| Finger Exercises - by Colin Hird |
This is a finger exercise that a bass tutor of mine gave me that I've used on the Chapman Stick®. It looks simple at first but after a minute or so (unless you're completely brilliant of course, which I'm not), your fingers start taking on a life of their own. The exercise combines different finger combinations coupled with shifting hand position. Note this exercise is non-musical and even non-cerebal (from a harmonic point of view) but does take concentration and, as stated before, it is a lot harder than it initially looks. (You will want to use a metronome or drum machine to keep time once you've worked out your first finger combination up and down the fingerboard. This will help you play the notes in time and with equal length.) First, write down all the possible finger combinations for four fingers. They are: 1234, 1243, 1324, 1342, 1423, 1432 (1= Index finger 2=Middle 3=Ring 4=Pinkey.) Pick one finger combination e.g. 1234 (the easy one). Start at low E on the 6th string and play chromatically using the chosen finger combination, in quarter notes, shifting up 4 frets and repeating the combination. So in our 1234 example you would play E,F,F#,G (shift hand position up 4 frets) G#,A,A#,B (shift hand position and move to 7th string) C,C#,D,D# etc, etc. Keep rising in pitch and strings until you transfer over to the melody strings and cover four octaves (range depends on your instrument tuning). Then descend the four finger pattern. Remember your four note pattern will still ascend in pitch but your position shifts will descend through the chromatic scale. Keep going until you reach low E on the 6th string again. For example: C,C#,D, D# (shift hand position down 4 frets) G#,A,A#,B (shift hand position and string) E,F,F#,G (shift down hand postion 4 frets) C#,D,D#,E. Once you're comfortable producing consistant fingering and even note length begin to work with your metronome. Slowly increase the tempo until smoke appears from your now bleeding fingers! Now pick another finger combination e.g 1243. The note combination would be E,F,G,F# (shift position) G#,A,B,A# etc, etc. Descend this pattern and increase tempo once mastered at the slow tempo. To further aid your knowledge of the fingerboard sing the name of the note as you play it! For those of you seeking a greater challenge, try both left and right hands (bass & melody strings) playing the same notes 2 octaves apart. Then, if you want, try singing the notes as well! Salutations, (Feel free to email Colin if you have any questions or feedback regarding this exercise.)
© 1998 Colin Hird. "Chapman Stick" is a registered trademark of Stick Enterprises, Inc. TouchStyle Publications is not affiliated with Stick Enterprises, Inc. |