Finger advice

GhostlyPea

GhostlyPea

GhostlyPea

Soldato
Joined
30 Dec 2004
Posts
4,681
Location
Bromley, Kent
Not as dodgy as it sounds :P

basically I've been playing Bass on and off for a few years but never had the time to really take it further. Now I do and I am trying but one of the problems I have had is that the fingers on my left hand has been getting sore and tender really quickly. Now I know this gets better over time but is there any way to help speed up the process? Also is there any good way to increase strength on my picking fingers? I tried between pick and fingers and i'm starting to prefer the sound from fingers mostly, although ofc it depends on the song type.

So yeah, any tips for either would be appreciated ^

- Pea0n
 
Gripmaster & Powerball! Both can be had for about a tenner, i beleive.
Gripmaster will help the most out of the two, as powerball is more forearms and gripmaster will strengthen your ... grip? :p
powerballorangetopwebrz8.jpg

gripmasterlrghr6.jpg
 
Top advice that- you don't need to be particularly strong or flexible to play any guitar, it's all in your technique. Barre chords, for example, become much easier when you learn how to fret properly, and you'll find your fret stretch is massively improved by holding the guitar in the correct position for your wrist, especially on a bass.

The only way to improve your picking is by picking and picking some more.
 
The trouble I'm having is basically picking anything for an extended rythmn the top string (in my case E string). If i'm playing something like My Own Summer or Hysteria, parts of that are ok when the rythm isnt repetative. On the other hand when doing some parts from Holy Diver or American Idiot for example, ther needs to be a veryt fast rythmic plucking and thats what i'm struggling at and why I was thibnking it might be something to do with finger strength. Note its ok on the other strings, just on the op i'm having problems, any tips for exercises to improve it?

- Pea0n
 
The only thing I'd say is, try and use as little effort as possible. Pluck as lightly as possible because if you're doing it hard or with a lot of force, you're basically making it harder for yourself.

Aside from that, you just need to keep doing it until it becomes second nature.
 
Yeah, when I started playing i used to try and do it as hard as possible, but recently I've been relying on doing it reasonably lightly and relyinf mor on the amp/FX pedal for more volume etc. seems to be working. ta :)

- Pea0n
 
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