Are Your Hands *too small* to Play Bass? (5 *BIG* Mistakes)

[@ArcticFFox]

I'm almost a year into playing bass and I was genuinely surprised to find out that while not perfect, I do half the things on the list subconsciously already. My small hands didn't hold me back or make me look up how to play with small hands. It does make me a little smug though.

[@joriankell1983]

Awesome. Never stop practicing

[@BusinessZeus]

MY HANDS ARE TOO BIG, IMPOSSIBLE TO PLAY OPEN CHORDS GADDAMAT!

[@nathalie468]

@@BusinessZeus Sad

[@enginerd108]

dude I started like a week ago and I like instantly put my hand in the right spot my hubris is insane

[@kindauncool]

"My small hands didn't hold me back **or make me look up how to play with small hands**. It does make me a little smug though." This sentence perfectly encapsulates the feeling I get when I happen upon a BassBuzz video and he mentions a tip that I didn't even look up but still use.

[@malapangolina9200]

Ahh, I needed this. As a small girl with small hands... THANK YOU, JOSH!

[@SamasakiXBL]

About the pick vs finger debate, it's not a debate. Learn both. They are different tools that have different functions and can help you spot muting problems among both kinds of playing. Learning is fun!

[@x_DeadPixels_x]

This! Literally never used to use a pick, went through loads of different types til I found one I really like (Dunlop shark fins), still trash with pick or finger 😂 haven't been playing all that long, but it's so much fun both ways!

[@DiscreetHobo]

@@x_DeadPixels_x Agreed. Ive recently fallen in love with Boss 0.60mm picks. never slipped with my grip. very tactile. I feel the string through the pick. and speed playing is really comfortable

[@musenw8834]

That and also bassists playing heavier genres tend to use pick for continuity and sometimes for speed. Probably 1.2mm or thinner picks might work for the most part. But yeah, if you play with a pick you can sort of check your own fretting hand muting technique more than picking hand .

[@dainlynam2891]

@@x_DeadPixels_x Dude. I have been playing since I was 14 and I’m 50 now. The reason why I’m not so good is because I have never been religious about it. I was on a good role for a bit and learned to play with a pick. I’m having a hard time with the fingers because I have always played with a pick. Good day!

[@ashleighsalinas8526]

Maybe I'm broken or something but I've tried and tried playing with a pick but it's always a failure. I can't even play guitar with a pick lol even when I picked up my first ever guitar in high school. Always felt more natural to use fingers although I might try using a pick again soon and maybe it will click eventually.

[@fantasyremixes1919]

What he says about bad positioning is seriously good advice. I used to play the wrong way until I got tendonitis on the base of my thumb and couldn't play for months. After slow healing, I started paying attention to the positioning, and though it was awkward at first, I got used to it quickly. It feels easier, more comfortable, and I can play way better.

[@leanneaurisch3096]

I'm a 5Ft2 54 yr old Australian Woman - grew up with piano but this year started teaching myself guitar - its very hard with small hands and I'm improving but sometimes its just so hard and not fun. I just bought myself a Fender Mustang Bass (in Butterscotch Blonde - so pretty) and I've been learning from your videos the past few days - I think I've found my instrument...I'm having so much fun and I'm in rhythmic love!!! Thank you, helpful, witty guy from the other side of the World

[@TheBcoolGuy]

Haha small lady, much like my mother. :) But from down under. I'm happy for you. I'm sure it's just a matter of technique (skill issue), but I'm a 5'8 (and a half! 😊) guy with medium-sized hands and I find basses enormous.

[@MonserratFoster]

I chose to go with a short scale one because the normal sized ones I felt were almost my height when I saw them in the shop. The short scale felt better for me and more comfortable and they're less heavy. Since I'm learning and I have back issues, I decided to go that route, so far no regrets.

[@TomMilleyMusic]

I'm a short scale fan as well. Makes going back and forth with guitar easier, and even though my hands are big enough it just feels better. I have carpel tunnel syndrome as well. Bettering my technique has helped a lot, but the short scale bass just makes things that much better for me

[@musenw8834]

How short is short? The 30" or 28.6"?

