Been playing since mid-March. Currently just finishing module 11. I am trying to figure out how to fix my plucking hand (I play right-handed). At the moment, my plucking sucks. It’s weak and inconsistent. What I am trying to figure out is the appropriate angle for my plucking hand. What I am finding is that my angle is bad, and when I pluck, it feels like my plucks are basically mostly powered by the end joints on my fingers, which makes them weak. When I watch videos of professionals, it looks like the entire finger is powering the pluck, not just the last joints, and that would explain why their plucks appear smoother and far stronger and they would obviously have more endurance than I, since the whole finger is stronger than just the final joints of the finger. What is the proper wrist angle? I see some people with a smooth wrist and I also see others with their wrists pretty bent. What is right? I have tried adjusting the height of my bass (I usually play standing) and I can’t work out what the proper height should be. I feel that this is a big thing to get right, as right now I find I cannot pluck properly because I am constantly having to readjust my plucking wrist because nothing feels right.
Since everyone’s bodies (and basses) are different there’s no one and done rule for plucking ergonomics.
I have both very small hands and am double jointed I found that switching to a float thumb style rather than anchoring on the pickup made a huge difference in plucking comfort and speed. Anchoring on the pickup I was ending up with pain in my right thumb and a locked up hand. Now I use mostly my middle finger joints and use a lighter touch rather than a more aggressive one for most playing. I play a couple hours a day this way without any issues.
You’ve said you’ve tried different strap heights, but have you tried different angles of your bass (as in how horizontal the neck is vs vertical)? It might also be worth experimenting where the top cutout sits relative to your torso centerline. If you’re reaching over a wider part of the body that might also be causing unnatural feelings.
My two cents is to keep trying different things but focus on how your plucks sound as well. If you are able to get a consistently good sound and playing feels natural and comfortable for long periods of time then that is probably the right one for you even if it looks slightly different than what you see other people doing.
I do absolutely agree that it’s worth figuring out the correct way to pluck now tho! Best of luck and keep at it!
Thanks for the advice! I am using floating thumb already. I find that my plucking hand is twisted though so my knuckles are not parallel to the bass surface. Should they be? With my hand twisted it feels like the right edge of my right hand is always really close to the strings so I am almost palm muting without meaning to. And I am trying different angles as well as setting the centerline angle. So far I am just not able to find that elusive perfect spot. I’ll keep grinding at it. I was just hoping some hints would point me in the right direction.
This sounds more like a position for when plucking with a pick. But if you are plucking with your fingers, then you shouldn’t turn your hand like that. The right edge of your plucking hand should not touch the strings.
Josh shows the correct plucking hand position in the beginning of the course. Maybe it would help you to watch it again.
YouTube also has videos showing the plucking from different camera angles.
Is it possible to you to book one private lesson with a bass teacher, so he or she could see what you are doing and show you how to improve your plucking? That might be the best solution for this problem.
Gotcha! Ya that does sound like something isn’t right with that sort of twist. My gut instinct says that I would look at your elbow and shoulder position as well. It sounds like you’re twisting your hand to reach the strings compensate for a misalignment further up your arm.
This are the questions I would double check to try and figure out where the adjustment needs to happen:
Is your shoulder in a relaxed position? Not lifted or twisted?
How about your elbow?
Where is your forearm crossing or resting on the body of you bass? If it’s hitting in the wrong spot that could be causing your forearm to turn and your wrist and fingers to twist to compensate.
What is the angle of the heel of your hand to the body of the base? Is it parallel?
Also, have you tried playing other basses? Do you have the same issue on them? There’s the possibility that the current bass you’re playing isn’t a good match for ergonomics.
Dunno if any of that is useful! I’m sure other folks will be able to provide more insight as well
I too am still struggling with my plucking hand, though my struggles relate more to speed than strength (my consistency isn’t great though).
I think because we’re all built differently there isn’t a “one size fits all” position, but I would definitely avoid having too much bend in the wrist. For me, the key thing is to make sure you’re pulling across the strings rather than upwards - though I still occasionally get this wrong, particularly at speed or when crossing strings.
These things take development ( motor function control ) which takes time, effort and practice, and little by little they increase.
Take note as your hours accumulate, take inventory regularly, hours are best measured in the hundreds in stead of singles or tens.
No need to ask as the answer can be surmised.
But not everyone will have the same experience.
A little guidance from an expert can save most people from what happened with you.
Take a lesson or two, and or youtube it to get what you need.
Never before in history has so much how to been so easily accessible.
I’m confused and rather uncomfortable as to why you felt is was appropriate to ask a Chatbot to confirm whether or not my lifetime lived experience with hyper mobility is real instead of just asking me, the person, who has spoken about it several times on this forum for clarification?
My main suggestion would be:
Take one or two private lessons with a proper bass teacher .
(“proper” meaning, not a guitar player who also teaches bass, or a drummer who also teaches bass. But a bass player who teaches bass!)
Ideally in person, if not via Zoom, with a camera.
My guess is that in less than an hour you will know what to work on in a much better, detailed and nuanced way than a forum can help.
I love the forum and learned a ton from it. But a little like @faydout mentioned, practicing poor technique (as you are trying to improve it) can sometime cement poor habits.
It’s a fine line: Of course we need to practice our technique when it is poor in order to get better.
But sometime we end up cementing bad habits, or even worse, injuring ourselves (ask me how I know… )
If your current issue is one that might lead to injuries, my opinion is fix it early, spend the little bit of extra money on it, and the payout is huge.
Not every poor technique is one that is likely to lead to injury. But from your description of wrist angle and using the last joint of your fingers (two areas that are not used to force and angles), I would say don’t risk it, take one lesson and start right.
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