by tim3finger » Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:00 pm
It is still a little hard for me with
>pain in my neck and shoulders from an accident I was in and
>it's hard to see, too. I am working on not looking as much
>at the fretboard and fingering so as to go more by feel.
That's cool.
The key to playing without looking is just not to look. Your muscle memory will take over after a while and it will, as you said, come naturally. I also like to visualize in my mind, the positions on the fret board and the scales I use on those positions. I play a lot with my eyes closed and am getting better at hearing the notes. Instant feedback if Iam in the wrong place .
I don't remember what kind of bass you play, but I would highly recommend a short scale bass. The advantages are, closer spacing on the frets(easier stretches),generally much lighter in weight, less pressure required to fret cause the ligher gage strings are under less tension. Short scales do have tendency to sound a little muddy on the bottom and real bright on the top. But, for most people, they sound fine and are super easy to play.I know this will offend purists( suck it up, be a man, play a full scale!!!), but, unless you make a living playing, then it should be all about fun, and enjoying yourself, hey?
Just a few names of people that did okay with short scales; Jack Bruce, Allen Woody, Stanley Clarke, etc.
"along the road, take time to smell the flowers"