Getting a Great Bass Sound: Part 2

#1: Right Hand Approach and Shape

• Using only your index finger, place your hand so that the end of your finger is at the end of
the fingerboard
• Keep your other fingers curled into your fist
• Try to get as much skin on the string as possible
#2: Velcro Trick

• Cut a small piece of velcro and place it just above where your thumb naturally hits the side
of the fingerboard when your index finger is at the end of the fingerboard

#3: Strength Exercises

• USE A MIRROR to monitor your technique

• Play open strings, slowly with a metronome, concentrating on form and the sound that you
are producing

#4: Using Gravity

• Striking the string does not come from the finger alone–the legs, back, shoulders, and full
arms are involved in the process
• Experiment with letting the natural weight of your hand falling down aid your stroke
#5: "Float" Your Index Finger

• Experiment with turning your hand and finger as parallel to the string as possible (while still
being able to play)
• As you pull the string, notice the difference in pulling "in" to the fingerboard versus pulling
"across" to the next string

#6: "Open Up" Your Bass with Arco Dissonance

• Play dissonant intervals with the bow very slowly, close to the bridge, and with concentrated
volume
• You should fell the bass actually vibrating against you
• Do this for at least several minutes with multiple kinds of intervals in different places on the
instrument

#6: Addressing the Left Hand

• Notice how playing with the tips of your left hand versus the pads of the fingers changes the
sound
• Use gravity here, too, to allow for a more robust approach to the neck
• Approach the strings from "on top" of the string, maintaining the shape of the letter "C" with
your thumb
• The thumb will be generally "behind" the middle finger