Critical question for a beginner bassist

[Robbie S.]

Hello all. I'm a beginner who just obtained his first bass one week ago. I have no bass teacher so I have to try learning myself and I have one critical question: what is the best way to play two notes consecutively on the same fret on two different strings? For example, you have to play C and immediately after you have to play F. What is the best technique for that: is it better to use the same finger of the left hand, or two different fingers?

Thank you very much. Sorry, the answer may be obvious for you but I'm just beginning.

[Melvin7822]

You use the same finger which is a technique called the finger roll.

[theunknowndude]

it depends on the passage and how high the frets are for me... most of the time I finger roll, other times its actually easier to use different fingers (especially when it makes for fingering the next notes that im playing already in place or easy to get to)

my bass teacher recommended I just work out what was the most comfortable and keep practising,... just remember it wont always feel 'natural' to begin with (I couldn't even use my fingers only a pick to start with!)

[Deacon_Blues]

I mostly (but not always) use different fingers, but that easily brings some intonation problems when playing fretless...

[mambo4]

+1 usually different fingers. But depending on what comes next I occasionally barre the 2 strings, if adjacent.

[GerManson]

Use two different fingers..

if you are changing to one string up, your recently played string will keep ringing. and maybe is not what you want.

lets say you play D (5 fret on 3trh string)
and then change to A (5 fret on 4th string)

D key will keep ringing as you are playing A, and it will sound horrible.

so try to use two fingers ALWAYS, that's what i do, and works perfect, and gives you more definition and more speed (when needed)

Imagine your middle and index and two legs, and your hand is always walking on the strings, step by step, when someone is walking never takes a step with the same foot. LOL.

[rarisgod]

I use the finger roll, but really I'd say it depends on the song.
Side question: Is the finger roll better for fretless?

[SubGuitar]

Using the same finger will NOT result in the previous note ringing if you do it properly actually.

When moving up a string, say from the E string to the A string, when you pluck the A your plucking finger should be coming to rest on the E string and muting it.

When moving down a string, the finger that's 'rolling' should be muting the previous string by being fairly flat against the board.

In practice these two kinds of muting are often combined, meaning there are definitely no strings ringing anywhere!

As for the original question, I don't think there's a set answer for all lines you might be playing. It depends what finger you're on, what notes are coming up after it, etc. There's nothing wrong with using the same finger though if that's what you're worried about

[permagrin]

Originally Posted by Robbie S.

Hello all. I'm a beginner who just obtained his first bass one week ago. I have no bass teacher so I have to try learning myself and I have one critical question: what is the best way to play two notes consecutively on the same fret on two different strings? For example, you have to play C and immediately after you have to play F. What is the best technique for that: is it better to use the same finger of the left hand, or two different fingers?

Thank you very much. Sorry, the answer may be obvious for you but I'm just beginning.

I think some of the responses here may be a bit confusing. I'll assume you're right handed, and your question is about the fretting (left) hand. In most all cases, you would use the same fretting finger for both notes. The method to use, as a few have noted, is by rolling your finger between the two strings. The exception to this would be if the passage forces you to move positions up or down the neck, which might be helped by using a different fretting finger, or if the passage is so simple that alternating two fingers is just easier.

Furthermore, if your bass has a relatively thin neck (Jazz-sized, or 1.5" measured at the nut) the finger roll is relatively straightforward. But for necks that are larger than that, or if you are jumping two strings (say, that same C at the third fret on the A string followed by a Bb at the third fret on the G string), you may have to quickly shift your fretting finger from one note to the next - or, again depending on the musical passage, you may be able to use a different fretting finger. Since there are many times when you'll need to use the same finger, the only way you'll gain the dexterity to do this well is through repetition.

And since you're so new to bass and don't have a teacher yet, try to keep your fingers nominally spaced at one per fret, with the fingers relatively parallel to the frets, your thumb pointing to the ceiling, and keeping your fingers close to the strings. These are general guidelines but will serve you well; it'll be bad if you practice some things over and over with poor technique.

Some of the responses here (Germanson in particular) address the plucking, or right hand. As a beginner, you should do your best to alternate plucking fingers as much as possible. After you get some time on bass, you'll learn that there are times when it is easier/better to not do so; but for the time being, becoming proficient at alternating plucking fingers will pay huge dividends down the road (and later you can worry about rest strokes and comb strokes and whatever else).

