fingerstyle playing advice

[redeye532]

hello ive been playing for about 2 years, and i mostly use a pick but ijsut wanna ditch that and start with my fingers. so im just asking for some advice to how i should play, like pressure on the strings, how the bridge should be set up ect.. thanks!

[Lightning Rider]

Pick straight across and don't dig in too much. It doesn't take a lot to make the strings buzz when you play fingers.

[jaywa]

Most beginners I observe (and even some long-timers) fret too lightly and pluck too hard. Which is natural since the plucking hand is usually a person's "strong hand". Economy of motion and a light touch are where it's at. The lighter your plucking technique, the lower you can set your string action without getting string "slap" or "clank", which in turn means you will be able to fret with less effort. In other words, both hands benefit.

Some people are going to insist you must strictly alternate index and middle, even when crossing strings... my personal method and opinion is to work on a variety of patterns. A solid index/middle technique is the starting point, sure, but you should also work to get good with just your index finger (which helps on more "driving" tunes). The last couple of years I have also started playing mellower songs in particular with just the middle finger, up almost where the neck meets the body, and for whatever reason that works for me. There's even room for more complex plucking patterns that get your ring finger involved with the other two (though I wouldn't recommend tackling three-finger technique right away). 3-finger technique usually works best if a) you have to play very fast 8th notes on a single string for extended time or b) you're doing a "galloping" fast triplet feel a la Iron Maiden.

Good luck!

[gilla]

It also depends on your style of music. I play metal and like a really edgey sound, so a little extra string noise off the neck is welcome within reason. I start by anchoring my thumb off either the neck pick-up or the neck itself. I usually start every run with my middle finger. It's longer than the index so to me, it makes sense to start there. Start off with just plucking open notes, alternating fingers across all the strings. Practice groups of; 1e, 1a, 1d, 1g, 1d, 1a, 1e, 2e, 2a, 2d, 2g, 3's, and 4's. That's probably the best way to get a solid rhythm down.

[redeye532]

thanks everyone! yea i set my action lower and like everyone said to pluck lighter. but how should my bridge be set up like should the saddles be closser to the neck or bridge? btw my bass is a austin so it has the double soapbar pickups

[gilla]

Adjusting your saddles adjusts your intonation. Here's how I do it with a tuner. tune it up like normal, then play the octaves (12th fret) on the same string. Adjust the position of the saddles until you are no longer sharp or flat at the octave. Retune after each adjustment and verify that both the open and the octave are dead nutz on the note you desire.

[redeye532]

sorry, but honestly i dont know how to tell on my tuner when im flat or sharp

[gilla]

your tuner should tell you if your sharp or flat. . .

[kr0n]

Practice strict alternating, practice string skipping, practice floating/moving thumb, practice 3 fingers, practice ring/pinky muting, practice classical thumb index middle ring style. It's all to develop right hand dexterity and accuracy. Oh, and don't forget dynamics. And bass position might be a bit different than with a pick.

For specific exercises there are plenty of advice here and around the web but a decent teacher can give you a list of good technical exercises.

When you've done all that, you can pretty much forget your right hand and it does what it needs to do, even if it's not "strictly alternating".

[officialjlox]

I have also been working on my finger technique, and am running into a bit of an issue-

When playing on my VM Jazz, I generally pluck close to the bridge, resting my thumb on the bridge pickup. I find I lose a lot of deep tone that way, but when I switch and play closer to the middle or neck, my alternating and plucking gets sloppy due to the lack of string tension in those areas.

Even when I play my P, I rest the thumb on the pickup but "reach" back and use my fingers as close to the bridge as possible..

Is this something that will simply be fixed by practice? I do tend to pluck relatively hard, but even when I lighten up I still notice this

[5string5fingers]

Originally Posted by officialjlox

I have also been working on my finger technique, and am running into a bit of an issue-

When playing on my VM Jazz, I generally pluck close to the bridge, resting my thumb on the bridge pickup. I find I lose a lot of deep tone that way, but when I switch and play closer to the middle or neck, my alternating and plucking gets sloppy due to the lack of string tension in those areas.

Even when I play my P, I rest the thumb on the pickup but "reach" back and use my fingers as close to the bridge as possible..

