How to Position Your Left Hand on Bass Guitar

You have to have a good left-hand technique when playing the bass guitar so that your fingers can reach any note and you will be able to play notes fast with a good tone. Mastering left-hand positioning will also help you relax because you aren't stressed out about the next note you need to find. The following will show you proper left-hand positioning to play the bass guitar more efficiently.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bass guitar

1. Make a C with your left hand if you are right-handed.

2. Turn the hand so that your fingers are facing away from you and your thumb is facing toward you and pointing up.

3. Arch your wrist just slightly upward.

4. Place your left hand on the guitar's neck so that the thumb is behind the neck between the first and the second fret and a little higher than midway up. The right side of your thumb pad should be touching the neck.

5. Situate your hand so that where your fingers attach to the hand is not behind the neck or in front of the neck, but directly underneath it.

6. Position all 4 fingers so that they are arched above the strings.

Tips & Warnings

• If your thumb is too high on the back of the neck, it will be uncomfortable and more difficult to play notes with your fourth finger.
• Do not hold the guitar so that the tip of your thumb is on the neck or the sides of your thumb are holding the guitar. Make sure and keep it on the right side of the pad of the thumb.
• Do not bend your wrist backwards when holding the guitar. This will make your left finger positioning uncomfortable and inefficient.