[@joriankell1983]

Good move

[@qiu3664]

pp

[@icdogg2361]

I feel like I'll be able to slide up and down with my thumb, that seems pretty natural. But I would rather hold something lighter than some of the basses I've tried, if all else equal.

[@amelied4814]

Ive been playing bass for a while now. The whole time, i just played by ear and never really had any technique. I found this channel about 2 months ago and i have improved so so much. I cannot thank you enough for posting these videos, and for free. We love you!!

[@charlesdigennaro4981]

63 years old and with small hands. I’ve been playing normal scale my whole life and I found this video very informative. Sometimes I have to be reminded to get back to the basics.

[@nicolasburchett0515]

Probably the best video out there for us folks with short fingers and smaller hands. I've switched to bass from being a guitarist over 40 years and videos like this have been invaluable to helping me with a successful transition. Thanks for clearing up the myth that you have to have long ass fingers to play bass effectively!

[@lifeoff-road280]

This has got to be one of THE BEST channels for musical instruction on KZbin. Not only is the information super practical, but the video production is tops. Thanks for your effort, gang.

[@BassBuzz]

Thanks so much, appreciate that!

[@rebeccav.3734]

I've been playing for about five years now and when I first started, I avoided many basslines because I thought my hands were too small. Once I learned how to micro shift (and use my pinky lol), I went back to those "impossible" basslines and learned all of them!

[@jesscervi5366]

i've been playing bass for about 4 months now, your videos have helped me improve so much. i record myself playing the same song every month and can see a vast improvement. thank you!

[@SxSxG666]

I recently sprained my pinky so I couldn't use it for some time and limited my fretting fingers to the first three. This seriously improved my micro shifting and even altered some aspects of my playing afterwards. I am happy to have my little one back now but to be honest I can play almost everything with just three fingers. I have big hands but it is mostly about positioning and not the size. Don't use this last sentence on a first date ;)

[@absoluteai41]

I dislocated mine years ago and its never been the same since. I will say, those little hand strengthening devices help a bit.

[@SxSxG666]

@@absoluteai41 Luckily I only play bass and no real instrument :)

[@EatingThread]

Same thing happened to me recently

[@boopbeep]

I have ehlers danlos, my pinkies are shockingly my most frequent full dislocations. I’ve been working on guitar (my dads dreadnaught acoustic is a bit huge for my small frame and mobility issues. I’m gonna get a smaller guitar because I do still want to learn) and I’ve been playing violin for years. Even for violin I’d often microshift to not use my pinky when I couldn’t use it because of injury. I’m gonna start bass soon and it’s nice to know that some of my skills will be helpful to be successful. My hands are child size 😅😅

[@DiscreetHobo]

Love that Josh used A Squire Bass. Showing that you don't need pricy stuff to get a great tone. my Squire Jazz has one of the nicest feeling playing experiences I have ever played. 2nd only to a Luthier's work and its only £219

[@mr.nazareth4501]

My poor Affinity Squier needs to get frets polished and new screws (which don't affect playability anyway) but it still plays like a dream 😭😭

[@schwermetall666]

Came for info on hand size and appropriate fretting technique, stayed for the warm-up flexibility practice move. Things can be so simple sometimes, if someone just points them out to you! That's what makes Josh's videos so valuable to me.

[@abbyc4779]

I'm a girl with small hands (5'4" so semi-short lol) and I started playing bass in August, this video helps a lot! Thanks Josh! :)

[@emilygastelum6641]

Same here! 5'5" on a good day! Haha

[@VeganGorilla555]

My eyes have been opened! I've been saying for a long time that my hands were too small to play bass, now I want to start playing again. :)

[@Manwitch60]

I have a short scale bass and love it as I am a short scale dude...just picking it up again after 30 years and it feels great! Thank you for these lessons.

[@glenngreenstein6825]

I play a Fender and I have another bass that is a 24 fret long scale bass and I don't have long fingers like Josh. An exercise that helped me was keeping my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd finger in place on the corresponding frets and placing my pinky on the 4th and then stretching it to the 5th fret without moving the other 3 fingers. I took me about a month to be able to do this where it felt natural but it really improved my reach.

