Secrets To Bass Fretting Hand Technique: Why I Shouldn’t Always Rely On My Four Fret Span
This lesson explores different bass techniques for our fretting hand. We go over the four fret span, the most common bass technique, and learn how to play a major scale with one finger per fret. We also dive into other fretting hand positions, including the five fret span and three fret span. Learn how to get flexible with both the major scale and the major pentatonic shapes on bass so that you have greater fretboard freedom.
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Originally posted by UCraquFd1FXp1SZFvuaPDbwg at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_-sCsnLjV0
Always great to revisit the basics. 5 fret span major scale illustrates the relationship between the 1-4, 2-5 and 3-6 very nicely too!
I’ve always felt my self-taught 3-fret method was more liability than asset and struggle to play “correctly” in the 4-fret. Glad to get some validation there! Now I switch back and forth more naturally and don’t beat myself up as much over it as I’ve matured more as a player. Thanks for the great explanation.
Great tip about keeping the thumb aligned with second finger. it made a small change to the shape of my half but a big difference to the precision. Thanks so much, Ryan
That's a very small neck…
Hey Ryan … Cheers to the new year ???? Hope you and Craig are doing well ????????
This was a great tutorial video. And the octave part that shared really was an eye opener for me. Because I have kind of large hands at times I use my ring finger and cut corners to play octaves. The pinky finger is by far the best way to play octaves. This is my first time looking at your video. Thanks so much, and I look forward to see more of your video lessons. A happy practice indeed. Peace Out.
Good info, and as always logically explained.
Hi Sometime in playing slow blues, like Texas Flood, the bass player is using chords in the upper register, say in G (string 3 fret 10). Chords using this “rock and roll” finger for the 6th and b7. I find this spread hard on my fretting hand. What is the best way (hand position/thumb) to play this? thanks
I love this, but the bass audio levels are a little low and sometimes difficult to hear. ❤????
Another great lesson. Love you you teach these and also film them–very clear
Double bass players have got just 3 fret position due to the larger frets. Middle and ring together.
Great video as always!
Best wishes for 2025 Ryan
Liverpool UK ????????
Very useful. I have arthritis in my thumbs, makes moving around easier & logical. Thnaks!
Great lesson Ryan. Hope you have a great new year.
You're so good at these descriptive terms//naming to communicate the concept.
Yup, that was a dope lesson.. Clear and concise
Good advice. I’m self taught and practiced hard on the 4 finger technique. Over time I found that I micro shift quite a bit and almost don’t use my ring finger at all. I’m going to do some exercise to try and bring this finger more into play as I find myself shifting to pinky or finger two to avoid the ring finger.
Great tutorial, especially for those of us coming from guitar. I notice that you often flatten your second finger (usually on lower strings). This is something that guitarists don't often do – could you do a tutorial which looks at this. Cheers!
As an upright bass player, the three fret span is familiar, that's about all you can reach. I'm loving the channel, really opening up the bass guitar for me.
Thank you, Ryan ????????
Great lesson!
Happy New Year to you and yours ????????????
Excellent! Your fretting hand always looks so relaxed. I strive for this. I think I need to learn to shift more. Not shifting is great because once I assign notes to fingers, I don't have to think again about this. But it leaves me overstretched and sore sometimes.
I'm going to incorporate the phrase "rock 'n' roll fingers" into my daily vocabulary. Happy New Year Ryan! ????
Happy New Year Ryan.. Awesome left-hand technique tutorial.. Best to you and yours in this new year.
as a self taught bass player i have got predictably poor fretting hand technique – and always admire that of "proper" bass players. beginners – please do take the time to learn proper technique, it'll make your life playing life so much easier! you'll never regret it…