Thanks. You're catching the important stuff. When I figured this out, I was so annoyed no one ever told me. It's so simple and obvious. All the best...
Andrew, just to let you know, your website inspired me to buy a bass 14 days ago ... now I am following your study course and enjoy it soo much ... thanks a lot!
My brother, great course. I used to play the accoustic guitar now, i am looking at the bass. After watching you I'm definitely interested in playing. You can't have a band without the bass in the background. Awesome!!
Andrew, you have the best, most detailed and clear begginer lessons out there. Thank you for all the work and helping countless people play bass! You're one of the real MVPs. ❤😁
Thank you Andrew for this very informative tutorial on left hand fretting. I’ve been playing off and on now for about ten years and I take for granted the proper techniques in playing the bass. Your videos help me get back on track and I can’t thank you enough for that. 🙂
Can't thank you enough for this! my left & right hands all had the same amount of pressure against the strings which works really well when warmed up as I've played for over 40 years. But I've been practising the right amount of left hand pressure to execute a clean sound (so easy when you think about it) but then going from the quietest to loudest attack with my right hand whilst maintaining the same light left hand pressure - wow!!! The difference in overall quality of sound is so noticable!! And as I warm up i can increase my left hand pressure which increases the sound of the note etc. + with the light left hand touch my speed has dramatically increased with almost zero extra effort! Thank you so much 👍😊
@@nikolalalalaololoev8048 The point is that many of us apply more pressure than is actually needed when fretting notes with our left hand which is a complete waste of energy. So simply hold your left hand fingers behind the fret as lightly as possible whilst still making a clean sound. Hoping this is of use?
@@ajadrew I don't know how much it will help. I'm aware of it with my head, but I can't make my hands flutter like a butterfly. that's why when playing a song in the original bpm, for example living la vida loca, my hand gets "clogged" like a weightlifter's. I just can't bring myself to push weakly. and to be more precise, I can, but only up to certain bpm. for example, 85 bpm played with sixteenth durations very quickly paralyze my palm))
@@nikolalalalaololoev8048 I understand & appreciate what you're saying. We all have different 'hands' etc - I was similar to yourself when I first started playing & it can take years of focus & study, playing slowly, before any improvements happen. The most important thing is to just enjoy what you do 😊
Thanks, Floyd! RU-vid is designed more for making money than for teaching. I post here hoping people find all of the good stuff on studybass.com. Keep learning and playing!
Thanks for these lessons! I've been self-teaching myself with Yousician. The app and video totally skips these fundamentals such us how to hold a bass guitar, posture, seated vs standing and how to adjust the strap. Sure there are videos about muting, alternate plucking, etc but they are so segmented. You literally have to pass exercises to unlock the video whereas you stick to one topic per video and go into detail. Will definitely subscribe and support this channel!
Thanks! I'm glad they're useful. People skip a lot of essentials. You can never get everything from a single source. I have many more lessons all methodically organized on www.studybass.com. I'm just rolling out videos for many of them. The site is free for all with options to support. Good luck with your musical pursuits.
Thanks Andrew! Started playing the bass earlier this year, and eventhough I'm having lessons, I recently started to feel some discomfort/pain on my fretting hands. My teacher gave me some advice, payed close attention, without great results on finding the issue so far.. Then I saw your video: so on point, simple and easy to understand! Things like wearing a strap and angling the bass can be easily ignored or forgotten, when they actually are big time important.. Thanks!! Look forward to learning more with you! Cheers from Brazil 🤘
Sorry for the slow reply. I've been very busy with the massive studybass.com update. Yes, all of these little things add up. Another tip, if you're experiencing pain, is to use the power of visualizing playing in your mind. You can still practice in your head without using your fingers. Close your eyes, imagine the fretboard and the sounds and give your hands a rest. Keep making music!
@@StudyBass awesome! Will give that a try! Thanks for your reply!! Already noticed some improvement on my fretting hand reach just by angling the bass. Also, the wrist pain is almost gone, and my thumb is also getting better!! Thanks again Andrew!! 🤘
I always liked the sound of bass in songs and needing a pastime other than tennis, after kids have got older, I took up the bass guitar this week after watching your tutorials, easily the clearest instruction for a beginner and your videos are so easy to follow. TBug thank you.
Thanks! Welcome to the bass. The beginning is the hardest part; hang in there. And, in case you don't know, there's much more on the website (www.studybass.com) than on RU-vid. Have fun!
How the hell has nobody ever told me about the string making contact with the fret thing. Based on every single video I've watched and person I've seen play I've been led to believe you should aim for in between the frets on the fretboard. Thanks a ton.
