Beginner Bass Guitar Lesson: Left Hand Technique
View tabs at http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/bass/beginner/left-hand.html
Left Hand Technique is a free video lesson by Russ Rodgers for beginning bass guitar. This lesson will teach you proper left hand form which will help you become a more efficient player. We will first cover the proper positioning of the hand and fingers and then move on to some exercises that will eliminate excess motion from your fingers.
Duration : 0:10:20
25 Responses to “Beginner Bass Guitar Lesson: Left Hand Technique”
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it a great video
it a great video
Awesome
Awesome
good question… …
good question…sombody answer dat
i agree, ive been …
i agree, ive been playing 8 years with my thumb way up on top the neck and my hands always cramp.
damn ive been …
ive been playing nearly 6 years and ive had my thumb in the “avoid” position. I wondered why my wrist has been hurting
Are you supposed to …
Are you supposed to use your fingertips to press the strings down or arch your fingertips over the strings to hold them down?
Thanks Russ, Just …
Thanks Russ, Just got my first bass and want the proper tech. Like the way you teach!
He picked that bass …
He picked that bass off the wall at the music store he teaches at. (I’m one of his students.) His regular bass is a Ken Smith 6 string.
This video is great …
This video is great for anyone wanting to learn proper bass technique. Better to start good habits early. Its very hard to un-learn bad technique. Been there, done that.
No … It’s more …
No … It’s more like outlining the chord proggression
If the bass costs a …
If the bass costs a lot, then, YES it is. If you buy a cheap bass, you will never in a million years get the action the way you want it and action is very important when it comes to bass and guitars. If you have horrible action, playing the instrument will be a struggle and you will be worrying about your technique. In short, buy the BEST bass you can afford. You will sound better, have good action and if it doesn’t work out then you will get more money for it if you choose to re sell it.
I used to go to …
I used to go to Atlanta Institute of Music back in the early 90’s but was a guitar player back then. I remember, during performance class, a student of Russ’ didn’t have his together though he had plenty of time to prepare. Russ took him off stage and into a hallway, out of sight, but we could hear everything. The kid was one of those rocker types and seemed more concerned with his hair than the music. I saw him in tears a couple minutes later. I like Russ – he’s a cool cat!
can anyone tell me …
can anyone tell me if a fatboy bass guitar is good for begginers? plz
actualy the pick …
actualy the pick makes a different noise from fingers
thanks a lot! It …
thanks a lot! It really helps!
btw. nice hat
Fret Hand, Fret …
Fret Hand, Fret hand, call it fret hand!! (Some folks hand the right hand on the neck) GRIN, I don’t..
LOL great vid man. I retired from bass after years of pro work. I itch play Geddy Lee and John Myung again. Not to mention invent.
lol
lol
Is that a Tradition …
Is that a Tradition Bass?
can you have the …
can you have the bass up a little higher it’s not quite past your neck yet!
This is an …
This is an excellent video on left hand technique for bass playing. I strongly urge anyone who is thinking about or already playing bass to view and learn from this video. Outstanding work Russ!!
sangol88: i …
sangol88: i wouldn’t say its completely normal, but its definitely not uncommon to use a pick (plectrum) on bass. I do it all the time. It doesn’t make it sound bad or anything, and it doesn’t make me a bad or “impure” bassist, it just depends on what is comfortable for you for the style you play. I can play much faster picking than not. Bass is bass. Pick or no pick.
well in …
well in Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin, when it is at the chorus, JPJ (great bassist) played powerchords given the song an extra edge, and cool sound… But that’s the only time I seem him do powerchords, the only time!
sangolt88,
You can …
sangolt88,
You can play chords (melody) on a bass, the problem is that you must play them pretty high on the instrument to make them sound nice.
This takes out the main purpose of the instrument which is setting up the foundation (harmony).
What scales are used for is to develop patterns to define bass lines.
On the comments about tapping, strumming, etc. you will find players who can do that, and in a very nice way (Manring, Rainey, Graham, etc.) one last thing: Picking is just for noses
I’m not talking …
I’m not talking about only playing freaking chords for a whole song. I’ve seen plenty of bassists hit a chord when it’s appropriate for a part of the song.
Check Out Alexis …
Check Out Alexis Sklarevsky strumming the strings, bass guitar has no limits…