Technique Tuesday is a collaboration by Lauren Pierce and Double Bass HQ that explores techniques from Lauren’s best-selling books, Scales, Scales, Scales, Please Play in Tune, and Basstudes.
Master Fast String Crossings with the Finger Flex Technique
String crossings are a fundamental part of bass playing, but they become challenging when they are fast and repetitive. Today, I want to share a technique my teacher taught me to approach rapid string crossings.
The Traditional Approach and Its Limitations
When we cross strings, we adjust the height of our bow arm. This approach works fine for slower passages or occasional string changes. However, when we have a series of repetitive string crossings, adjusting our arm like that can slow us down. The constant up-and-down motion of our arm creates:
- Unnecessary tension
- Slower response time
- Less precise bow placement
- Increased fatigue during long passages
The Finger Flex Technique
I’m going to teach you a technique called finger flex. This approach will enable you to navigate string crossings with greater efficiency and speed.
How It Works
- Hold your bow at the same height (usually the height of the top string in the string crossing series)
- Move your bow using only your hand and fingers
- Keep your arm completely stable
Executing the Technique
Here’s what the finger flex looks like in practice:
- Your fingers extend to reach the lower string
- Your fingers contract to return to the higher string
- Your arm remains at a consistent height throughout
- Only your hand and fingers are doing the work
The key is that your arm is not rising or lowering—only your fingers are extending and contracting to navigate between strings.
Step 1: Practice Away from Your Bass
- Hold your bow in the air
- Practice the finger extension and contraction motion
- Focus on keeping your arm completely still
- Get comfortable with the hand and finger movements
Step 2: Application
Once you’re comfortable with the motion, transfer it to your bass using something simple, such as octave harmonics. This approach gives you:
- Clear reference points
- Easy-to-hear feedback
- A simple musical context to practice the technique
Step 3: Gradual Integration
As you become more comfortable, start incorporating finger flex into:
- Scale passages with string crossings
- Arpeggios
- Etudes with frequent string changes
- Musical repertoire
The Benefits
Once you get the hang of it, your string crossings are going to be:
- Faster – no more waiting for your arm to move up and down
- Cleaner – more precise bow placement
- More efficient – less energy expenditure
- More controlled – better dynamic consistency across strings
Final Tips
Remember that this technique works best when you:
- Start slowly and focus on the finger motion
- Keep your arm relaxed but stable
- Practice regularly to build muscle memory
- Be patient as you develop this new coordination
I hope this helps improve your string-crossing technique! Try incorporating finger flex into your practice routine, and let me know how it works for you. I’ll see you next time with more tips.
For more of Lauren’s insights, visit her Technique Tuesday series and sign up for the Double Bass HQ newsletter to have the series delivered to your inbox each week.
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