Frustration between Technique's..

[SoyMilkHero]

I've been struggling for a while trying to find the technique i like best.

I love the very trebley sound of using a pick. But when standing up, i find it very akward to find a comfortable position. And when i find this position it's hard for me to spread my fingers where they should be.

Where as with my fingers, i'm always comfortable, having the ability to lower my bass much further than i would with a pick. But i miss the presence that you get with a pick.

So what would you my fellow TBer's go for? Tone or comfort?

[Depth_Charge]

Why is one mutually exclusive to the other?

Experiment with different positions until you find both tone and comfort.

If you can't, consult a teacher to ensure you're doing it right and it's just a getting used to thing. . .

or crank the gain and treble on your EQ playing fingerstyle

[AwesomeMcBadass]

Get some fingerpicks.

[Michael Case]

What do you mean when you say "spread your fingers where they should be"?

[Bass of Justice]

i have the opposite problem
its much easier to use a pick but then i lose presence. ha
want to trade hands?

[SoyMilkHero]

Originally Posted by Michael Case

What do you mean when you say "spread your fingers where they should be"?

Exactly that. For my fretting hand, i find it hard to spread over Four frets. I guess because of the angle of the bass, that i feel comfortable picking with

[JimmyM]

Sounds like you need a technique overhaul. Lessons with someone good with technique would help greatly. You don't need to wear your bass up on your chest, but you do need to put it at a level where everything's comfortable, and you need to use techniques that make things more ergonomic.

[SoyMilkHero]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Sounds like you need a technique overhaul. Lessons with someone good with technique would help greatly. You don't need to wear your bass up on your chest, but you do need to put it at a level where everything's comfortable, and you need to use techniques that make things more ergonomic.

Haha maybe..i'll look into some lessons, but my city is far from Bass Central...gunna be challenging to find somone

[BluesBassman065]

Well, to me it's all about the sound. I don't care if I look silly playing with my bass "too up". Regarding your question, to me sounds like a combination of reinventing your technique and practicing a lot with your fingers, your trouble zone. Picking and finger playing are both techniques that you should learn to play, but learn when to play each one, some suits certains styles better, some suits other styles. So, a third reccomendation is to listen some great pick players and try to analize why in that particular song this guy played this or that.

[Michael Case]

Originally Posted by SoyMilkHero

Exactly that. For my fretting hand, i find it hard to spread over Four frets. I guess because of the angle of the bass, that i feel comfortable picking with

Well for starters, if you can't play one finger per fret comfortably then try using index, middle, pinky only. That may be helpful, or like others have suggested try just wearing the bass higher. You're gonna have to deal with a little awkwardness until the demands of playing bass become comfortable. You can also try playing fingerstyle plucking closer to the bridge, that may get you the tone you like too.

[SoyMilkHero]

Originally Posted by Michael Case

Well for starters, if you can't play one finger per fret comfortably then try using index, middle, pinky only. That may be helpful, or like others have suggested try just wearing the bass higher. You're gonna have to deal with a little awkwardness until the demands of playing bass become comfortable. You can also try playing fingerstyle plucking closer to the bridge, that may get you the tone you like too.

That actualy helps quite alot, although i will continue to check out lessons. Using only 3 fingers makes it much easier and more comfortable. Thanks guys :] your suggestion helped alot

[Dogbertday]

also (make sure there's straplocks) but pull the neck upwards toward your head...