[@ProgrammedForDamage]

Wow, I've been playing bass for years and even though my positioning isn't bad, that simple exercise of lining up with the pinkie took some strain off my wrist which I didn't know I had. Super useful. I've got weirdo genetics; 6'3 with size 13 feet and big palms, but with these little stubby fingers attached. Thanks dad.

[@MaxThunderbeef]

Just grabbed my bass while watching this to try out the pinkification exercise, and it immediately helped me understand how to position my tiny hand and solved a lot of the problems I've been having!

[@mastercrashjacks]

This vid is awesome. Many years ago my brother said that my hands were way to small to ever play the bass. Well, now that I have returned to playing the bass, those words still echo in my mind. Thank you so very much for this vid! I can now start playing again without anything holding me back!!!

[@annemariemattheyse808]

This is SO encouraging! I’m originally a cellist, and started my bass journey on a Taylor minibass - such a sweet instrument, especially with acoustic guitar! But when I got my electric bass (a Fender P bass) I was disoriented and discouraged when I realized I suddenly couldn’t play a finger per fret anymore. Some lessons on the Fender app have helped, but your video has given me a welcome boost! I shift all the time on cello. I got this!

[@bellastown]

As an average sized older person i find a short scale bass more manageable, not just for old creaky finger stretches, but also for nut width, neck thickness, and sheer weight. I tried a full size squier jazz and it was like an anvil round my neck. I chose comfort.

[@yvettegraveline445]

Thanks!

[@BassBuzz]

Thanks for the support Yvette!

[@Xenolution2502]

Thanks Josh! I’ve been playing bass with small-ish hands for around a year now. Your videos are always helpful!

[@Jeff-dx3ql]

Another great video to help us newbies out here struggling to sound half way decent! Thank you Josh!

[@Leifr57]

Man,Iplay regular 6string guitar since 1982,and I just spent ages of doing the exercises and focusing on the shoulder-elbow_wrist alignement you recommend,and each time on demo(family,friends,whatever...)people always say:"how can you stretch your finger to reach that?"Gotta know that i'm of average size and got chubby hardworker fingers.So I say:all you explain is totally relevant+my girl started playing bass guitar a while ago,and loves your way to teach(there's a bass and an amp at home,and lots of other things... Trouble is:she really has tiny tiny hands,even with a proper position and good stretch it's pretty hard+she's absolutely not confident,alongside with technicall advices,how would you dare her to play?????

[@johnfollis2357]

Learning not to force your hands to stretch has helped me tremendously over the years. And the interesting things, now I can stretch more than I used to be able too. Big hands and long fingers are not Necessary to play bass.

[@Mr4Strings]

Excellent video and advice, as usual Josh. Your "Hey, no problem, you can do this" attitude in everything you teach is such a relief and I use it often when struggling with something. Keep the vids coming Josh, you're the best. And Holy Snykies!!!!! How tall are you and Victor Wooten?

[@Kairo_068]

For reference of how tall Josh is compared to victor wooten, victor wooten is supposedly 5’8. Which means Josh should be the lakers center right now. But victor isn’t that tall. He’s tall yeah but I’ve met him and he’s not incredibly tall. I’m 6’10 and my brother is 6’1 and my brother makes him look small. So he’s not small, people around him are just really yall. Hope this helps!

[@oliverbowen17]

Thank you so much I started playing bass three weeks ago and you’ve helped me so much you really are the best dude

[@Xanderviceory]

I'm more of a guitar player, basically everything you covered here is why I never stuck with the bass. something about it did not feel natural, but after watching this video (multiple times with bass in hand) now I know EXACTLY what to do to get around with accuracy. i dont have small hands, theyre quite adept to piano playing (octave +2 stretch) however my hand angle to the neck was causing a pinch in my wrist before, now its fine. the micro shifting is something I do on guitar but didnt think about it with bass, now my accuracy is better, feels more natural, not hurting my hand even on my massive triple neck instrument "The Galaxian Trident" I'm having a much easier time. Thank you so much for this video breakdown. I can now play on my bass guitars better, now im off to go through your whole channel learning everything I can.

