why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
- Thread starter Willy25
- Start date
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
Longer scale equals more string tension plus bigger strings make fretting seem "harder" than a guitar.
Keep practicing and soon it won't be an issue.
Maybe look into getting a shortscale bass if you have something like a standard P/J, Thunderbird or something similar.
Longer scale equals more string tension plus bigger strings make fretting seem "harder" than a guitar.
Keep practicing and soon it won't be an issue.
Maybe look into getting a shortscale bass if you have something like a standard P/J, Thunderbird or something similar.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
Football is definitely no respecter of fingers
I got mine jammed quite a bit...always seemed to happen when it was cold and wet. :smash:
Definitely look into the shorter scale, should be a bit easier to play than a long scale.
Football is definitely no respecter of fingers
I got mine jammed quite a bit...always seemed to happen when it was cold and wet. :smash:Definitely look into the shorter scale, should be a bit easier to play than a long scale.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
That we do! And cool man, let us know if the shorter scale makes a difference for ya.
That we do! And cool man, let us know if the shorter scale makes a difference for ya.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
More massive strings, longer neck, and the longer scale length. Also bass notes are more important! lol
I play both, and when I have bass gigs coming up I have to practice more to get my bass chops up to speed. Otherwise my left hand gets tired!
I've been playing bass 48 years. I find I like the lightest gauge strings I can get (usually sticking with .040 - .120 for 5 strings). I dislike heavy strings on bass or guitar.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
More massive strings, longer neck, and the longer scale length. Also bass notes are more important! lol
I play both, and when I have bass gigs coming up I have to practice more to get my bass chops up to speed. Otherwise my left hand gets tired!
I've been playing bass 48 years. I find I like the lightest gauge strings I can get (usually sticking with .040 - .120 for 5 strings). I dislike heavy strings on bass or guitar.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
Sounds like you are expecting to pick up a 20lb medicine ball and play basketball with it as easily as using a 20oz basketball.
Sounds like you are expecting to pick up a 20lb medicine ball and play basketball with it as easily as using a 20oz basketball.
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
Is it?
Its just....different. actually seems somewhat easier, at least for me.
Did notice that sitting around watching TV alternaring between bass and guitar every hour noodling or drills is a fast track to building some GNARLY lookin callouses
PS if your pinky is messed up, consider whether you actually NEED it all that much. Most styles, 3 fingers would probably suffice
Is it?
Its just....different. actually seems somewhat easier, at least for me.
Did notice that sitting around watching TV alternaring between bass and guitar every hour noodling or drills is a fast track to building some GNARLY lookin callouses
PS if your pinky is messed up, consider whether you actually NEED it all that much. Most styles, 3 fingers would probably suffice
Last edited:
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
If you have a small frame (like me) and the bass doesn't have a good setup, sometimes it can be hard. But a bass with good strings, set up for the player actually playing the bass, shouldn't be any harder to fret, though. Just use good left hand technique.
If you have a small frame (like me) and the bass doesn't have a good setup, sometimes it can be hard. But a bass with good strings, set up for the player actually playing the bass, shouldn't be any harder to fret, though. Just use good left hand technique.
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
Wait, OP, you wouldnt happen to be using a clanky shorter scale bass strung up with very light strings and/or unadjusted truss uneven frets improperly shimmed bolton or badly cut nut, whose action is WAY jacked up in attempt to eliminate string buzz????
Cause those can be WICKED rough to fret.
Low action, especially on bass, requires a good setup. And strings that are *heavy* enough.
Wait, OP, you wouldnt happen to be using a clanky shorter scale bass strung up with very light strings and/or unadjusted truss uneven frets improperly shimmed bolton or badly cut nut, whose action is WAY jacked up in attempt to eliminate string buzz????
Cause those can be WICKED rough to fret.
Low action, especially on bass, requires a good setup. And strings that are *heavy* enough.
toowrongfoo
New member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
I guarantee you that even though I'm in my 50's, I have smaller hands/fingers than just about anyone (even female) It's bad.
