How to Get the Best Tone on an Upright Bass Guitar

Getting the best tone from an upright bass depends upon the player's hands and the left hand in particular. A good quality upright bass delivers a fine tone, but the upright bass' tone is in the player's ability to position the left hand to finesse the bass to its utmost.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start with the proper placement of the left hand. The upright bass player's left hand is critical.

2. Place the thumb so it is centered on the back of the bass' neck. The thumb should be set firmly, but without too much pressure. Pushing too hard with the thumb inhibits the tone.

3. Play the bass with the tips of the fingers. The fingertip should be used and not the side of the finger. Practice the finger movement in a light sweeping motion. The fingering must be precise because the upright bass is fretless and improper finger placement will throw off the rest of the band.

4. Use either three or four fingers to play. Some players use the three finger method, playing without using the ring finger, and this works well on some songs. It is up to the individual player as to the number of fingers to use.

5. Try the thumb position. The so-called thumb position is created when the bass player slips the little finger off the strings and uses the thumb in its place.