Is it a MUST to have long fingers? - how good could I be?

[76_keYz]

sup all.  I was just wondering how important it is to have long fingers if trying to learn the bass?  I play the keyboard now, but I have given some thought in learning to play the bass?  I don't have the shortest fingers in the world, but I have seen some bass players that have straight up 'tree-roots' for fingers (its krazy)...How big is the disadvantage of having not-so-long fingers in learning the bass?  Should I completely forget the whole idea?

Can some of you bass guys let me in on this...

lata

[MikeGee]

It's not a problem, you just have to make it work for you. I too don't have the longest fingers, they are kinda short. But my hand is wide so I do have a pretty good reach, better now then when I started. Victor Wooten is one of the best all time and his hands/fingers are kinda small (I know I shook hands with him).

I heard some one say once    don't know who. "Do the best YOU can with what YOU got".

[HammerRock]

Before you buy a bass look into shorter scale ones if you need to.

You may have to just work on streching your fingers too, and I don't mean lengthwise, I mean spreading them. You should be able to put your index finger on the F of the E string and them go down to the G# with the pinki. It might take a while, but 4 frets for four fingers.

[ddwilkins]

It's not a problem, you just have to make it work for you. I too don't have the longest fingers, they are kinda short. But my hand is wide so I do have a pretty good reach, better now then when I started. Victor Wooten is one of the best all time and his hands/fingers are kinda small (I know I shook hands with him).

I heard some one say once    don't know who. "Do the best YOU can with what YOU got".

victor does have small hands.  there's a picture floating around the internet of his hand size, can't find it right now, but hand size should not hinder you playing bass at all.  If you can only get your hands around a 4 string bass, then you play that bass like no one else.  Victor plays a 4 string 99.99% of the time.  I've seen him play live and he picked up his fretless 5 string once the whole show.

[DWBass]

Finger size does not dictate how well a bassist you can be! Having an instrument with comfortable string spacing is important though! I have medium sized hands/fingers and I'm most comfortable playing basses with standard string spacing and tight string spacing. It's all up to the individual.

[DWBass]

Re: Victor Wootens hands.............

Yes he does have small hands as well as 'stubby' fingers and it's not hindering him at all! 

[MikeGee]

My hands are short and fat and I have no problems play a six string.

[Cherri]

Good advice. I would say go for it. 

[Andrzej]

Finger length is not important.  How you put those fingers down is.  You may struggle to play 5 or 6 string basses that use wide string spacing.  My 5 string Warwicks have a narrow 16.5mm string spacing which sometimes feel cramped for my long fingers, but playing a bass with 19-20mm spacing feels quite laboured for me, even though I must say I do play much better with a wider string spacing.  My friend Ben plays a wide neck 6-string Warwick Thumb BO and he has Cheeto's for fingers!  He still manages to play very well despite that.  Whatever makes you comfortable and play well.

[Mysteryman]

When you have shorter fingers you can gain finger strength faster than someone with long fingers because the muscles are shorter in your fingers.

[76_keYz]

wow...  These responses are definitely encouraging.   Thanks  a lot fellas.

[bigblackdrummer]

My hands are short and fat and I have no problems play a six string.

Me too and look at the size of the neck on my bass..

[B3Wannabe]

I have normal hands. I would be that our hands are the same size...and I can wrap around my 8 easily. It's all in where you place you thumb. A lot of 4 and 5 stringers play with their thumb wrapped around the bass. You can't do that with 6 or more, especially as you come down the neck.

[bigblackdrummer]

your thumb should never be wrapped around your bass!

[LovetaBass]

I have reasonablly short fingers but I having training my fingers to not believe it. I have been practicing going up by half notes on as I do the "shout" progression but I have been going from the 1 to the 4 or the 4 to the 1 before I do the progression. I don't know how to TAB but it would be like this 1 4 1234 all the way up the fret board.

[Andrzej]

I have reasonablly short fingers but I having training my fingers to not believe it. I have been practicing going up by half notes on as I do the "shout" progression but I have been going from the 1 to the 4 or the 4 to the 1 before I do the progression. I don't know how to TAB but it would be like this 1 4 1234 all the way up the fret board.

Yup.  One of the simpliest exercises, but a great work out for your fingers, hand, wrist and forearm...just keep that thumb behind the neck, not over it!