Great! I was mad that no one ever told me that, too. It took me a couple of years to figure it out on my own. A little perspective like that makes a huge difference. There are lots of "little" things like that throughout the lessons on www.studybass.com. Everything doesn't have a video found here. Keep learning!
This lesson is very very important. I'm coming back after 2 months because I was having trouble with background sound of non-muted strings and, after a few days of "figuring it out", here was the 9 min solution to my problem.
The way you teach makes the most sense to me, really straight forward with examples. You had the exact couple videos for me that I needed to get acclimated to my bass (Fingering/bass positioning)! Thanks a lot for this content!
Thanks! I'm happy you're learning and making music. If you like my approach, you will really like the free lessons on studybass.com. They include exercises, song suggestions and more and are organized based on teaching thousands of students in-person over the last 30 years. I hope you check it out. Keep me updated on your progress.
@@StudyBass Yeah, I've been watching it! My fingering hand is pretty stiff from using a keyboard/ game controller. I can't really position my hands on the frets like you recommend, my thumb wants to sit pointing up on the neck, instead of to the side, and actually hurts if I try to go to the side (Carpal tunnel maybe? lol) I also have short fingers lol. Most of the music I've produced has been with midi controllers and keyboards/synths/ipads etc all connected together. Adding the bass in gives another layer of really cool humanized groove. :D Thanks again for the awesome content!
Thanks for your videos! I'm a professional violinist trying to pick up bass just for fun, and I really appreciate your clear instructions on technique for both hands. Very informative and little filler, and hopefully will help me keep from hurting myself (always a concern as a string player, and doubly so for me- I have unfortunately small hands so great technique is a must!)
Be patient with yourself. Most people have never done anything this complex with your hands before. With time, your hands loosen up quite a bit. In the beginning you strain a lot because you're trying so hard to get it right. Go slow and relax. The big key is consistent daily practice. Keep at it!
THANKYOU! These are the video I need being an older absolute beginner. You explain and show things so well that they make so much sense and being on a huge learning curve it helps so much. Only two weeksalong on my journey and I'm so glad I found your tutorials. ☺️👍🏻
Great! Stay the course. The beginning is the hardest part. I always point out to older beginners not to forget how much more listening experience they have versus a younger beginner. That counts for more than you realize.
This is one of the best projects I've seen on the internet. Thank you. However, I have a question. Are you more likely to develop a RSI with the thumb being behind the first finger ("pinch" technique)? I don't know if you've seen Adam Neely's safe left hand technique video, but he talks about how to keep yourself safe and healthy. Thank you. You rock!
your la egend, im totally new to bass. and your videos are invaluable! learning these fundamental techniques are gonna set me up for a steady progression, thanks so much for you work!! how can we support you? donations? do you sell stuff?
Thank you! I'm happy they're helping. There are many more lessons beyond RU-vid on the website. There are ways to support my work here: www.studybass.com/support/ Keep me up-to-date on your progress and happy new year!
hi sir. I am raghav from india, learning hindustani flute for last 4 months. I have always been attentive yo indian music background score, which i. the recent past has used the bass regularly. yet I would hum a background bass for most film songs for decades. that is a way to tell my flair.. that's all. and when I posted a indiann film song last to my son in Germany, he surprised me with his remarks on the bass in it. immediately I set upon a search on the youtube for lessons on the bass guitar,. and what did I find !!!!!! YOU SIR !!! simply simple, super, clear and crisp...plus all the best superlative adjectives. all I can say finally now is... I am suppressing my urge to buy a bass guitar in india...and start learning from your website SIR... hats off to you...keep inspiring sir. all the best.
Hello Raghav. Thank you. I'm happy you like the lessons. Many of them apply to all instruments. Learning from many perspectives is always a good idea. There is a lot of incredible bass playing and music in Indian movies. I've worked on it with several students in the past. I need to see more of them. The movies are always so long! Don't resist. Get a bass! Keep playing the flute, too. Good luck to you.
studybass I wanted to ask you yesterday itself sir... I checked other videos for beginners, now this question...in order to start ( It's on my mind consistently), do I have to buy a bass, an amp, etc.. could you detail as to the paraphernalia,a decent brand to start with. also, are bass guitars electric? sorry for being so basic. I would like to write to your email if u permit it. bye. thanks for motivating me further.
"Your thumb shall lay flat on the middle of the back of the neck" Nice. So I've playing wrong for almost a month. That's why I get tired after playing scales for a minute. That, and the fact that the strings are separated from the fret more than one cm... Thanks for pointing that out, Andrew. I thought I couldn't play bass because I get tired easily, and the problem was trying to reach one note with my pinky, while holding the other side of the next with the tip of my thumb, while having a lot of margin between neck and strings.