Is this something that will simply be fixed by practice? I do tend to pluck relatively hard, but even when I lighten up I still notice this

If I'm not playing on E then I'll use the low E string as a thumb rest,also could always buy a thumb rest and put it in between the pickups. Sometimes using the edge of the pickguard is enough for me to put my thumb on.

[jb63]

When playing on my VM Jazz, I generally pluck close to the bridge, resting my thumb on the bridge pickup. I find I lose a lot of deep tone that way, but when I switch and play closer to the middle or neck, my alternating and plucking gets sloppy due to the lack of string tension in those areas.

I've found the sweet spot on Jazz Basses is right in between the pickups.

[gilla]

Originally Posted by officialjlox

I have also been working on my finger technique, and am running into a bit of an issue-

When playing on my VM Jazz, I generally pluck close to the bridge, resting my thumb on the bridge pickup. I find I lose a lot of deep tone that way, but when I switch and play closer to the middle or neck, my alternating and plucking gets sloppy due to the lack of string tension in those areas.

Even when I play my P, I rest the thumb on the pickup but "reach" back and use my fingers as close to the bridge as possible..

Is this something that will simply be fixed by practice? I do tend to pluck relatively hard, but even when I lighten up I still notice this

try building up your finger strength by anchoring your thumb on the neck pickup and plucking "THROUGH" the string and resting on the string behind it. if on your lowest string, try to apply the same force, just forget about resting, because of the positioning of your hand, it naturally happens. you'll find you can completely modify your sound with this tech by making it more percussive, thumpy and clean, or even really smooth just by playing around with the positioning. Keeping your hand straight puts you right in the "sweet spot". Turning the heel of your hand towards the bridge puts your fingers on the neck for a more percusive sound, and pushing your wrist toward the neck will put your fingers toward the bridge (which is kinda un-comfortable but you can get used to it) and gives that tight smooth or thumpy sound pending on how hard you hit the strings. As long as you keep your thumb anchored on the neck pick up, you'll build yourself (imo) the most flexible technique that requires a minimal amount of work. Takes alot of practice but I think it's worth it.

[JohnMCA72]

Originally Posted by redeye532

sorry, but honestly i dont know how to tell on my tuner when im flat or sharp

Well, then it's pretty pointless to even have a tuner, isn't it?

Sorry, couldn't resist...

[gilla]

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

Well, then it's pretty pointless to even have a tuner, isn't it?

Sorry, couldn't resist...

+1!!

[251]

Originally Posted by redeye532

hello ive been playing for about 2 years, and i mostly use a pick but ijsut wanna ditch that and start with my fingers. so im just asking for some advice to how i should play, like pressure on the strings, how the bridge should be set up ect.. thanks!

Teaching your right hand will take some time. I don't see why you need to change the set up to play finger style. Besides you're likely to want to switch from 1 to the other. Find some basics to get started, here:

http://wheatsbassbook.org/chapter_se...hp?chapter=003

[Matt Dead]

Originally Posted by redeye532

sorry, but honestly i dont know how to tell on my tuner when im flat or sharp

Sharp note example: c# (# meaning sharp)
Flat note example: Eb (b meaning flat)

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

Originally Posted by redeye532

sorry, but honestly i dont know how to tell on my tuner when im flat or sharp

I'd say you're not too sharp

[FromTheBassMent]

Since you're just starting out with fingerstyle, you can avoid ever getting into the habit of anchoring your thumb on the pickup cover or a thumb rest, which is a tough one to break. Try to keep your plucking hand floating above the strings, and you can use your thumb to lightly mute (not with a lot of pressure!) the strings below the string you're plucking.

You'll find that this not only makes the muting of unplayed strings dead easy, but also gives you greater dexterity when you want to jump over several strings, such as to go from a fretted note on the E string to a high fill on the G string. Keep your plucking hand relaxed and floating, and you'll be on your way to developing a good fingerstyle technique.

There's a LOOOONG sticky thread on the floating thumb technique at the top of this forum... I recommend it!

Don't forget to take frequent breaks to flex and stretch out your hand when you're first learning, because you'll tend to get a little tense and could give yourself and injury.

Have fun and good luck!

[MEKer]

definitely take advantage of the tips just given, but don't ditch the picking technique. Keep both up to par.