[@danielbatista449]

I get the point that is not impossible to play the bass with small hands, and the video does a good job in providing tools to make this viable. However, in my opinion, we should not overlook the fact that small hands adds a layer of challenge that is not faced by individuals with telescopic fingers. In other words, it is possible, but probably harder. And I agree that if you want to play a full 34" scale bass (with its classic sonic properties), go for it. But in my case, playing short scales offered me a hand (no pun intended) in overcoming part of the challenge of playing the instrument. And I'm very happy with it. Maybe if I decided to insist on 34" bass I would be frustrated and maybe given up. Pick or no pick, long or short scale, use 2, 3 or 4 fingers, for me, the ultimate goal is to make music and have fun! Different things works different for different people! Let's keep rocking!

[@musenw8834]

It takes a while to find the right bass ☺️ both in comfort and playability

[@NateButlerFresnoCA]

I really enjoyed this video! I have small hands, yet after learning some piano I took up the bass at age 15 in 1980, before there was the internet to help me find my way, so I had to discover a lot of things on my own. Through trial and error I taught myself every technique you describe in this video, and have since played in many kinds of bands (including pit bands for musical theatre), but it sure would’ve been helpful to have had it clearly explained to me back when I was starting out. So in a way, this video explained to me “why I do THAT,” because it’s become so automatic that I don’t think about it anymore - it’s just the way I play. Today, I make my living as a cocktail lounge pianist, but now, after hardly playing bass since the pandemic lockdown in 2020, I’m really getting back into my bass, and videos like yours are helping me get my head back into it. So thank you, and I’ve subscribed!

[@wesleybrehm9386]

Yay, you're back! I missed you :) Hand size definitely doesn't matter, and thank you for pointing it out. You touched on stretch briefly, but I'll chime in an anecdote. After playing bass for most of my teenage life, I realized my fretting hand stretches almost an inch more than my picking hand when I fan my fingers out naturally side by side. I picked up a short scale bass earlier this year to teach my elderly mother how to play bass (by doing the Beginner to Badass course with her). She was really struggling with my jazz bass due to having smaller, older hands. So far she's doing really well after switching to the short scale. For her, it's more about having fun than trying to become a gigging musician. I love how the short scale bass sounds; honestly, I love the sound of the $200ish short scale more than my fancy Fender jazz bass. However, my hands are too big to comfortably play the short scale. I can fret 1-6 with the reach of my giant hand that is used to playing 34" scale.

[@keeliparker5990]

I've started watching your videos only recently because I want to start playing bass. I (a small handed person) appreciate these tips so much!

[@PajuTheAccursed]

i have the same belief, no matter who you are you can make art, music included, and guitar/bass is a great example where some people are born with some advantages, yet still need a lot of training to get good. also i love the daft punk shirt

[@Cowdog1]

I recently purchased his DVD course. I'm in module 2. I really, really like this course. The pace is excellent. Bass is awesome! Cheers! (Ellen is the reason I decided to give it a try... I don't have alien fingers. )

[@tonym7051]

I LOVE Precision basses, but I never got one because I always thought they were too big for my hands, so I played a short scale jaguar bass. This video convinced me to go buy one, thank you!!

[@michaelbell75]

The Squier Mini P (or the Fender P JR made in 02-06 if you can find it) is awesome. P bass tone in a bass not much bigger that a guitar. Why struggle with a heavy bass and thick neck just to play a P bass? You dont have to.

[@AmishThursday]

Easy fix. I switched to the Sterling short scale basses. Played standard six basses for years. Never again. Theses basses still have 22 frets. Not missing anything. Even have an ibanez short scale fiver. There is simply no need for standard size bass if you choose not to play one. Easier on my shoulders too. I actually never had a problem playing the standard scale bass. I have small hands too. It’s the weight of the bass I did not like.

