Hey folks,
I’ve tried adjusting hand position, but it feels like my hand anatomy makes it impossible to correct, my index finger doesn’t turn like the others. My nail started to change the shape. Any advice on how to deal with this?
Thanks!
That is a huge stretch…. Not a very relaxed position I think you don’t need to that
Use microshifting ( look it up on the forum) , and I think the position of your thumb should be a little more in between the middle and ringfinger on the neck.
BUT : I’m definitely no expert here, been playing for 2 years just trying to help out a bit 
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You’re right.
Probably I will never use this type of stretch in reality. But still, I cant make my index straight, is always fretting with the left side of my finger.
Thank you for the advice!
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Try pivoting with your thumb on back of neck…like an easy micro swing
if that doesnt workout do the microshift as Qenden stated
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You might also want to play around with the position of your bass: strap length, neck angle and headstock position. They have a huge influence on the fretting hand.
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Experience tells me as I went through that stage as likely most do as new players, its easy to put ones personal theories of how they think things are supposed to work as to how they really are.
Maybe this four fret spread is unrealistic for a person who didn’t practice cello as a youth.
You’ll get a bunch of tid bit answers that may lead somewhere but your answer and understanding will be clearly understood likely within your first 100 to 200 hours of actual practice.
Basic motor control functions are built and refined through repetition and no other way, hammer out your first 500 hours asap and your questions will be much different than this one.
Its a struggle when one has unwilling and uncooperative fingers that don’t do as they are told, get control through doing…
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i agree. a ton of these problems as beginners tend to magically disappear in time. which doesn’t mean people shouldn’t ask about it or work on it, but they really do get better as your mind and body learns.
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In this kind of stretch, it is anatomically normal to fret with the side of the finger, and there’s nothing wrong with that. As long as you are not overstretching nor feel pain. But at those frets, when trying one finger per fret, it is normal to fret with the side of the index finger.
I took some classes with a local teacher and he showed me that.
Most of the calluses I have on my fretting hand’s index finger are on its side.
I don’t think you are doing it wrong. But try microshifting if the stretch is uncomfortable.
Ps: I read your post again. You said your nail is changing its shape, so maybe you are indeed turning the finger sideways too much or fretting too hard. Maybe microshifting might be a better idea in this case.
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Thanks so much to everyone who helped me out! I learned a lot from your advice, and I’m confident it’ll work. I really appreciate the support 
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anytime!
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If it’s an exercise then you’d roll your wrist or micro shift from index to pinky. I do the blue licks in G on a 35" scale I know it’s doable. Doing chords? probably not 
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Even if trying to cover that 4-fret span, I’d probably use a smaller stretch. Put index finger right on top of the 1st fret, and then pinky 1/4" below the 4th fret.
I make a point to fret the 1st fret pretty much straight on top of the fret every time, and try to do the same for the 2nd fret. Higher frets I’m more okay being a bit behind them.
Fretting on top of the fret takes the least amount of force. You just don’t need to press as far on the string. Lower frets take more force because you’re bending less string at the greatest angle from the nut.
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