Fingers over a pick...

[rudeger]

I've been playing for right at 5 years now....I have never attempted using my fingers....but I wanna learn. Anyone have any tips that could help me out with getting on it?

[FaithNoMan]

I had the opposite situation as you....nothing that practice won't fix - you'll be suprised how easy it will come in time.

[905]

What I did when I was learning to play with the ring finger;
I just started using it here and there, playing stuff that made it useful (as in skipping strings, playing chords, etc) and now I've got it down almost perfectly (perfectly as opposed to not at all).

Don't progress too quickly though, I don't want you to outplay me

[Paulb7664]

Hi
I started using my fingers. The hardest thing I found was getting then to work independent of each other.
Try playing A on the E string and with your first two fingers and play 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1 2, 2. Then play A on the E string and the A on the D string keeping the 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1 2, 2. going all the time.
Then Root and fifth etc.
I think drummers call them paradiddles, Right, Left, Right, Right, Left, Right, Left, Left.
I hope this helps.

Paul

[Salicete]

Originally Posted by Paulb7664

Hi
I started using my fingers. The hardest thing I found was getting then to work independent of each other.
Try playing A on the E string and with your first two fingers and play 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1 2, 2. Then play A on the E string and the A on the D string keeping the 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1 2, 2. going all the time.
Then Root and fifth etc.
I think drummers call them paradiddles, Right, Left, Right, Right, Left, Right, Left, Left.
I hope this helps.

Paul

Hummm, a drumer perhaps?

That is actually a great independence drill that could have come right out of "Stone's Stick Control."

I had never thought of applying it to bass, a great idea!

[Kezza1986]

Hello there, I play fingers and have since I started, and I've found it just comes with practice.

I rest my thumb on top of the pick-up closest to the neck, so you have an anchor point, then as you move across the strings you just pivot your thumb. I find plucking down but toward you, so diagonally down, gets you the best tone. I've only been playing a year so im afraid my advice isnt great! Just keep practicing and you'll have it down in no time

[evilgingergoat]

well i starterd playing with a pick but one of my bass playing friends told me to try using my fingers, it was awkward but now i find it easier than playing with a pick. the only thing to do is keep trying

[Kenbuntu]

dont use 2 fingers use three. Then You can go FASTER i wihs i started learning with 3 fingers.

[Demon]

Usually speed isnt the reason to go 3 fingers (besides, 3fingers only give more speed if you use them 3,2,1,3,2,1 or 1,2,3,1,2,3).
You can go REALLY fast with only two, and if you really wanna go supersuper fast its gonna sound better with a pick honestly.