Developing Safe Right Hand Technique

Playbassnow.com proudly presents a lesson from our guest teacher: Adam Neely

 

Add to favorites

This is the second in a two part series on developing safe technique (check out the first part here). Here’s a YouTube lesson of  me explaining how to approach developing a safe and effective right hand technique.

Here’s a list of the basic ideas behind the neutral position that I explain in the video.

1. The shoulder holds up the arm.

2. The elbow is above the bass (don’t drop it behind the bass).

3. The forearm can rest against the bass for shoulder support.

4. The fingers of the right hand are curved and relaxed.

5. The wrist is straight and relaxed.

6. The thumb is to the left of the first finger, and should only pivot side to side, not in front of the bass (this causes a bent, tense wrist).

Like anything related to technique, it takes a while to truly adapt your playing to a new physical concept because you invariably have to unlearn old habits. Don’t worry so much if you find something awkward when you’re first trying it – it’s bound to feel different because your body hasn’t become accustomed to the new movements. The best thing is just to be body aware – know where your body is tense and figure out how to relax muscles that don’t need to be tense. This is what the neutral position idea aims to do.