How many fingers do you use?

SnakeKappele · #1 10-08-2010, 11:49 PM

Just curious how many fingers people "pluck" with.

Opening myself to unwarranted abuse: I use one finger for 90% of my playing.

I have a feeling most people use two fingers. Let's find out!

pnut166 · #2 10-08-2010, 11:50 PM

I`m...not even gonna go there

hachi kid · #3 10-08-2010, 11:53 PM

as many as she can handl....err.......bass playing, gotcha...my normal is 3, but I've been known to use 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 if necessary. I sometimes use 3 fingers as a "claw" sort of approach. moving all three in one motion to get a stronger attack with less effort. I also use a pick, every now and then.

FletcherML · #4 10-08-2010, 11:57 PM

Arrachion · #5 10-08-2010, 11:58 PM

Between two and three. Two...most of the time. Three when I really get going.

klokker · #6 10-09-2010, 12:12 AM

2 almost exclusively. I couldn't play what I play with one, it just wouldn't be possible, add in some hammer ons and pull offs and I have all the smoothness and speed I need.

Once in a while there's a chord that I use three fingers on. I practice the Billy Sheehan thing about every day but just for the heck of it, and never use it for anything that we play in a band situation except those few dorky endings that never seem to end.

puddin tame · #7 10-09-2010, 12:25 AM

Unless you've only got one figure there's no excuse for saying "one"

Tom_RCJ · #8 10-09-2010, 12:35 AM

3 usually, 2 if one finger is feeling a bit tired or warm. I get lazy days where my plucking technique gets a bit sloppy and a finger (usually my index) might get a little tired or "warm" from playing too hard, so I just stop using it and play with the other two, a bit softer. I've never been able to use my pinky, it's so short compared to the other ones, I never found a comfy hand position where I can reach the strings with all 4 fingers.

None of this includes my thumb, which I never use. I never got into slapping. There's plenty of players that do that better than I ever will. I know the thumb isn't just for slapping, but I had a hard time using it when I was playing "finger plucking" on acoustic guitar. It just doesn't have the right smoothness to it.

Quote:

Opening myself to unwarranted abuse: I use one finger for 90% of my playing.

Meh. If it gets the job done, have at it man.

SnakeKappele · #9 10-09-2010, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddin tame

Unless you've only got one figure there's no excuse for saying "one"

Tell that to James Jamerson.

sonic assassin · #10 10-09-2010, 01:05 AM

2 gets the job done most of the time, but occasionally a 3rd is required for special moves.

the thumb rarely gets involved.

and you can take that whichever way you like.

Mr. BassmanPT · #11 10-10-2010, 08:30 AM

i started playing with only 2 fingers, then i learned the gary willis 3 finger technique and combined it with the use of thumb to plug the b string. the style grew up by itself, when i noticed i was using 4 fingers... so 4 for me!

ThumpPlunkJunk · #12 10-10-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrachion

Between two and three. Two...most of the time. Three when I really get going.

My sentiments are likewise.

For fast little triplets or something I'll get down on three fingers, but for most other things I use two, just because I have better coordination with my pointer and middle fingers than with any of my other fingers.

Unless you count the thumb as a finger, in which case, I'd say I use three fingers most of the time.

Classickbass · #13 10-10-2010, 09:34 AM

Just 2 for me. The exception to the rule being when I am trying to gallop, then the ring finger comes into play.

Bufalo · #14 10-10-2010, 09:46 AM

Two, lead with the middle, and often use both the index and middle at the same time if I'm really hammering on something.

that1guy222 · #15 10-10-2010, 09:51 AM

I play with two 95% of the time. I use three when I need to get some fast triplets out, and one when I'm looking for that Jamerson sound.

Nashrakh · #16 10-10-2010, 09:51 AM

One. Middle finger.

That is, unless the tempo is so high that I have to use two.

buddysilver · #17 10-10-2010, 09:52 AM

I use two for almost everything, but I am starting to learn to use three fingers. I occasionally use a pick but only when needed.

**line6man** · #18 10-10-2010, 10:14 AM

Elrend · #19 10-10-2010, 10:17 AM

I generally treat the electric bass like less of a bass instrument and more of a melody/chordal instrument, therefore I play a lot with four fingers (thumb, I,M,R)

fearceol · #20 10-10-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnakeKappele

Opening myself to unwarranted abuse: I use one finger for 90% of my playing.

You are in good company, as the great "Mr Jamerson" only used one finger.

Nothing wrong with using one finger, though I'm sure most people ( there was only one Jamerson

) would find it a bit limiting, especially for fast passages.

I use two fingers.