Left/right hand syncronisation
Add to favorites A series of exercises to develop syncronisation, stamina and speed between right and left hand fingers
I use 2 fingers on pickin’ hand 1212 1212
The examples are shown in one position, but should be transposed up and down the neck (eat your vegetables)
Tritone
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.Fifths
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.Major thirds
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.Minor thirds
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.Octaves
JeffryLogan said,
March 20, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
if only your site was awailable 15 years ago….
damobass said,
February 22, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
hi marlowe, im as frustrated as s**t with playing my bass, i watch your videos on youtube and im always inspired but then i pick up my bass and feel like all my practise is gettin me nowhere u know, did u ever want to smash your bass up!!!
dries said,
January 27, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
Hey, I’m also trying to work this exercise the other way… pickin 1212 1212 consistent is working fine, but 2121 2121… is a lot harder…
I also find myself being not really relaxed when playing this, after a few minutes I feel my muscles of my lower-arm ‘harden up’.
Do you also recommend doing this exercise with alternating from A to G-string? (and E to D , and maybe even E to G?)
Why pick 21 21? Always do the same , 1 on downbeats, 2 on off beats
Reg. string skipping, yes do the same exercise skipping the string in the middle as you suggests.
BTW, this is only something to do as warmup – play real musical stuff as a general practicing schedual
Gisho said,
January 21, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
And for how long do you do (per day), or used to do this exercises ?
At a time a did it for 10 – 15 minutes for warm up
andybass said,
December 23, 2008 @ 4:55 am
Hey Marlowe, I am a bass player and have been playing for about two years, I am currently learning Teen Town – Jaco Pastorius and i have trouble synchronizing my left hand and right hand with the opening sequence. Do you have any suggestions on string jumping?, I can play the rest of the song fine. Thanks.
Remember to alternate fingers and try using open strings when possible (ie use the open G in the intro)
Frozen said,
December 2, 2008 @ 11:36 am
I also did it with index and ring…
Is it wrong (if there is something like “wrong” in autodidactorial ways of learning bass) ?
Rodztar13 said,
November 29, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
i was able to get the fast one starting with the middle finger but when i realized i was also using the ring finger unconsiously and its easier
tmdlong said,
November 10, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
I had to do this painfully slow to get it clean, humbling but very needed. Thank you much for the constructive advice and encouragement Marlowe.
Cialison said,
October 28, 2008 @ 11:15 pm
I don’t get the same sound with my index (1) finger as I do with my middle finger. I always seem to catch my finger nail on the string and it sounds a lot less mellow.
Nail clippers exists;-)
Jerry Attrick Bass said,
September 28, 2008 @ 5:31 am
Wow you answered each of the post’s question!! What a great teacher.
tboz said,
September 26, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
I’ve playing for years but just haven’t had a LIGHT BULB MOMENT currently in a working band regular shows and all. I would give it all up to be a better player do i need to start back at the basics. We play alot of blues and vintage rock; crowds like it but to me it’s just covers.I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong when it comes to practice time.Any advice would be appreciated.
The light bulb moment only comes if you practice consistently. Playing covers learned me to play, a suggestion is to study the covers even more for details yuo missed the first or second time. Learning from the masters and putting the stuff together in a new way
wannabeabetterbassplayer said,
September 23, 2008 @ 12:55 am
Hello. I just discovered this site today, and I am as excited as a kid in a candy store!! I saw you on youtube, and it was love at first sight! Anyway, I have been playing for several years now, but i’ve developed a very bad habit. I never actually strengthened my pinkie finger enough to play my notes clearly, so I’ve compensated all these years by using my 3rd finger for octaves and everything. I have some speed, but do you think that handicaps me?
A lot of musicians have “bad pinky habits”, look at Larry Graham’s left hand – its a “disaster” in “correct” terms;-) The greatest downside of only using the first 3 fingers on your left hand, is that you cant reach notes out of the position you are in as you would with all 4 fingers; When i mean reach – think of a piano keyboard – 4 fingers reach further than 3…
compulsive said,
September 23, 2008 @ 12:50 am
Now I have a teacher…cooool!!!!
thanks Marlowe
bbBassYo said,
September 21, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
ok thanks:) but i guess for example while playing 16th notes and switching to the string above, its bad to begin on the upper string with the finger you last used on the lower string or is it?
thats something that just happens without thinking when i do it
yes, you should always alternate
bbBassYo said,
September 21, 2008 @ 11:42 am
Hey marlowe, does it make a big difference in playing when you begin playing with your middlefinger? cause thats what my fingers are used to..
Then do that, just be consistent 2121 2121 2121 2121.
But personally i think its easier to use 1′st on lower strings and 2′nd on higher strings when ie playin octaves, at more natural angle, but again if the other concept is natural to you…. We are all different and it should stay like that IMO:)
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masterjaques said,
August 19, 2009 @ 4:14 am
Thanx Marlowe for all the inspiration you’ve given me. You’re a true master. I’ve improved a lot of my technique thanx to you. How can I improve harmony.