different tone for each plucking finger

Solus · #1 08-12-2006, 02:39 AM

When I play with my fingers, my index makes a sharp tone while my middle finger makes a softer tone and that makes the songs i play sound funny. Any ideas on what I should do?

BassChuck · #2 08-12-2006, 11:41 AM

Given that the strength of your fingers is equal, or close, I'd say the problem is in your callouses. I have the same thing, and have for years. I guess I just use my index finger more than the middle. I've tried doing a whole practice session with just the middle finger... but that doesn't really seem to make a big difference.

What I've learned to to is to lead with the index finger. This generally puts the 'on the beat' or accented notes with the index and the lesser notes with the middle. In other words make the difference in sound work for you. If the band is playing a ballad I'll use my middle finger more. I can get a better attack for a soft note with my middle. If we're doing a rocker I'll use my index finger more.

It's like a lot of things in music, don't think of them as strengths and weaknesses, but rather differences that can be put to good effect.

iamlowsound · #3 08-13-2006, 10:54 PM

Trim your nails.

lowsound

pretaanluxis · #4 08-13-2006, 11:22 PM

it's probably just your nails...otherwise try play with your fingers closer together

Jazzin' · #5 08-13-2006, 11:41 PM

I had this problem on upright. I worked on pizz (plucking) technique really slowly until I got a balanced sound.

syko · #6 08-14-2006, 11:43 AM

I was told to play the string at a bit of an angle, like instead of playing like this:

Code:

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       ||

Do this:

Code:

---------------
        \\

Excuse the awful drawings. The big line is the string and the vertical or slanted bars are your finger...and you'd want to pull "down" the page. It seems to help get rid of the fingernail noise. I don't know if this is the right way to do it or not so please correct me if this is way off

Trestles · #7 08-14-2006, 12:51 PM

Hi Solus,

I recently fixed the same problem with my own playing. I found that my finger motion was coming from different knuckles on my index and middle fingers. My middle finger motion was mainly coming from the big hand knuckle. The index finger motion was coming from the middle knuckle.

What helped me was thinking about plucking the string using the full weight of the finger. Your fingers don't necessarily need to be straight and rigid. I personally like to play with a slight curve in my fingers and I let my knuckles flex a small amont. But the key is imagining that every last molecule of your finger is contributing to your tone.

That's what helped me anyways. Hopefully it will be useful to you too.

Trestles

Solus · #8 08-18-2006, 09:49 AM

OK, now I think i'm just screwed because I recently started slaping and popping and now I have a callous on my right index finger and it makes a sharp tone but my middle finger makes a soft tone. Is there anything I can put on my finger to make it sound like the middle finger?

dukerutledge · #9 08-18-2006, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solus

OK, now I think i'm just screwed because I recently started slaping and popping and now I have a callous on my right index finger and it makes a sharp tone but my middle finger makes a soft tone. Is there anything I can put on my finger to make it sound like the middle finger?

Time and practice. Anything artificial is just a crutch and will hinder your progress.

Dave Grossman · #10 08-18-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solus

OK, now I think i'm just screwed because I recently started slaping and popping and now I have a callous on my right index finger and it makes a sharp tone but my middle finger makes a soft tone. Is there anything I can put on my finger to make it sound like the middle finger?

You should learn to pop with your middle finger too. I've found it comes in handy when my index finger gets worn out or sore. Also, it makes it easier to pop two notes together. That should solve your callous issue. Over time, at least.

- Dave

Solus · #11 08-18-2006, 02:25 PM

Popping with my middle finger to get a callous on it makes sense sound-wise. I don't know why I didn't htink of that. It shouldn't take to long to callous. I was only popping for about an hour and a half and I got a blister. Two days later I had a callous.

Dave Grossman · #12 08-18-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solus

Popping with my middle finger to get a callous on it makes sense sound-wise. I don't know why I didn't htink of that. It shouldn't take to long to callous. I was only popping for about an hour and a half and I got a blister. Two days later I had a callous.

It's better to develop a callous slowly. I've had my share of blisters though.

Being able to pop with your middle finger will serve you well. I use it all the time. Sometimes it's more comfortable for some lines. I also do a lot of double-stop popping.

Good luck!

By the way, there will always be slight tonal differences between plucking with different fingers because of the position where you pluck. The effect is most noticeable in the upper harmonics. For the most part, it's negilgible but if you have brand new strings, you'll notice it a lot more. You won't hear it if you're playing with other people though. It's too subtle.

- Dave