What fingering do you prefer for the basic left-hand shuffle / bass line?
5-1 & 5-1
5-2 & 5-1
I naturally started using 5-1 exclusively, but I notice that when the fingerings are written in, it says 5-2, 5-1. I'm still wondering if there's an advantage to either one.
Note: By basic shuffle / bass line I mean the bass pattern that alternates between the fifth and sixth. In C Major you'd play CG, CG then CA, CA.
I use the same fingering as I do for C for all those keys. The only key I use a different fingering for is actually Bb. I use 4th finger on Bb and my thumb covers both the F and G.
Any tips on playing the basic shuffle in the 3 odd keys: E, A, B? It's a stretch to get the thumb up to the black 6th. And B is odd because the root is on a white key, while both the 5th/6th are black keys.
Does anyone use different fingerings for those like a 5-1 / 5-1 or 5-1 / 5-2? Do you stick to the 5-2 / 5-1 fingering? (or do you avoid playing in those keys? ... ha ha ha!).
That's great Michael thanks for the progress update!
So I went back and relearned the 5-2 / 5-1 fingering and it is much better (after the fact). After getting it fluent/wired - my hand stretches better with that fingering and it translates better to other bass lines that use similar keys or a similar approach, though there are definitely a few outliers depending on the key and bass line.
I will second Arthur's advice. As someone that has used the 5-1 & 5-1 method for years , I have recently (within the past year) been forcing myself to use the 5-2 & 5-1 fingering. I do find that it is easier on the hands and the notes I play are more defined and clear as the tempos get faster. Seems to me that the accents are a little different too as there is a little different hand/wrist motion using these fingers. I just need to stick with it more and break years of old habits so it feels more natural to just drop my index finger on the G.
What about more complex bass lines? I find that for "Boogie Woogie Stomp" or "Down the Road a Piece" type bass lines that use thirds, I use L.H. fingers 1&2 on F&A and 1&3 on E&G on the last 2 beats of the 8 beat figure (in C).These fingers feel very natural to me.Does anybody else use this combination? Am I alone on this one?