I taught myself to play with a bastardized fingerstyle, usually using the thumb on the E string, index on A, middle on D and ring G. I will skip strings to use middle and index fingers for faster eighths and sixteenths.

I joined a band, and the guitar player is really annoyed by my unusual technique. He says I should use my index/middle fingers only, and that using my thumb makes me look like an amateur hack, like I don't know what I'm doing.

I'm kind of put off by his attitude, because I play the songs far more cleanly including my thumb in the mix. However, I am aware of the tonal difference (a little boomier attack) my thumb creates, although It's a lot less noticable when I switch from my P/J to my SR4.

Am I a hack? Is my self-taught technique something I need to undo, pronto?

Your guitar player is an idiot.

Sting plays like that, And you can hardly call him a terrible bassist. :)

in addition to guys like sting and bill wyman, a lot of modern players use their thumbs a bit too...oteil burbridge uses his, matt garrison, janek, and plenty more. i think the more versatile your right hand is the easier it will make everythgin in the long run. so use that thumb!

Hell the guy from Dire Straights plays guitar like that.

Whatever works is all that matters.

The only disadvantage I can see is you probably stay in one position and not moving to different areas between the bridge and neck to change your tone.

Using your thumb is no problem. It does sound like your technique is a bit limited though. I use thumb + 3 fingers in various combinations on all strings, sometimes only 1 or 2 at a time as needed. The flexibility of playing with any number of fingers on any string, at any point along the string is a great way to control tone.

Sting plays like that, And you can hardly call him a terrible bassist. :)

Larry Graham too.

And he invented an all important bass technique because of it.

Your guitarist is a moron.

Tell him his pick offends you and see how he likes it.:D :D

That technique is called "appoyando", according to books from Stuart Clayton and Paul Westwood.
And there is nothing wrong with it! Many of the greats play like that. It gets a different tone, makes some things easier.
I use the thumb for certain pieces (for example when I pluck the E, D and G strings in a chordal pattern).

As gkbass13 said, the more versatile your right hand is, the better.

Perhaps you should print this thread and show it to your guitarist, just to illustrate his inanity...

Change your playing position so that your hands are not visible to the guitarist. Well, I suppose you could display the middle finger if needed.

The idiot has no business critiquing YOUR playing technique.

If that's how you play and you play everything as required, what does it matter? He's got no call to criticise your style of play on 'how it looks'. The only thing that means anything on stage or recording, is how it sounds.

Walnut

Hell the guy from Dire Straights plays guitar like that.
Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler? Or Dave?

Have your guitarist check out Matt Garrison sometime...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4U2NXd3zZc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SBl-pho4cc


and then Gary Willis...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Pp_DpZL58
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8FLpoBcEuE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6qPOTX6OlM

The guitarist should stick to commenting guitar techniques, not bass techniques.

There are plenty of non-amateur non-hacks who use that technique.

Although he may believe it is amateurish, that is because he is apparently a bass amateur.

If that's how you play and you play everything as required, what does it matter? He's got no call to criticise your style of play on 'how it looks'. The only thing that means anything on stage or recording, is how it sounds.I wouldn't completely agree with the "the only thing that matters ..." part.

But to say you look foolish or whatever for your [I]hand position? Your Guitarist is a goof.

You came to a group who, collectively, are literally world experts on these matters. Your guitarist is a goof.

The only other thing I can think of is if you're a sucky bassist, and don't know it, and he's trying to 'be nice' somehow - thinking that maybe technique could help (?). If not, he's a goof.

Joe

Wow, thanks for all of your words of poitive encouragement, folks! As I've only been playing with any regularity for only two years, I constantly try to learn from more seasoned musicians, so this critique stung a bit. Thanks for the confidence boost, I'll trust the seasoned musicians here on TB, rather than a six-stringer.

I do consider myself a sucky bassist, but I'm also my own worst critic. It's funny, because the drummer (who plays in an additional three projects) was shocked to learn I'd been playing for two years, especially after nailing some Michael Anthony harmonies while jamming, so I guess I can't be that bad.

If nothing else, this episode has made me practice without the thumb for the last few weeks, which will ultimately improve my right hand versatility and skill. In the end, it's all good. Thanks again for your feedback!

New techniques and styles are pretty good to try out, but i think you will end up naturally reverting back to using your thumb. I use the same style as you do, and I love it. Do what sounds good to you, not the guitarist.

Tell him to use only 2mm picks because anything smaller will make your band look and sound like crap.

I mean seriously what? I would love to have someone with their own, unique style in my band. I constantly try to play weird to get a cool sound!

Your guitar player is an idiot.

No, he's a self absorbed idiot...........he is only worried what people will think of him if they judge your style the way he does.

One cannot be an original, and develop their style if one marches in line with everyone else...

I can think of a half dozen bass players that basically broke all the rules, did what couldn't or should not have been done and changed the face of music forever...

My advice, practice, make sure your sound is great. Send your guitar player out for Chinese and you and the band move to another state and don't tell him..........