[@thiagopereira1648]

It feels like my little hands grew after watching this video. Right now I'm feeling ROBERT JOHNSON LIKE, YEAH! Thank you, Josh, for all the lessons (and laughters)!

[@Lyrichurns]

This actually helped so much, i was actually thinking about giving up because it's just so hard for me to reach frets and play faster

[@thaneknight]

Just this one video has done more to improve my bass playing than all the ones I've seen so far. When the instrument doesn't sound good, you don't want to play it. Now when I do, I enjoy it. Playing clean notes and running up and down the neck having fun. Dude, you ROCK!🤘

[@AndrewVanHausen]

I have small hands, possibly the smallest. I have a grand total of 7 fingers: both my thumbs, no pinkies, and no index on my fretting hand. I've been playing bass for 40 years, can play most things I hear (Victor and Stanley give me troubles, but they give everybody troubles) I've found that a long scale (35") with a narrow spacing is easier reach further on than a short scale with a wide spacing (like my electric stand up). I prefer something tighter than a standard Fender Jazz Spacing (17.5mm to 18mm between strings at the bridge). Spectors have been my most recent brand of choice, they're about 17mm, but most are 35 scale. (They do have short scale, but I'd like to find a 34). My point is that narrow spacing may help more than a short scale, although both make moves like octaves, chords, and other long reaches easier.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Great information. As a guitarist, I purchased a Sterling Stingray SS-4 and I'm really enjoying learning all the old Motown bass-lines, along with classic-Rock and Reggae. It plays and sounds amazing. oNe LoVe from NYC

[@pandasgotshades9444]

Thank you so much for making these videos. You have brought back my confidence and motivation to learn how to play instruments. I gave up on ukulele a while ago complaining my hands were too small and I didn't have rhythm. Thanks to your KZbin channel and beginner to badass I've learned I can play anything with good form and practice. So glad I found this channel!!!

[@nalomy]

I plan on starting to learn bass after graduating (I don't have time nor money right now to start lmao) and I was afraid that my small hands would be an obstacle Thanks man! Your channel motivates me to learn bass even more!

[@mjlee0411]

i love bassbuzz tutorials and the channel over all, i don't even have a bass yet and i'm already learning so much

[@louiscapra1621]

I was taught the hand positioning many years ago, been in bands through the years played various basses and it has served me well along with the sliding. Have to stay in playing shape to play bass with small hands for me.

[@emusedone]

Another great video. I started playing bass years ago as therapy due to autoimmune diseases that have destroyed my hands, fingers, joints. I loved music and the bass so decided to try to learn. Needless to say with my small hands and painful fingers that don’t work or have feeling it was a chore and I wanted to just quit many times. But I’ve adapted through the years. My technique looks ridiculous but my goal was to play the bass no matter what I had to do. I simply cannot stretch, and it only has gotten worse. Thank you for these tips and info, they’re helping me get around better!

[@mandyc3524]

As a PT student with a huge carrying angle who’s been trying to learn bass for years, this is super helpful!! Thanks so much!!

[@BassBuzz]

Glad it helped Mandy! I had to look up carrying angle lol, as I am NOT a PT student. :)

[@michaelbell75]

Love me some short scale basses! The current Squier Mini P bass is awesome, especially if you go back and forth between bass and guitar a lot. P bass tone out of a small and light guitar sized body with a slim neck, thats a win/win. My issue is more my shoulder than my hands. There are some fills in quite a few rock songs where they will slide up to 11th or 12th fret for a fill and back down to the 2nd or 3rd really quick. If you have smaller hands, you are older with shoulder problems etc..why struggle? Something like that is a breeze on a short scale. Bottom line is play the bass you are the most comfortable with. Dont let anyone tell you that you NEED to play a 34 inch scale bass. There are many great bassists who have played and still do play short scale basses.

[@Jackal_Blitz]

Amen dude. I always sigh when I hear people say their hands are too small for bass because, well, I struggled with the same bad technique and everything you mentioned even with my spider hands. There was a time in my first year when I swore I could just never use my pinky, then I finally practiced, and what do you know - it worked! The best musicians on the planet are the ones that put in the time and rock with what they got - it has very little to do with genetics.