A month is nothing. Many people go years doing things that work against them. I suggest getting your bass setup by a pro (a dedicated repair shop/luthier not a music store 2 blocks away). Get the action lower and you'll have an even easier time.
@@StudyBass Yeah, it is incredible how adjusting my thumb let's me play twice the time than yesterday. Right now, I'm playing an old, 100€ cheap Harley Benton bass. I thought in getting an Ibanez GSR200B or a Squier (around 200€) sooner or later, so I'll get it sooner instead and pay a luthier to setting it up properly. By the way, thanks for this videos and your website.
Hi Andrew, just started to learn bass !! After going thru youtube bass videos I find yours the easiest to follow, am I best to follow all your methods to reach my goals or mix a variation of videos, I would like to do all your lessons to be honest, your clear and simplify the bass playing, I'd like to donate, how much is acceptable??? Ray, UK 🇬🇧
Great! I'm happy you're here. Keep me informed of your progress and any questions. There's way more on www.studybass.com/ as far as lessons and structure. I appreciate any level of support. I don't run annoying ads here or on the website so user support really matters. You're trying to learn music, not watch ads! There's a monthly subscription ($10 USD), or one-time purchase StudyPacks, or a simple donation. More details here: www.studybass.com/shop/studybass/ Consistent daily practice of the right material is the key. Keep at it.
I am a newbie, might you have any suggestions for players with very short proximal phalanges?? I am a retired professional drummer from Los Angeles and after over 20 surgeries on both feet, lower back, each thumb, I decided to teach myself the bass. I am 57 and also 5'7" and have large hands but very short fingers. Which, my research shows shorter people have short fingers, I never really noticed it until I had to attempt a 4-fret spread!! Thanx....
Welcome, Drew! As a drummer you will do great! The bass functions as a tuned drum (like timpani) a lot of the time. Here is a reply to another comment which got buried... I get this question a lot. It's tricky to answer as everyone feels their hands are small when they first try, but for a very few their hands really are too small for the technique. I need to post something more detailed on this topic, but here are a few ideas: - Make sure you are holding the bass properly (see that lesson www.studybass.com/study-guide/studybass-fundamentals-one/basic-bass-technique/). The angle is very essential. - Remember that each finger is a mental assignment to a fret. One finger per fret doesn't mean you are stretched out in a claw formation at all times. It will be fluid and relaxed. Your fingers will expand and contract like an accordion. You will shift along the four-fret span. - Get a top local luthier (not the dudes at the music store) to set up your bass and try some lighter gauge strings with low tension (for instance, DR Nickel Lo-Riders 40-100). A good setup can make things much easier. - Be patient. Your fingers do stretch out with time. Every student thinks it's impossible at first. Out of thousands, I've had fewer than 10 who really needed to take a different approach. - There is another approach of using three fingers (1st, 2nd and 4th). It's easy to switch to this later. I suggest sticking with four for now and later you will know when you can just use three. You will do yourself a lot of favors by developing coordination among all of your fingers. - Lastly, you could try a short scale bass where the frets are closer together. I hope that helps. Hang in there. The beginning is the worst part. Daily practice is the key. There's lots more on studybass.com that is not here on RU-vid. Keep me updated on your progress.
Thanks for a very helpful video. What is the best way to reliably press the frets accurately without looking at the fretboard? I understand where to press. Being a novice, I have to look down at the fretboard when practicing.
With time you develop a kinesthetic memory--you just feel it. It's ok to look early on. Reading music is a good way to keep yourself from looking. Playing in the dark helps, too. Again, it's a matter of time.
Welcome, Catherine! I get this question a lot. It's tricky to answer as everyone feels their hands are small when they first try, but for a very few their hands really are too small for the technique. I need to post something more detailed on this topic, but here are a few ideas: - Make sure you are holding the bass properly (see that lesson www.studybass.com/study-guide/studybass-fundamentals-one/basic-bass-technique/). The angle is very essential. - Remember that each finger is a mental assignment to a fret. One finger per fret doesn't mean you are stretched out in a claw formation at all times. It will be fluid and relaxed. Your fingers will expand and contract like an accordion. You will shift along the four-fret span. - Get a top local luthier (not the dudes at the music store) to set up your bass and try some lighter gauge strings with low tension (for instance, DR Nickel Lo-Riders 40-100). A good setup can make things much easier. - Be patient. Your fingers do stretch out with time. Every student thinks it's impossible at first. Out of thousands, I've had fewer than 10 who really needed to take a different approach. - There is another approach of using three fingers (1st, 2nd and 4th). It's easy to switch to this later. I suggest sticking with four for now and later you will know when you can just use three. You will do yourself a lot of favors by developing coordination among all of your fingers. - Lastly, you could try a short scale bass where the frets are closer together. I hope that helps. Hang in there. The beginning is the worst part. Daily practice is the key. There's lots more on studybass.com that is not here on RU-vid. Keep me updated on your progress.
