i'm just starting to learn the bass and picked up the "bass for dummies" which at least at the point i'm at, is focused totally on 1st and 2nd finger picking on the right hand. with the mix of the books theory and exercises, i decided today i needed to play "something" to start having some fun so i got the tabs for the barney miller theme. as i was practicing it, i noticed a tendency to want to also use my 3rd finger rather than just back and forth on 1st and 2nd.. should i resist that temptation at this point to focus on the back and forth with 1st and 2nd finger? i suspect if i introduce 3rd or 4th fingers at this point, i may develop a habit of using whatever finger kind of happens to go on the string at the time..without necessarily being in any right order..or complicate re-learning a proper 4 finger right hand order down the road. thoughts? (ps- i do find that i really have to concentrate to go back and forth from 1st to 2nd back to 1st etc at this point)

I would stick to alternating the index and middle fingers. Then once you can play the song (theme) like that, start experimenting. There is no rule that says you have to play pluck with 2 fingers. Geddy Lee and James Jamerson uses 1 finger primarily. Billy Sheehan uses 3 all the time.
Just have fun..

thanks a bunch steve...yeah, i was thinking best to "stick with the book" method at this early point. interesting about geddy lee as quite frankly, i feel like the easiest would be just to one finger it but my understanding is learning to use 2 allows faster playing and an old guy like me needs all the edge he can get so i'll be good :)

I agree with steve66, strengthen your 1st and 2nd (especially your 2nd) fingers before working on the others. It'll give you a nice foundation to work from. After that, it's up to you to experiment. I've seen lots of people use 3rd finger, specifically Steve Bailey and Christian McBride.

good by me, gents..thanks a bunch. glad i got your opinions before i get too far. it felt natural to want to use more fingers..that felt to good to be true at this stage:)

If the 3 fingers feel natural I would go with it. Never heard anyone complain about using a 3 finger technique. After many years of playing I found it very hard to develop strength and consistency in the ring finger. Why not use it from the start?

ok..now i'm messed up..lol..

look, don't get overwhelmed by all the stuff out there. Unfotunately, there is no one true way to play electric bass. The instrument is still faily new and people are still discovering how to play it well. It's not like playing piano of the flute or something...

However, the one standard across the board way that most people play--or at least learn--is to do 2 fingers, alternating back and forth, and putting the thumb on the pickup or lowest string. After you can get that down, start experimenting. It should only take you a month or two to nail that first technique.

Don't get too worried about developing bad habits yet either. You are smart enough to have come to this forum so we'll be able to help you correct anything you're doing wrong. However, this doesn't mean do whatever you want. I would venture to say that book will teach you what you need to know.

There are no reason not to use three fingers from the start.

Check Gary Willis part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_oBJlE5qNc) and part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md8FCeqNrcM) video. It's one of the rare bassist to have put real thought into posture and right hand technique. His right hand technique and exercices take care of muting, dynamics, string crossings, tone and speed in one go. I think it should be taught as basic technique to beginners.

yeah, the 2 fingers equally strong and the thumb for muting seem pretty important..thanks again guys..

and i'll check out the vids as well.