BTW, flaminco guitarists use their thumbs and fingers too.....

What most guitar players know about playing bass can fit inside a thimble. Heck, what most guitar players know about playing guitar can fit inside a thimble. Tell him to shut up and play his guitar and leave the bottom end to you.

Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler? Or Dave?

uhhhh... this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U82WISdfT3A&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esociocide%2Ecom%2Fforums%2 Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D46685%26page%3D2%26highlig ht%3Ddire%2Bstraits

Your guitar player is an idiot.


I think that post pretty much covers it. ;)

This other clip as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsKQy2-ASkI



Have your guitarist check out Matt Garrison sometime...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4U2NXd3zZc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SBl-pho4cc


and then Gary Willis...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Pp_DpZL58
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8FLpoBcEuE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6qPOTX6OlM

No, use what you like, your guitarist is retarded, and I think I read somewhere (wikipedia I think) that Alex Webster (of Cannibal Corpse) does 5 finger walks sometimes :D

ummmm has he ever heard of double thumming? well probably not actualy but you cannot do it without your thum

Two words:

Thumb.

Thumbing.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

There is also a post over in the "You Tube Finds" thread with an Italian fellow named Vinchenzo who has an extrodinary finger/thumb style and he is quite good!

That technique is called "appoyando", according to books from Stuart Clayton and Paul Westwood.


I play classical guitar, and i'm 99% sure appoyando means the "usual" or most used way of plucking on bass. It implies to plucking the string so that the finger stops on the next string. If anyone knows this for 100% certainty please say so.

And steamthief, i'm guessing your guitarist has never played without a pick. Any guitarist should know that it's one of the most versatile techniques out there...

Clearly the guitarist is a pr!ck, he wouldnt like it if you tried to tell him you dont like his technique, and lets face it he cant be that bothered or he wouldnt have you playing in the band

I play classical guitar, and i'm 99% sure appoyando means the "usual" or most used way of plucking on bass. It implies to plucking the string so that the finger stops on the next string. If anyone knows this for 100% certainty please say so.

And steamthief, i'm guessing your guitarist has never played without a pick. Any guitarist should know that it's one of the most versatile techniques out there...

As best I can recall, you're correct. Apoyando = rest stroke, tirando = free stroke.

Oh yeah, almost forgot ... yes, the guitarist was an idiot.

I mostly use a thumb-plus-two-fingers technique also, but today my bass instructor (player with 25 years of professional experience) STRONGLY encouraged me to lose the thumb; i.e. just anchor the thumb on top of the pickup and use fingers. Now after reading this thread, I'm not so sure. :confused:

He is very particular about technique. He also hates to see my fretting-hand-thumb on the side of the neck (as seen in the TalkBass header pic on the top of every page).

I CUT THE TENDONS IN ALL FOUR FINGERS....CLEAR TO THE BONE.......ALL I HAVE LEFT IS MY THUMB AND VERY SLIGHT USE OF THE INDEX.......I STILL MAKE IT THROUGH MOST SONGS.....WONDER HOW YOUR GUITAR PLAYER WOULD LIKE ME................TELL HIM IF HE'S SO SMART..THEN HOW COME HE AIN'T RICH OR FAMOUS....LATER....BOOGIEBASSBILLY

I say your guitarist is a tard.
I'm a self taut bass player too and my fingering is weird... I'm actually trying to get out of it because I think it's a bad habit.
What ever string I'm play I have my thumb resting on the lower string. For exaple, if I'm play on the D string my thumb is on A.
I think it slows me down =(

I mostly use a thumb-plus-two-fingers technique also, but today my bass instructor (player with 25 years of professional experience) STRONGLY encouraged me to lose the thumb; i.e. just anchor the thumb on top of the pickup and use fingers. Now after reading this thread, I'm not so sure. :confused:
I think your teacher, and others with a similar opinion, is more concerned about getting a consistent sound, or attack. Even just using your index and middle fingers, if they're of drastically different strengths, will give you a different tone. Throw the thumb in the mix, and you can end up with a sloppy sounding bass line. HOWEVER, some bassists have practiced this until they can get the same sounding attack regardless of which finger they use on their plucking hand (i.e. Abe Laboriel, Sting, etc..)

He is very particular about technique. He also hates to see my fretting-hand-thumb on the side of the neck (as seen in the TalkBass header pic on the top of every page).
This is because if you learn proper fret-hand technique, you won't experience fatigue in your hands as quickly. (Trust me on this one. I have TERRIBLE fret-hand technique.)

My teacher actualy ncourages thistechnique because it lets you play wth all five fngers and get maximm speed and versitility

Tell Your guitar player to listen Dominique di Piazza, he plays in a very similiar way and he sounds great:bassist:

Sting also uses the thumb on his left hand to fret notes on the E string! Personally, I coundn't care less what technique someone uses to play any instrument. All that matters to me is how it sounds.

Tell your guitar player to stop watching you play. Tell him it creeps you out! :D

Sting plays like that, And you can hardly call him a terrible bassist. :)