I just started playing bass and your videos and website are a great help for me and I really feel like I am learning a lot following your lessons. But I feel like the thumb position recommended in this video is causing serious pain to my wrist. Holding my left hand in a more neutral position with the thumb a bit more to the left of finger 1 and pointing more towards the head of the bass makes my hand and arm a lot more relaxed. It is easier for me to reach the notes like this, too. I am having really big hands, so maybe that's why. Is it okay to play like this if it feels more natural and healthy to me? What are the pros/cons about it. Would love to hear your opinion on this.
Great! Welcome to playing the bass! A big obstacle for online learning--for student and teacher both--is the content has reach a broad audience and has to be somewhat generalized. Every student has his or her own peculiarities like learning styles, physiological differences, etc. That's why a good, private teacher is irreplaceable. I try to cover what I know works for most people, but I've said elsewhere that none of this (especially technique) is the only way to do it. There are lots of negotiable parts. The fact that you're considering them is what's important and great. Many people don't consider any of this stuff and get stuck later on. You shouldn't be experiencing any pain like you describe. If the pain goes away with your thumb further over, it makes sense for you to use that position. Positioning your thumb where you say won't make or break your technique. You want to be aware that your thumb position influences how much force you exert to press the strings. You will be exerting at least a little more force in order to press down the strings when your thumb isn't opposite your fingers. Experiment and adapt with the goal of pressing as lightly as possible. Be sure to investigate everything. Most pain and discomfort for beginners comes from pressing too hard and holding the bass at a poor angle (too horizontally). You should also get your bass professionally set up and maybe try some lighter gauge strings. Play daily and good luck! Let me know how it goes.
@@StudyBass Thank you for your comprehensive answer! In the last days I kept trying out different positions and I feel like I found the right position for me now. Thank you again for your videos and advice. I will try to find a personal teacher soon since you stress the importance of one in almost every video and comment you write. ;)
I'm hoping I understand your question correctly. Your first finger doesn't need to press all of the time, but it should gently touch the strings which could accidentally ring out to silence them. The ones which could ring out accidentally would be *above* (higher-pitched strings towards the ground) the string you're playing. For example, if pressing a note on the A-string, your first finger would gently touch (not press down) the D- and G-strings. I hope that helps. Good luck!
I have been practicing the muting along with the string crossing and using my "pointer" or "number 1 left hand finger" to mute as I am playing high pitch to low pitch. But I realized it continues to echo slightly after I mute it with that "1 st finger". Is it me or Is it the trade off of this rather easy method of muting :))? putting it another way I have been wondering that whether it is possible to mute the string with any left hand finger by resting it on the note which We just after play with that same finger. if so , is that slight echo acceptable?? apart from the question, thank you for your free and high-quality content.
With time you should develop a feel for it and it will be totally silent. You might be getting harmonics if you're touching in one spot only. Harmonics ring out loudly over frets 5, 7, 9 and 12. They also ring out over frets 4, 3, near 2 and elsewhere. You may also be hearing a muffled open string if you are muting near the nut. It's hard to stop the string's vibration of the string near the end points. When you can, try to touch the string with more than a single finger. Keep all of your fingers touching the strings as much as possible. That should make the strings dead quiet. The first finger is a minimum, and sometimes all you can do in a part of a bassline. Often you can touch with multiple fingers. The fact that you notice it now is good. Many people play for a long time not noticing all of the extraneous noise. With practice you will learn to control it all. Keep practicing!
Fretless is my favorite. It depends on the student if I recommend starting with one though. If you've played other instruments or sing well, your internal sense of pitch might be strong enough to begin there. Otherwise, you'll have an easier time starting on fretted or at least switch back and forth between the two. The frets will help you hear notes in-tune and help you get a feel for the spacing of the notes on the fingerboard. Fretless requires a deeper layer of listening on top of your other introductory learning. You basically micro-tune every note you play. To answer your question, you press just hard enough to get a clear note. And, you place your finger...well...where the pitch you want is. The notes should fall where the frets would be. But, you can't just press in a certain spot and expect it to be the right pitch--even the lines will be wrong if you have them. You have to listen and find the pitch. With practice this becomes an instant reflex, but in the beginning you will be out-of-tune often. I would suggest getting a chromatic tuner to help you check whether you're playing notes in-tune, sharp or flat. It's rewarding to play fretless, but developing good intonation (playing in-tune) is a lot of work and needs to be taken seriously. Nothing ruins things like an out-of-tune bass. Good luck and don't be tempted to slide everything!
