Fingerstye Technique for a Newbie

[Carl E]

Hello all, I am a newbie to bass, longtime guitar player. I have been lurking for a bit, but wanted to post this question:

I have my bass set up (Squier P) to Fender specs for string height and relief. When I use a pick it plays great, with no fret buzz or strings clanging against the frets, even with moderately hard picking. However, when I use my fingers the strings often hit against the frets, especially the E and A. I can see that the strings travel in a wider arc when using my fingers, even though I seem to get more volume using a pick. Am I plucking too hard with my fingers? I am pulling across the string, parallel to the top of the bass, not pulling up. I don't seem to have this problem when playing guitar - if the setup is good it does not matter whether I use a pick or fingers. Any suggestions for bass? Thanks.

[EBMatt]

There is a ton of variables involved. How hard is your attack? Where are you picking the strings? By the bridge, by the neck, or somewhere in the middle? How are you attacking the strings with your finger? Maybe you are digging in too much?

[Carl E]

I don't think my attack is super aggressive or anything, but I am new to bass and don't know what normal is. I play a P base and anchor to the pickup, which I guess is somewhere midway between the neck and bridge. Like I said, when I switch to pick I can dig in way more and play much louder without the strings fretting out. But I want to play with my fingers, and when I do it seems like I have to play with a much lighter touch, but who knows, maybe this is normal. I want to play classic rock, I am not playing metal or anything that needs real heavy attack. I am using D'Addario Chromes flatwound strings, if that makes any difference.

[Jazzerbone]

Are you using an amp? When playing unplugged, I play heavier to hear myself (without really thinking about it) and end up get some rattling on the lower strings.

[Iv@N]

well actually, i like the sound when strings hit the frets hehe, so i play heavy when i play metal or hard thing. To get that sound i lowered my strings, maybe yours are too low? if not, just play as soft as you can and you wont get that sound later on when playing normaly

[SwamiRob]

Yeah I think the slight fret rattle is a nice thing about finger style, although when playing mellow stuff I can control it a fair bit.

Best advice I could give is try not to pull the strings too much when you hit them, if you play hard you end up pulling the stings back and causing them to slap back against the neck, when I'm playing mellow stuff it feels to me more like I'm brushing OVER the stings rather then through them.

I've never been taught any technique properly, so to me it's pretty instinctive, so that's all I can offer really. Although the stamina is difficult, I found pick playing to be a much hard technique to get to grips with (ignore the pun ) after playing soley with my fingers for 2 years.

[WhiteKong]

You don't seriosly have to pluck that hard with your fingers to play just turn your amp up and let it do it's job also try the other suggestions with the action plus basses usually just rattle more than a guitar.