[@MysticMindAnalysis]

I find the Harris Box shape is the best time to learn fretting with your pinkie finger. It's easier, for me at least, to switch to the pinkie finger when changing strings while still keeping rhythm. Flight of Icarus is a song I just learned to play a few days ago, and using my pinkie to get that swing from a higher string to lower has been a godsend.

[@jw4985]

One of the first songs I performed as a baby bassist was "I wish", by Stevie Wonder. Helped me so much to learn how to stretch across the fretboard, cause man, that's a big stretch for a walker bass line.

[@Euthanizer666]

Hey Josh, I'm Josh too. I have small hands and I can attest that you are on the money here in explaining how it's possible to be a badass on bass no matter your hand size.

[@footwearisoptional8766]

I have teeny-tiny hands and I trial and errored most of these techniques. Started microshifting to avoid hyperentending my pinky and injuring myself. I also weighted the back end of my strap to keep the neck up at a pretty steep angle. I play a Fender Mustang and that helps a lot. I can wrangle a long-scale bass but I'd rather not do all that work. I would like a medium scale but finances forbid.

[@Daddy53751]

My mother was a working/touring bassist throughout the 60s and 70s and she has tiny hands. She played Vox Apollo, and that thing has giant hollow body with the smallest, skinniest neck on earth! She’s 75, but she still plays that old thing whenever the muse descends. 🤘🏻

[@chrysanthemum3087]

additional tip for my fellow shorties: flat wound strings are smoother than the rounds that come standard on most beginner basses, so they are easier on the left hand when microshifting. they also have a nice warm sound which compliments the ss imo!! wish i would have known this when i first started.

[@shelleyinthecity]

I still like the small scale bass (as does Paul McCartney, Tina Wymouth, and Bill Wyman).

[@rollforever85]

This has definitely encouraged me to go ahead and get myself a bass despite my small weak hands

[@onezerosevensix]

Another great vid Josh, loved the dash of comedy you put into this i was laughing my heart out Thanks for teaching me bass for the past few months and im glad to say i apply all the right techniques mentioned

[@nijyu__1606]

It hasn't been long since I picked up the bass and I really started to feel it in my wrists. This video was so helpful and fun, I wanna get back into it and apply these tips! Thank you!!

[@floralbassist]

My main problem is not only the small hand, but also that I am a violinist, I play violin for... 34 years 😃 and I started playing bass one month ago. My left fingers are used to be rounded. Too rounded to bass, but I work on it! I realised it all by myself.

[@barthvapour]

Maybe not the hand size, but my daughter couldn't reach to use the first fret at all because her arm just wasn't long enough. She was also unable to reach the tuners. To be fair it was a Thunderbird which is quite a big bass, but it shows that you CAN be limited by the size of your body.

[@oliverpedersen6818]

How old was your daughter at the time?

[@grindguz]

Thunderbird is, ergonomically speacking, the worst bass in history 😅

[@barthvapour]

@@grindguz it's kind of ungainly, I will grant you, but I actually find it more comfortable to play than a Precision.

[@musenw8834]

Nah, standard scale basses are probably not the best for your kids if they have small hands and that's where you might wanna get a short scale or mini Fender bass for them instead.

[@adroc9101]

YAAAAAS a new vid!! This is so me (small hands). Thanks for putting new content out. Looking forward to your next course after “B2B.”

[@MrRubenz72]

I have very small hands and when I saw yours, mine look even smaller!!!! I want to cry, but I do play bass decent enough. Thanks for your insight, keep it up!!

