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

Are your hands too small to play bass? No, but… these five common fretting mistakes might be wrecking your reach.

If you watch this video, you run the risk of learning:
- How not to suck at fretting with small hands
- The manuever you should be doing *regardless* of hand size
- How to get flexibility gainz
- Does a short scale bass make it all better?
- How stretchy do your fingers really need to be?

#smallhands #beginnerbasslesson #NoobJoshApproved

[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.

[malapangolina]

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!

[fantasyremixes]

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.

[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.

[rebeccav.]

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!

[leanneaurisch]

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

[amelied]

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!!

[nicolasburchett]

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!

[charlesdigennaro]

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.

[lifeoff-road]

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

[jesscervi]

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!

[SxSxG]

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 ;)

[abbyc]

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! :)

[Jeff-dxql]

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

[schwermetall]

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.

[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

[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

[oliverbowen]

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

[mandyc]

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!!