But a good setup and decent technique can make up for that. What I struggle with is "what is acceptable fret buzz" and it varies. Billy Sheehan is very very low action but he's a good luthier in his own right. If you watch youtube vids, there is more fret buzz than I personally like.
The point is that "one does not simply pick up a bass and it's perfect" Keep doing searches with buzz words like action/setup/etc and just check it out.
I guarantee you that even though I'm in my 50's, I have smaller hands/fingers than just about anyone (even female) It's bad.
But a good setup and decent technique can make up for that. What I struggle with is "what is acceptable fret buzz" and it varies. Billy Sheehan is very very low action but he's a good luthier in his own right. If you watch youtube vids, there is more fret buzz than I personally like.
The point is that "one does not simply pick up a bass and it's perfect"
Keep doing searches with buzz words like action/setup/etc and just check it out.Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
Doesnt actually HAVE to have ANY buzz.
Hmmm... oh wait i think i get it. Its probably a size/posture thing... if your arm is overextended, then add an awkward angle due to one of those atrocious baseball bat necks, and yeah itll be pure torture on small hands to get it fretted at all
What brand and model do you play? You might need a thin neck bass with a design that lets it hang a bit to your right (standing)
Oh and if seated, try placing it across your RIGHT leg not your left
I guarantee you that even though I'm in my 50's, I have smaller hands/fingers than just about anyone (even female) It's bad.
But a good setup and decent technique can make up for that. What I struggle with is "what is acceptable fret buzz" and it varies. Billy Sheehan is very very low action but he's a good luthier in his own right. If you watch youtube vids, there is more fret buzz than I personally like.
The point is that "one does not simply pick up a bass and it's perfect"
Doesnt actually HAVE to have ANY buzz.
Hmmm... oh wait i think i get it. Its probably a size/posture thing... if your arm is overextended, then add an awkward angle due to one of those atrocious baseball bat necks, and yeah itll be pure torture on small hands to get it fretted at all
What brand and model do you play? You might need a thin neck bass with a design that lets it hang a bit to your right (standing)
Oh and if seated, try placing it across your RIGHT leg not your left
Last edited:
toowrongfoo
New member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
check, check and check.
For me, I go back in fourth on string action. On one hand, it's nice to have the action higher and dig in. That of course eliminates buzz. But I think lower action with a lighter touch sounds better.
Different strokes, folks, you know.
check, check and check.
For me, I go back in fourth on string action. On one hand, it's nice to have the action higher and dig in. That of course eliminates buzz. But I think lower action with a lighter touch sounds better.
Different strokes, folks, you know.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
I use fairly low action and I pick the strings pretty hard! I like the way it sounds. I also keep my neck dead straight.
I got to play Jeff Berlin's Dean bass. The action was so low, every who tried it said "holy ****!" Lol. The wide frets were also very low. Every note buzzed. But it was a good buzz!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I use fairly low action and I pick the strings pretty hard! I like the way it sounds. I also keep my neck dead straight.
I got to play Jeff Berlin's Dean bass. The action was so low, every who tried it said "holy ****!" Lol. The wide frets were also very low. Every note buzzed. But it was a good buzz!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
toowrongfoo
New member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
Reminds me of stories I've heard about Victor Wootens basses.
Reminds me of stories I've heard about Victor Wootens basses.
toowrongfoo
New member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
I see what you did there!
I see what you did there!
Bass_Medic_05
Purveyor of Low End
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
Victor Wooten has small hands and short fat fingers and plays incredible, I've been to many clinics and watching him up close is amazing what true rare talent.
Victor Wooten has small hands and short fat fingers and plays incredible, I've been to many clinics and watching him up close is amazing what true rare talent.
toowrongfoo
New member
Re: why is bass harder to fret than guitar?
According to myth (or is it fact) his action is so low it's unplayable to the majority of people who have tried them.
In a way, that requires far more discipline than a higher action because there is no margin of error. I vacillate, sometimes I want scary low action and others I want it up where I can dig.
According to myth (or is it fact) his action is so low it's unplayable to the majority of people who have tried them.
In a way, that requires far more discipline than a higher action because there is no margin of error. I vacillate, sometimes I want scary low action and others I want it up where I can dig.