[@potatoheadhaoy]

I have tiny baby hands and bass is one of my favorite instruments to play. I like it even more than guitar sometimes. You can comfortably navigate the fretboard with small hands, given that you don't overextend your reach and instead rely on quick repositioning of your left hand on the neck to reach higher notes. Generally, If I want a note more than 3 frets away, I just slide up to it instead of reaching for it. In time you kinda learn how to get away with using less and less motion and recognize the patterns in your fingering. If you wanna set up a power chord, you gotta lead with the root on your index, whereas a major 7 would benefit from a middle finger root because the major 3rd, 6th and 9th will all land on a fret below it, and using your index means reaching below the fret of the root note is mechanically impossible without shifting down every single time you need those notes, and that is wasted movement. I'd say I have a 4-fret reach on any given position I'm in, but by adjusting your wrist and arm, you can very comfortably access more with minimal effort. A lot of people think the guitar and bass are the same thing, because they have a superficially similar interface, but the frequency at which you reposition is much greater on bass because otherwise you'd be fighting against the instrument's scale length. This stuff is really hard to teach unless you spend some time learning the fretboard, just because beginners don't have that sense of anticipation and muscle memory, but if nothing else, hand size is a minor advantage at best.

[@annalaviour]

thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I use short scale basses due to extremely small hands (I cant even find gloves my size) and when I get any good on my short scale, short fret basses I practice the same song on a regular size Fender! Works out and boosts confidence.

[@bookscienfuegos1122]

This is a great vid, super useful. I find my short, 30", scale bass makes the shifts and positioning even easier/more intuitive.

[@CarlosPerdomo]

Every one of your videos is an improvement for anyone wanting to learn the bass.

[@williammarlo6155]

I tried a 3/4 bass for the first time yesterday, I’ll admit it did feel so much easier to play.

[@Les0610_]

Yayyy I have a chance! I used to play piano but it can sometimes be discouraging because I have small hands and I can’t reach certain keys at the same time and then my fingers are in awkward positions. I’m thinking of saving up to get me a bass!

[@tiffanie2186]

Absolutely love your videos! They are so fun and encouraging n just what I need when I am so discouraged sometimes. I am very early in my learning process and some days I'm like oh forget it! Once I revisit some of your videos or lessons, they seem to reenergize me to want to push on. Thank you. You're a great teacher ☺️

[@michaelbell75]

There is no need to quit playing bass. Pretty much every manufacturer makes at least one short scale bass now. Why get discouraged and make bass playing feel like a chore? Go have a look at short scale basses and play the bass that is most comfortable to you.

[@MarcG7424]

I thought my hands were to small to play bass but several teenage girls on KZbin changed my mind 😂

[@floorboards.]

i have a bone deformity and i can’t stretch out my hands, this video was very motivating for me. practice micro shifting and smaller stretches

[@boogie3718]

With short scales I found the feel and the lower tension sometimes more fun to play with ngl lol While extra reach is nice bonus I mean hell, Les Claypool plays really small short scale basses alot while still having massive hands

[@williamhosford2796]

For a man I have small "lady" hands. I found this actually caused me to utilize my pinky finger more. Also keeping your thumb in the middle of the neck(back) makes a huge difference. Love short scale here. Have a 2004 Squire Mustang re-issue. Squire really upped their game. I find the fit,finish,and overall quality to be excellent. (And all that for like...$240 w/free shipping.)

[@stevejxnms]

This video like others are very reassuring. I just picked up my first bass this past Saturday and I'm eager to learn. Yesterday I was reading tabs to psycho killer but noticed that I struggle fretting due to small hands and smaller pinky. Not gonna stop learning though

[@pawlye4350]

That StingRay is so beautiful I could look at it all day long. It also sounds heavenly.

[@flamethegame1]

When I was starting bass I had troubles because yes my hands are big but my fingers are short in comparison So I just kind of learned to work around it with some techniques that might not be so common

[@bassclef1686]

My upright teacher used to put a container of Carlsson rosin between my fingers to get used to relaxing into a stretch😅 I wear medium gloves and can comfortably now get 1 finger per “fret” on an upright. I love short scale basses but don’t own one. Instead I’ve gone the other way and I’ve got a 35” 7string I’m comfortable on lol If you feel your hands are too small, take your time with it, stretch your wrists, and play what works for you!

[@NoRageImAPage]

I have small hands on top of gimpy pinkys (I have a single finger bend rather than the two). Learning bass has been a chore, but super rewarding.

