Stretching your fingers

[Stealth Prawn]

Whenever I play a complex song, I stretch my fingers a lot. For example in Crazy Train (not exactly complex, but is a good example) in the opening riff, I have my index finger on the second fret and my middle finger on the fourth. I didn't think this was a problem, until today.

Since the only bassist in my schools band is graduating this year, they need someone to replace him. Since I'm a good friend of his and wanted to learn bass, I signed up. I was just on a website for learning basic bass (not that I needed technique help, just reading bass clef) and stumbled on this information.

Never use two adjacent fingers to stretch over more than one fret. For example, playing frets 1 and 3 with fingers 1 and 2. This will create serious playing problems, and increase the risk of hand injuries.
From studybass.com

Is this only for bass, since it has bigger frets? Has anyone had injuries from this? Discuss.

[TheFerret]

I'm sure that you shouldn't stretch them more than necessary, but on guitar it should probably be fine, since the frets are ridiculously smaller than those of a bass.

[meTalmessiah]

Generally the rule is for every set of 4 frets, you use one finger each for them. You can stretch your fingers somewhat to reach for a note that may be outside of that spectrum, but I wouldn't do what you're trying to do.

[Pelican Man]

On the low end of a bass, you'd be nuts to want to stretch 2 frets with one finger. It is quite possible to do, but you really shouldn't ever need to. Soloing on a guitar, stretching up to 3 frets with 2 adjacent finger should be fine, but that's due to the tiny size they are.

And if you are stretching that much, your technique seems kinda flawed.

[Stealth Prawn]

On the low end of a bass, you'd be nuts to want to stretch 2 frets with one finger. It is quite possible to do, but you really shouldn't ever need to. Soloing on a guitar, stretching up to 3 frets with 2 adjacent finger should be fine, but that's due to the tiny size they are.

And if you are stretching that much, your technique seems kinda flawed.

Peli, I'm not talking about on the bass. I mean on guitar. I've only played bass for a week or two.

Anyways, I've been trying to use my fourth finger more now to get the strength and co-ordination better so this isn't really a big problem for me now. Regardless, I recommend that everyone try using your pinkey more. It's a good challenge.

[Pelican Man]

[QUOTE=Stealth Prawn;842203]Peli, I'm not talking about on the bass. I mean on guitar. I've only played bass for a week or two. QUOTE]

Ah, yeah. I didn't realize you weren't using your pinkie. If you can use your pinkie properly, everything is that much easier.

[InTransit]

Yeah you need to use your pinky finger. I have super-strong muscly pinky fingers now from playing guitar.

But the best way to learn to stretch it out is just to practice. Like find the note you can't do, get the fingers in the right spots & play it, move your fingers around till you can get it sounding right, or atleast until they're comfortable and keep practising. It took a while before I could stretch across 5 frets but it's definitely A LOT easier to cover more space and stretch all your fingers if you're using your pinky aswell.

[Greger]

Yeah you need to use your pinky finger. I have super-strong muscly pinky fingers now from playing guitar.

But the best way to learn to stretch it out is just to practice. Like find the note you can't do, get the fingers in the right spots & play it, move your fingers around till you can get it sounding right, or atleast until they're comfortable and keep practising. It took a while before I could stretch across 5 frets but it's definitely A LOT easier to cover more space and stretch all your fingers if you're using your pinky aswell.

I actually had the whole "one finger on each fret" after a year and a half, came naturally from when I started playing some harder stuff where I just couldnt use three fingers to cover up what I was playing.

But yes, practice practice practice is the key!

[Derelict]

Go back in time and start when you're four years old. I started when I was four years old and I can basically play anything by ear, no matter how complex. Do that.

[Jackoff Shitler]

I'm sure it's just the bass, as some more complex guitar chords require you to stretch your fingers over one or maybe two frets.

[BassBastard]

I have some bass lines I have written that are easier if I stretch over 2 frets with index and middle fingers. .
Also have a song I wrote where the thumb comes around and plays the pedal note while I hold a the octave and 4th with my index and middle finger. I have since switched to only playing my 6 string on stage and do the same notes flat with index, middle and ring.

[blacksurge]

I have some bass lines I have written that are easier if I stretch over 2 frets with index and middle fingers. .
Also have a song I wrote where the thumb comes around and plays the pedal note while I hold a the octave and 4th with my index and middle finger. I have since switched to only playing my 6 string on stage and do the same notes flat with index, middle and ring.

But most of the time it's a hell of a lot easier to use other fingers