This article is written by Toru Hoshino, a jazz bassist and instructor based in Japan who teaches online lessons to students worldwide. In this article, he shares his take on what “optimal form” actually means.
What people usually mean by “optimal form” is the standard form shown in method books or taught by teachers. These have been refined over years by countless players through trial and error, and have stuck around because they’re “easy to play for most people” — so they’re absolutely worth trying first.
That said, in lessons I often hear things like:
“The standard form just doesn’t feel comfortable for me.”
“I can’t get a good sound out of it.”
“It doesn’t feel like it fits my body.”
My own take is: optimal form = whatever form is comfortable for you and produces a good sound.
As an extreme example, on upright bass it’s standard to use the index, middle, and ring fingers of the left hand.
But some well-known international bassists use the pinky even in low positions, taking a fingering approach closer to electric bass. That’s not the standard form — but if it lets that particular player play stably and the music holds up, I think that’s perfectly fine.
There is one important caveat, though: if a beginner decides on their own to adopt a non-standard form without real guidance, what they end up with usually isn’t “a form suited to them” — it’s much more likely to just be an incorrect form.
And once a flawed form like that sets in, it can take a very long time to correct later.
That’s why it’s worth:
– Learning the standard form first
– Actually trying it out
– Adjusting it if it doesn’t fit
– And ideally, having a professional check that judgment rather than deciding entirely on your own
Form issues especially are the kind of thing where, if you’re self-taught, a lot of time can pass without you ever realizing something’s off.
That’s exactly why, in my own lessons, I personally review students’ form and playing every day and give detailed feedback.
Want Personalized Feedback on Your Playing?
This is exactly the kind of thing that’s hard to fix alone — and where having a teacher makes all the difference.
At Line on Bass, I offer an online lesson service where you send me a video of your playing, and I give you specific, detailed feedback — every single day if you want.
Students from around the world are using this to fix exactly these kinds of issues and steadily improve their jazz bass skills.