Finally a quick note about muting. As a general rule (it may or may not be called the floating thumb technique, but) if you maintain your plucking hand's thumb on the string below (the one thicker) the string you're plucking, you will mute that lower string; your left (fretting) fingers will naturally mute the higher (thinner) strings. (The actual "floating thumb" technique, as I gather from Todd Johnson's forum here, involves laying your plucking hand's thumb across the strings - very effective technique, but something I never took the time to become comfortable with). When playing with a pick, it is generally best to use your right palm to do a good deal of muting.

Hope this helps, and welcome to the low end.

[Robbie S.]

Thank you very much for all your replies.This helps me a lot.

My question was indeed about the fretting hand. The messages are not so confusing, they simply show that the answer is not as trivial as I first supposed .

Now I understand that using one or two fingers will strongly depend on what comes before, next... on the song you are playing.
For example: if you do not have to move your hand up or down the neck (the hand stays at its place), you can use the same finger. If the passages forces you to move your hand, sometimes it will help to use two fingers.

I'll try to practice finger roll which seems to be very helpful. Thank you for your additional information, also about the plucking hand. A beginner must avoid as much as possible developing bad habits, so all these informations are helpful too.

[wld3]

Originally Posted by SubGuitar

Using the same finger will NOT result in the previous note ringing if you do it properly actually.

+1

Originally Posted by Robbie S.

I'll try to practice finger roll which seems to be very helpful.

Though it seems relatively simple, I actually struggled a bit with being able to do this smoothly. Mainly when rolling from a lower string to a higher one as opposed to the other way around. One day, I just suddenly realized didn't have any problems with this any more. Amazing what practice yields. Keep at it.

BTW, from this thread at least, I'd say you have a good attitude and view towards learning and practicing. You should do well. I don't know what your reason(s) may be for not having an instructor at this time but I'd recommend it to you provided that you find a good one and can afford it. In any case, best wishes.

[rokkitt]

Get a teacher. Even if it is only for a lesson or two. I am in NYC and teach beginners. -shameless self promotion-

I finger roll, and use two fingers. No reason. Just whatever feels comfortable


Hey, if you gotta use a spatula and a garden rake to get the sound you want to play the passage you want, do that.
-that is a more advanced tecnique I teach in lesson # 9- hahaha

Good luck, and welcome! Bass is so much cooler than guitar, good choice!

Allen

[kumde]

If I'm fretting the first note with anything other than my index finger, it will always be a different finger for the next (maybe high up the neck I'll consider otherwise).

If I'm using the index finger and the next note is a fourth up, I finger roll unless I'm anticipating a position shift downwards, then I'd use the 3rd or 4th finger.

Going a fourth down is a bit more interesting: if I need a legato (notes tied to another without a pause in between) I'll use the 3rd finger most often, this will probably depend on the shape of your hand. If there's a pause I'll use the index finger again for the lower note. Another option is to prepare to the low note by fretting the first one with (approx.) the first joint of your index finger and the second one with the tip.

[Deacon_Blues]

I looked a bit closer on what I do... I found that the only time I roll is when I fret the first of the two notes with my index finger. In all other cases, i.e. when I fret the first note with another finger than the index, I use a neighboring finger instead.

I don't have excellent technique, far from, but I don't see any limitations with my technique regarding this issue. Quite the opposite actually.

EDIT: I took a break while making this post so I didn't see kumde's post before I posted this.. seems like we use a bit similar technique.

[HaVIC5]

Side question: Is the finger roll better for fretless?

Yes. All classical fretless instruments (violin, cello, upright etc) base their technique off of this way because it afford much more precise intonation. You can get away with two fingers on fretted instruments, however, and a lot of guitarists build up this sort of fingering. If you're ever going to learn fretless, though, I recommend becoming proficient at both.

A good tune to work on fourths-style fingerings is "Freedom Jazz Dance". Its a real workout for lefthand technique (note, this is not intended for the OP. NOT a beginner's piece)

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

Originally Posted by SubGuitar

Using the same finger will NOT result in the previous note ringing if you do it properly actually.

When moving up a string, say from the E string to the A string, when you pluck the A your plucking finger should be coming to rest on the E string and muting it.

When moving down a string, the finger that's 'rolling' should be muting the previous string by being fairly flat against the board.

In practice these two kinds of muting are often combined, meaning there are definitely no strings ringing anywhere!

As for the original question, I don't think there's a set answer for all lines you might be playing. It depends what finger you're on, what notes are coming up after it, etc. There's nothing wrong with using the same finger though if that's what you're worried about

+1

@OP - You might want to practice some good muting techniques, I never really did think it was that important when I started playing and regret not putting more time into it now. It's funny how I can do pop/slap and other funk stuff but have a hard time with my mutes =/