Finger Roll

[psbp]

Hi, I'm new new to bass guitar and am having some trouble with finger rolling and the strength of my left pinky. I can't seem to flatten my pinky enough across the A string when I try to play a note on it and then try bend at the knuckle to play a note on the E string. Should I just use my ring finger instead, because it is much stronger, keep trying to toughen up my pinky, or not use the technique at all???

Thanks for any help in advance...

[The BurgerMeister]

keep trying to toughen up your pinky, and make sure to always use proper technique (ie, never have your LH fingers too far from the string). you'll see that it'll get much stronger sooner than you'd expect.

[MacNilly]

For finger rolling, I use the pad of my finger for the note on the lower string and the first joint for the note on the higher string. There are times when you would want to use 2 different fingers, as you have said, but there are times when rolling is better also. Best to learn both ways IMO.

[elpelotero]

main thing is to practice at slow tempos, always being VERY cautious of two things:
1. having little to no tension whatsoever in your arm, hand, and shoulder/back
2. keep the fingers very close to the strings.

One of the best exercises that lets you see quick results is this:
Play a chromatic scale ascending and desceding from the E string to the G string using a metronome. EXCEPT, every time you go to play the next note on the next string, the fingers not involved in the new note must stick on to the note they were previously hitting.

So, let's say you have done 1234 on the E string and are going to the A string to repeat 1234. Your index finger moves first to the A string, but all the other fingers stay fretting the notes they were on. You force them to stay down.

At first it's very tough, but you get the hang of it quick.

[iplaybassguitar]

ive never heard of finger rolling...im assuming you are just talking about when you are playing a note and then with the same finger you want to quickly play the fifth below it?

[Kobaia]

thumb 123 is easly the best way imo

[MacNilly]

Originally Posted by elpelotero

main thing is to practice at slow tempos, always being VERY cautious of two things:
1. having little to no tension whatsoever in your arm, hand, and shoulder/back
2. keep the fingers very close to the strings.

One of the best exercises that lets you see quick results is this:
Play a chromatic scale ascending and desceding from the E string to the G string using a metronome. EXCEPT, every time you go to play the next note on the next string, the fingers not involved in the new note must stick on to the note they were previously hitting.

So, let's say you have done 1234 on the E string and are going to the A string to repeat 1234. Your index finger moves first to the A string, but all the other fingers stay fretting the notes they were on. You force them to stay down.

At first it's very tough, but you get the hang of it quick.

Thats nice, but what's it have to do with finger rolling?

[MacNilly]

Originally Posted by iplaybassguitar

ive never heard of finger rolling...im assuming you are just talking about when you are playing a note and then with the same finger you want to quickly play the fifth below it?

Either that or play the 4th above it. Same motion only reversed.