Music Lesson: Fretting Hand Techniques

Introduction

Play. Okay, now let's take a look at the fretting hand. In my case, it's the left hand. There are two possible techniques I can use:

• Four finger technique: This is useful for playing a passage that resembles a musical scale. You'll see me using this a lot with scale-type bass lines.
• Three finger technique: I use this a lot in slap playing and when I relax my hand into playing roots and fifths. More about what those are in the next lesson. If I'm doing, say, a samba or a country groove, you'll see me relax my hand.

Understanding Fingerings

Now let's talk a little bit about the fingerings so that you're up to speed on that. If any of you guys have taken piano lessons, you're used to the numbering 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. We don't use that on bass guitar. Here's the breakdown:

• Index finger: 1
• Middle finger: 2
• Ring finger: 3
• Pinky: 4

So if you're looking at your instructional book or the tablature on the screen, you'll see 1, 2, 3, or 4.

The Pivot Approach

One of the really important techniques when using either the three or four finger technique is an approach I call the pivot. Here's how it works:

• For our demonstration, I'm going to place my first finger on the fifth fret of the bass.
• Notice that my thumb is directly behind the second finger, right across from each other.

Note: Unless you're bending strings, it's not a good idea to bring your thumb around the neck. You might see me do it from time to time during slap playing, but generally, my thumb stays in the middle of the neck, pointing toward the ceiling.

Hand Position

• Let your hands hang down.
• Avoid too much angle with either your picking hand or your fretting hand to prevent muscle strain.

Practicing the Pivot

I want you to imagine that your thumb is on a hinge, moving back and forth. This is especially useful if you're playing a multi-string bass or at the bottom of the bass register.

Exercise: Four by Four

Let's get our hands warmed up with an exercise called Four by Four. We're going to:

• Play four notes on all four strings, back and forth.
• Pitch is not important right now; focus on the mechanics.

Step 1: Finger Placement

• First finger on the fifth fret
• Second finger on the sixth fret
• Third finger on the seventh fret
• Pinky (fourth finger) on the eighth fret

Step 2: Timing with a Click

Now, we're going to activate this click. In my case, I'm using a drum machine, but you can use a metronome.

• Tempo: Quarter note = 60

Counting In

I'll count you in with four:

3. 1. 1. Four.
4. 1. 1. FOUR.
5. 1. 1. four, four, three, two, one, four, three, two, one.
6. 4, 3, 2, 1.
7. 4, 3, 2, 1.

If you found that difficult, don't worry! Practice it a little more.

Addressing Fret Noise

Many students struggle with fret noise, leading to buzzing sounds. Here's how to eliminate that:

• Tip: Fret right behind the fret, not directly on it. This will produce a cleaner tone.

Speeding Up the Exercise

Now, let's do the same exercise but double the speed and play eighth notes (1 and 2 and 3 and 4).

Reminder about the Fretboard

As you play, you'll notice that the frets get closer together near the top and farther apart down towards the body.

Stretching Your Hand

You don't have to stretch your hand excessively; simply use your pivot technique.

Learning the Musical Alphabet

It's important to learn the notes on your bass guitar.

Overview of Musical Alphabet

Good news: the musical Alphabet has only seven notes:

• A, B, C, D, E, F, G.

After G, it repeats.

Understanding Half Steps and Whole Steps

• Half steps: One fret distance (e.g., C to C#).
• Whole steps: Two frets distance (e.g., A to B).

Chromatic Notes

Let's take the note on the E string, which I know as an F. The note in between, which can be called:

• F sharp or G flat.

This is called a chromatic note.

Enharmonic Equivalents

Two notes that sound the same but have different names (like F# and Gb) are called enharmonic equivalents.

Note Exercise

Let's learn the notes on all four strings up to the 12th fret.

Position Markers

• 3rd fret
• 5th fret
• 7th fret
• 9th fret
• 12th fret (larger dot or double dot)

A String Notes Exercise

We'll do this with quarter note = 60.

Count in: 1, 2, 3, 4.

• A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#.
• Back down: A, Ab, G, Gb, F, Eb, D, Db, C, Bb, A.

Remember, if it's too difficult to play with a click, turn it off.

D String Notes Exercise

Now let's move to the D string. Count in: 1, 2, 3, 4.

• D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#.
• Back down: D, Db, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb, F, Eb, D.

G String Notes Exercise

Lastly, let's do the notes on the G string.
Count in: 1, 2, 3, 4.

• G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G.
• Back down: G, Gb, F, E, Eb, D, Bb, C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G.

Position and Finger Placement

When I talk about positions on the bass guitar, it's defined by where my first finger sits.

• First position: First finger on the first fret.
• Seventh position: First finger on the seventh fret.

Now, instead of moving up and down strings, let's play across the neck.

Exercise: Across the Neck

Let's play half notes, quarter note = 60, all the way across.

Count in: 1, 2, 3, 4.

• E, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B.

Now flats going down:

• Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb, F, E, Eb, Db, C, B, Bb, Ab, G, Gb, F, E.

Conclusion and Stretches

How are your hands feeling? A little tired? Let's do some stretches.

• Cover your first finger with your other fingertips and gently pull back for a stretch.

Do this with your other hand as well.

Final Notes

Take all the material we've covered here. Be patient with yourself and use these exercises as part of your warm-ups.

In the next session, we'll get into playing some real music with real musicians. So, stay tuned!