in the video that are important to keep in mind.

1. The shoulder holds up the arm, and allows all the rest of the arm to relax and go limp.

2. The elbow is most relaxed when it is bent at moderate angle.

3. The wrist is relaxed, flexible and straight.

4. The joints of all the fingers are curved, and the finger tips are all on the same horizontal plane

5. The thumb is to the left of the index finger and is roughly perpendicular to the second finger segment.

Hope you enjoy!

EDIT: Here are some photos of me playing in the lower positions on a 7-string bass. The same lessons apply for all you ERB people.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/HaVIC5/Photo40.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/HaVIC5/Photo39.jpg

Category:

Music

Tags:

• electric
• bass
• guitar
• left
• hand
• technique
• lesson

[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.

[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?

[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!

[robyncanflyy]

Thanks, this really helped :)

[NLRedFox]

I LOVE the neutral position!

[szymonrock]

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

[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?