Hey, all. I recently started learning bass and it’s going great! There’s only one hiccup which is my EDS, I’ve got Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and it couses my joints to be very weak. While fretting, I don’t have problems with my middle, ring and index fingers due to their size but when it comes to my pinky it just doesn’t want to push down the strings!
Are there any other people on here who have the same condition and do you guys think I should just toughen up and keep grinding that pinky or is that a not so great idea? Will I be able to train my way through or should I change my playstyle?
There’s a number of people here who work around or even without the pinky. The main advice is to micro-shift more and to train the pinky slowly but carefully (or to not use it!). @HighlandBass can comment.
I also find it helps to check the fretting hand thumb. Imagine the thumb and fretting finger are either supporting each other, or they form a pivot.
So, the thumb is the furthest away from the pinky and that causes a pivot. You can try to shift the thumb closer “under” the pinky, i. e. the same fret, but on the backside of the neck of course.
Yes, I don’t have EDS but I do have arthritis in my fretting pinky and if I use it fretting for even just 20 mins if becomes very painful so I’ve stopped using it. This means I have to do micro shifting. This isn’t too hard but it does mean your fretting hand has to be a little more mobile!
So when you want to hit a fret three up from where, say, your index has just fretted then instead of using the pinky you must shift up a little so you can reach that fret with your ring finger.
That is what I do though the other option, which is very similar, is to use the Simandl method. Here’s a Josh video comparing the two approaches.
Thanks for your reply, I will try out your suggestions.
For now, moving my thumb closer to the position of my pinky indeed helps to take some of the strain away, thank you!
Thanks for the info, sounds like I have to start micro shifting more often. Using Simandl looks very promising in some situations. I’ll have to start incorporating both techniques into my playstyle.
The important thing to remember is that there is no “absolute right fingering” for the stuff in the course. Josh emphasizes using your pinkie a lot to strengthen it up. A lot of people start the course with “weak” pinkie fingers. But Josh also acknowledges several times (maybe in the videos, maybe in the comments below them) that sometimes you have to work around limitations you have. If you can do it the way he suggests, then do it. If your condition prevents it, then you’ll have to modify as you see fit to make it work.
Also check out a short scale bass at a music store. Strings have less tension and are easier to play. I play shorties for physical issues so give one a spin
Hi! Fellow EDSer here. Please don’t grind through since we’re at extra risk of connective tissue injury that won’t ever heal!
As @antonio and @HighlandBass gave great advice about workarounds. On top of EDS I have very small hands so will microshift, one finger per fret, or Simandl as the situation calls for. I would also really focus on minimum viable pressure in fretting with your pinky. It’s lighter than you’d think especially with your thumb moved. Within reason there are no one hard and fast rules for “correct” other than it shouldn’t hurt to play and it should sound good.
If you do want to work up your pinky strength go slow and take breaks. When I wanted to increase mine I spent months playing "Stargazer” by Rainbow every couple of days starting at 50% speed and gradually increasing since it’s like 75% octaves and long as hell. It worked in keeping me motivated in being able to see my progress. But really be patient with yourself and listen to your body.
@Wombat-metal absolutely brings up a good point as well that a different bass might be more ergonomically correct! Jonathan Wong’s YouTube channel is an excellent resource specifically for short scales. Another thing to consider is if a slimmer neck will help either on a long or short scale. Even tho I’m 4’11” my long scale Ibanez jazz neck is wonderfully comfortable whereas some of the sort scales I tried I loved the sound but not the neck profile. If you have the ability to go to stores and try things out it’s a great way to figure out what might work and not.
Also want to point out that many people think bass playing is about the pushing of notes on the strings with the hand that is fretting. Actually for a lot of people the real joy is figuring out how to simply “pull” for those notes or how to lean into not needing to fret the note at all with an open string or something.
No one says you have to PUSH down on the strings with your fretting hand–you are free as-all-get-out to re-work any bass tabs out there to work for how you want to play it. Is there a way to “pull” the note as an entire hand rather than some over stretched finger? YES! You might not be as “fast” sounding but I guarantee it will SOUND like you are putting in a TON of feeling into it by making it work for you! Think of stuff by John Lee Hooker or even ZZ Top–the real “sound” comes from the strumming hand and the fretting is relatively easy or the bass/guitar is tuned to make it more like a slide/open cord tuning.
If you have an OT or a PT that specializes in EDS, they may be able to help but with safely strengthening your pinky and with alternate techniques. I don’t know of any OTs that specialize in playing bass, but I’m sure that there are some who do play bass.