How many fingers do you use?

[Ben E]

I've been playing with my index, middle, and thumb, but is it easier to play if I learn to do it with my ring and pinky aswell?

How many fingers do you use????????????????


(I love these faces)

[The_Bass]

I think it´s best to use thumb, index, middle & ring... not my pinky

I think that´s the most common thing to do but hey, that´s just me..

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hmm... what´s that noice??? AHHHHHHH!!

[JimK]

...as many as she'll allow!

[Bruce Lindfield]

I think JimK is saying : "to do what?!"

Or it might be something along the lines of "I'm bored with this topic now" as it has come up 15 times already in various guises.

I use more fingers to play the piano.

[This message has been edited by Bruce Lindfield (edited May 10, 2000).]

[DaveBeny]

I use all the digits of my fretting hand, depending on the situation. If playing a "standard" bassline, I'll use fingers 1,2,3 (index, middle, ring) in the pattern, 1,2,1,3,1,2,1,3...etc. (I think Gary Willis plays like this). If slapping, I use my thumb and fingers 1,2 and 4 for snapping. I use my little finger to pull on the G string (I use very light strings, 30-50-65-85), while my middle finger pulls the D string and my index pulls the A occassionally.

David

[MatW]

Three for me! I use index, middle, ring and I try not to force myself into any set pattern. Although in general I stick to a 3-2-1, 3-2-1. In depends on the figering of my left hand.

Just make sure that each finger you use can pluck the string with a decent amount of power.

[Rockinjc]

Unless, its really busy, I just use my thumbs.
j

[rojo412]

I play with my toes. And BOY, does my bass stink...

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"I'm no hero. I just like to hit people on the head." - Nelson

[Sheep Man]

I'd use more than just my index & middle finger, but my ring finger is sorta odd shaped. It's curved almost like ), and I broke my pinky and now it's sorta...twisted around and out of shape, along the lines of an 's' except nowhere near that curvy.

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Über Sheep

[Rockinjc]

Your whats curved? Better put a sock on it if you are gonna play out.

jc

[Chris A]

Well to pick my bass I usually use 2 fingers, on occasion I will use 3. Now to pick my nose I use generally only 1 finger per nostril.

Chris A.

[bassphreakz]

All 10!!! Sometimes I even reverse my hands. The pinky is hard to use, but it helps sometimes. I've tried with my toes (they are very long) and had some success, except I lay the bass on the ground and it gets out of tune. Eventually I hope to be able to play with my toes, tongue, teeth, and of course my d......g2g

[b3nd3r]

I play with all 5 on my fretting hand and all put my pinky on my other hand. Although I am slowly but surely bringing that one in as well.

[~Loxley~]

Bassphreakz. I am in no doubt that you need serious help.

But from now on you are my own personal god.


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[~Loxley~]

I almost forgot.
Just for everybody's information. I use my thumb, index and middle on the picking hand: The thumb for the E string and my two fingers for the rest. I use my index, middle and ring on the fretting hand.

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Never trust a man who doesn't drink - Winston Churchill

[calvin_and_hobbes11]

3---> pointer, middle, and ring, although sometimes its easier just to use middle. Although! some times I use the pointer and ring alternating, sometimes middle/ring, sometimes just the "walking" kind (pointer middle)

[Andy Daventry]

We ARE talking right hand, yes? Then index, middle and ring.

Andy

[Manlio]

It really doesn't matter how many fingers you use, as long as you are able to play what you want. I've seen Paco de Lucia's
bassist and he uses a pick, and the middle and ring fingers, and it's amazing how he plays. Flea uses 2, Jaco used 2, etc.

[Dave Siff]

Good point Manlio And don't forget Jamerson.. he used one finger.. "the hook", he called it, and he played some of the most incredible bass lines ever.
I use two most of the time, just for the record. I used three to type this.

[This message has been edited by Dave Siff (edited May 19, 2000).]

[Eric Cameron]

I only use two, index and middle. Occasionaly I use three, but only when I am going to do a set of gallops, then I use a 3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1 set up. But usually just the regular two.

Rock on
Eric

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Do you know why the tape measure is so much better than you? You have what, six feet in you? IT has 25 feet in it. THAT'S why it's so much better than you.