[@mishterpreshident]

I have very slender hands, but the size of my hands/fingers has never gotten in the way of playing, and I play a pretty big bass (Spector NS5, 34-37" multi-scale). My biggest problem is just having enuff hand/wrist strength to keep going thru certain songs all the way to the end. And some songs are definitely harder than others. Like "Sex Machine" by James Brown. Easy to learn, but hard AF (literally painful) to play at 100% tempo for the entire song.

[@theTrend7]

Thank You so much for this video. EXTREMELY HELPFUL!!!😊

[@marck7270]

superbe info, presented very well. i thought i'd fail on bass due to those damn small hands. learning about microshifting was a revelation and prevented me from steering away from learning bass. a big thank you to you, sir ❤

[@ContentCreatorClair]

Microshifting works perfect for me! Working on "closing the gap"technique.

[@arkyoptrix]

As a stubby fingered bass player I had to go short scale. Stretching wasn't the issue for me - it was that I couldn't play for more than 10 minutes at a time on a standard scale due to a disability in my fretting arm. Might give the microshifting a go though. You never know - might find it more comfortable and effective.

[@timothybrennenstuhl8479]

ok

[@timothybrennenstuhl8479]

1!1

[@timothybrennenstuhl8479]

Qaa

[@timothybrennenstuhl8479]

1

[@timothybrennenstuhl8479]

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[@Guy-ep9xp]

So basically size doesn't really matter, it's all about technique... where have I heard that before?

[@unkindleddovahkiin8900]

Watching you play the trooper with just one fretting finger made me visibly gasp. Bravo

[@5TR4N63R]

I am missing my left pinky and the very edge of the hand as well. Birth defect. I'm also VERY small, only about 5'3" and male. I mostly play drums but like to tinker with synths. Recently started to tinker with guitars for the first time. I'm in my mid 50's. It's very challenging and disheartening trying to overcome the difficulties I encounter playing most instruments. I had seen ellenplaysbass on youtube before and I use her and the tips in this video for inspiration. I just love music too much to not at least try to play some.

[@marimeiku2515]

I was just trying to correct this issue today! Great timing! You’re a lifesaver!

[@phelinephrenzy2358]

Thank you! Now I'm going to take my nubby little fingers & play my recently bought Epiphone Thunderbird Gothic Bass IV!

[@leandro7460]

I sustained several wrist injuries from playing sports over the years which led to constant discomfort playing with the standard bass. I saw Joe Dart play a short scale bass in one of Vulfpeck's videos and decided to try it out. I got a Squier Jaguar SS and I haven't gone back to the standard since. It felt much better for my wrists. Seeing this video though made me think maybe I was just trying too hard to stretch my fingers across the frets. But honestly I love my SS bass and plan to stick with it. It's a lot easier to carry around and much more convenient to store. I've never had any issues playing with the ss. I also think it looks pretty cool lol

[@rexmarechal478]

Josh, your videos are great. I do most of my practice on my long scale jazz but when i play with others, i play my Mustang.

[@adrianstroila]

my man... i hope this comment finds you well :) over the years you helped a lot with my bass guitar studies MUCH LOVE from Romania

[@HarryFlashmanVC]

I played classical violin for 45 years until arthritis killed it for me. I picked up bass about 4 years ago and play fretless because I can't cope with frets after 45 years of none but I have adapted a bass style that allows me to play without impacting my hand arthritis too much. This is essentially a non pinky style. I also use a short scale bass, a Mikro bass and a UBass which make a hell of a difference. Yes I'd love a full sized Pbsss or a Ricky but the reality is I can't physically play them.

[@victoriawhitt5996]

These lessons are helping me soooo much, I am just learning to play the bass and have violin positioning stuck in my head. Thank you

[@spidgeb3292]

Excellent tips and video! I use short scale bass guitars exclusively. A lot more fun and less frustrating to play for a small-fingered vulgarian like me. Yeah, they're not magic, they're a shortcut. I get it. I'll definitely work on the techniques you suggest here. But I don't turn my nose up at a good gear-based assist when I can get it.