Does anyone else lead with their middle finger instead of their index finger? I wanna know if other people do this or if i'm just weird. It feels natural for me to lead with the middle finger and it just feels awkward to lead with the index like most people do.

I've always played middle finger first. but there are sometimes when i use just my index finger

In my case it just depends on what I am playing. Sometimes middle, sometimes index.

What exactly do you mean by lead? I usually pluck with my middle finger first on my right hand because its the longest of the three and easier to dig in with, 9/10 times I want to dig hardest on the downbeat.

On my right hand I keep all 3 fingers pretty busy.

What i mean is you pluck with your middle finger first. Middle finger-index-middle-index etc...

Dave LaRue leads with his middle finger a lot of the time.

Well, you should be able to lead with both fingers?

Emm, I don't think this question has any practical value... IMO it doesn't matter what is your leading finger as long as is sounds good :) Personally I lead with index or ring finger (playing with 3 fingers) and it happens pretty randomly...

Well, you should be able to lead with both fingers?
Yes!
When practicing your right hand technique you should change things up so that both(or all)of your fingers are interchangable, this way you will be equally comfortable with both(or all)options.
******IMPORTANT PART!!!*********
I find some bassists are not aware that their right hand patterns are a bi-product of what they are doing with their left(fretting)hand. When we have difficulty learning a new bassline/pattern, particulary when it includes different harmonic content, much of the pain and suffering comes from our lack of flexibility with our right hand. When BOTH hands have to do something they're not used to at the same time that is generally when frustration sets in and things seem difficult to learn.
For two fingered players practicing drum patterns is a nice way to break things up(R+L+R+R+L+R+L+L...etc, etc). I would suggest sticking with open strings only for much of the time, this helps to insure that familiar patterns are not bieng fallen into and helps to build independence between our two hands.
Sorry for the Rant..

For two fingered players practicing drum patterns is a nice way to break things up(R+L+R+R+L+R+L+L...etc, etc).

bass paradiddles? :D

Yeah, I would say it's good to be versatile as to which finger you lead with, but just like drummers who stick with a strictly right or left handed approach vs guys like Billy Cobham who switch off, I don't think it's necessary in order to be a good player.

Emm, I don't think this question has any practical value... IMO it doesn't matter what is your leading finger as long as is sounds good :) Personally I lead with index or ring finger (playing with 3 fingers) and it happens pretty randomly...

hhm, if you do a scale run up and down it might happen that you have to lead with all 3fingers... ?

hhm, if you do a scale run up and down it might happen that you have to lead with all 3fingers... ?
Of course, but I was talking about starting to play some kind of a simple line... Like 5-5-5-5-2-2-2-2-0-0-0-0 etc...
Anyway as I said, for me it's a pretty random thing

Yeah, I would say it's good to be versatile as to which finger you lead with, but just like drummers who stick with a strictly right or left handed approach vs guys like Billy Cobham who switch off, I don't think it's necessary in order to be a good player.

But strict alternation is of index & middle fingers is essential? Just playing devil's advocate here, it seems to me that if one is going to advocate using strict alternation, which I dont neccessarily disagree with, one should be firmly on the side of leading equally with either finger as well? :eyebrow:

I mostly lead with my middle finger (ooh err missus), and occaisionally it will run me into problems. So I would say that being able to lead with both, or all three, fingers is pretty important, I know it's something I am conscious of and when I'm playing a tune I know really well I'll try to force myself to lead with the index (or perhaps play with 3 fingers).

Well, let's put it this way...if I'm in the middle of a phrase, I wouldn't turn myself around so I could always lead with my index finger, but more often than not, that's the one I lead with. Doesn't seem to hurt my playing any, whereas raking did.

And with that, I have to go fly now. Got a Bowzer gig in Columbus, so anyone from that area, stop by with a fatty!

bass paradiddles? :D

Definatly. I practice those sometimes :D

The faster you can, playing those cleanly, the more dexterity (is that the right word?) you'll have when playing regular patterns. :bassist: