urb Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 ... play guitar! ... OK so no miracle cure here but I have discovered something inadvertanly by playing a lot of acoustic (steel string) guitar this week and fretting some tricky chords - for several hours - that coming back to the bass my 'core strength' of my fretting hand seems to have improved, especially the little/pinky finger - by holding chords, with all four fingers and having to exert unified amounts of pressure - as opposed to widdling away playing lots of scales - has really helped. I've read elsewhere about playing long notes slowly as being a better warm up routine than playing fast scales - and yes that is kind of good - but I've found this far more effective. Anyway hardly reinventing the wheel I know, but I really noticed it - so thought I'd share... as you were Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 It might just be that you are playing more? I found playing upright bass really made me appreciate the bass guitar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 [quote name='urb' timestamp='1382033458' post='2247050'] ...hardly reinventing the wheel I know, but I really noticed it - so thought I'd share... [/quote] Yes, you're right - I play guitar (not publicly!) and I find that it definitely improves my bass playing. I think it may be due to using different muscles, or rather the same muscles in a different way, that builds up general hand strength, for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Good technique Mike. I also have a bass with a really high action which does a similar job. Practoce on that and then I switch to my normal bass... and pow. Similar principal to Bill Dickens Buddah Rope I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_the_bass Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 As an addition to this... for increasing both strength and speed play lots of guitar hero or similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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