@@StudyBass this is great! Thanks for the help. I will definitely take this in to consideration. Yours is probably the best BEST bass tutorials I have ever seen!
studybass I'm very impressed with the replies you make time for student bassers, shows your dedication, I'll be signing up for the lessons. Thank you Andrew, Ray 🇬🇧👏👏🇺🇸
thats exactly what i was looking for. i had a problem with buzzing and thought something was wrong with my bass :D but i was pushin to hard and on the middle of the fret! Thanks!!!
I can't separate my fingers well if I put my thumb on the back of the neck like that, like in a 90 degrees angle. ! It hurts like hell (yeah, I'm 40, muscles don't cooperate as they used to). But if I sorta position my thumb in a 45 degrees angle, it relaxes and I reach better. I guess I'll have to keep stretching and practicing...
Sorry for my slow reply. This can sometimes be a problem if you don't hold your bass at a good angle. Try to have the headstock level in line with your eyes when you stand. Everyone's hands are different; basses are different. It's OK to let your thumb point in a different direction. Right behind your fingers is the most efficient, but you must experiment to find what is comfortable for you. Don't do anything which hurts.
@@StudyBass Thanks for your reply ! It's part of the learning curve. I sort of found a position where it hurts less and after warming up the pain goes away. I am also taking 2 hrs long practice sessions, and holding the drumsticks (I played drums for 25 years) is a completely different muscular movement compared to fretting, so it is expected to hurt a little I guess. I subscribed to your page, it's awesome ! Thanks for creating it!
@@StudyBass btw, I am holding the bass almost like Patitucci (He usually holds it in a 60 deg angle more or less), because that "more straight" positions feels more comfortable. I don't care about looking not cool, I care about playing well !
Hi Andrew, I've found that I need the most amount of pressure to get a clear tone when I'm right next to the fret and the least amount of pressure when I'm at the furthest point away from the fret. Should I get a new bass?
Hmmm. That doesn't seem possible. Are you sure you have the perspective correct? You might be looking at it as far away from the headstock. [Head]----------|---------|---------|-------U|--------------------[Body] You don't need a new bass, but maybe something is wrong with the setup. Take it to a local guitar repair person and have them do a setup (a good idea if never done before). Also, try another bass at a store and see if you have the same problem. Let me know if you still have trouble.
Sir, I an getting a lot of answers from ur gear section. but if I go ahead, what's the decent brand in India - I am trying to figure out. plus, my Google search shows me I have little reliable support from a gud instructor for lessons and to assist me to buy one. I am going to prepare well before succumbing to my urge. hope you will still write back to me. thanks for motivating me sir.
If there is no store nearby, you may need to order one online. I'm not familiar with music stores in India. I'm sure you can find some. Ask any musician you can find for better information than I have. There are likely some Indian musician forums or sites where you may be able to ask, too. I would suggest an Ibanez bass. They are easy to play and consistent in quality. I looked quickly online and I see other brands like Fender, Gibson, ESP or Yamaha available in India. Their beginner models will be good, too. The search is part of the fun! There is a lot of information in the gear section as well as the shop section of StudyBass. www.studybass.com/shop/ Good luck to you!
Hi Andrew I’m trying to contact you because I can’t get logged into your website I’ve tried changing passwords and emailing you but nothing seems to work when I email you it says CSRF token is invalid please try to resubmit the form I’ve tried that many times but no joy please help.
Somehow I missed comments on YT. Sorry for the slow reply. I hope you've found that all is working again. There was a big problem with the website server company's network followed by me scrambling to move the site elsewhere.
i feel like someone has to put it out there and i hate to be that guy but None of these teqniques work for me at all. And i mean from *almost* every single video you put up.
Hi Frostburn, The beginning is tough. How long have you been at it? It takes months and years to become proficient at these techniques. Are you doing the related exercises on the website? You need to work on them daily to see progress. Just watching the video isn't enough. If you can be more specific about which tips aren't working for you, maybe I can explain it a little differently to help. A private, face-to-face teacher is invaluable at this stage and can tailor things specifically to you. This is generalized advice from seeing hundreds of my students learn it over the last 25 years or so. Best of luck and don't give up.
