I like fingerstyle more than pick but I'm afraid I'll hurt my finger or something

soundgardenis · #1 10-06-2010, 05:52 PM

I feel more comfortable playing fingerstyle over pick playing but I always get paranoid and worry that I'm going to jam my finger and I won't be able to play bass anymore. Its so dumb. It doesn't make any sense. Its like thinking of the worst case scenario. I just became comfortable playing with my fingers a few weeks ago but for some reason I'm afraid I'll get carpal tunnel so I don't even bother playing with my fingers. I feel no pain when I play fingerstyle. Can somebody please smack some sense into me. So I can move on and develop as a bass player.

puddin tame · #2 10-06-2010, 05:56 PM

I would smack you, but i'm afraid i'd hurt my wrist and ruin MY playing

williamk · #3 10-06-2010, 05:57 PM

*SMACK!!*

there. now go play!

Thunderthumbs73 · #4 10-06-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundgardenis

I feel more comfortable playing fingerstyle over pick playing but I always get paranoid and worry that I'm going to jam my finger and I won't be able to play bass anymore. Its so dumb. It doesn't make any sense. Its like thinking of the worst case scenario. I just became comfortable playing with my fingers a few weeks ago but for some reason I'm afraid I'll get carpal tunnel so I don't even bother playing with my fingers. I feel no pain when I play fingerstyle. Can somebody please smack some sense into me. So I can move on and develop as a bass player.

Do you practice not stalling your car by using your other leg to gently let off the clutch, in case you break a leg? Bass playing is important, but in an accident or if you're feeling like your hands were overtaxed (say from shucking a bushel of corn from their husks), you'll make modifications or just not play. Doesn't mean I don't care. But I act pragmatically and reasonably. And so should you. Just play your bass. Don't be paralysed by over-analysing what COULD happen, someday, somehow. Within reason, of course...

dj150888 · #5 10-06-2010, 06:10 PM

I'm very sorry, but any answer other than, "MAN THE HELL UP YOU PANSY" is ridiculously wrong. So, I say, Soundgardenis, man the hell up, you pansy.

Billnc · #6 10-06-2010, 06:13 PM

I sliced my plucking index finger cooking, right before a gig. I made do anyway I could. THumb and middle fimger, middle and ring and sometimes a pick. Don't worry about it. Wear earplugs when you play, that'll save your career. You can't play while deaf.

Play with proper technique and you won't get CTS or jam a finger.

Go to boot camp.

BigOldHarry · #7 10-06-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddin tame

I would smack you, but i'm afraid i'd hurt my wrist and ruin MY playing

lol

tough love!

Green1 · #8 10-06-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddin tame

I would smack you, but i'm afraid i'd hurt my wrist and ruin MY playing

We could kick him!

In all seriousness, just jump in there and go for it fingerstyle!

joshmat · #9 10-06-2010, 07:08 PM

The worst thing that will SURELY happen is that you'll get some blisters and then some calluses

Floyd Eye · #10 10-06-2010, 07:09 PM

Where's R. Lee Ermey when you need him?

taphappy · #11 10-06-2010, 07:15 PM

FunkMetalBass · #12 10-06-2010, 07:22 PM

I blacked out once and broke my plucking index finger. For about 8 weeks, I couldn't play with it. Gripping a pick between my middle and thumb, leaving my finger straight, was incredibly unnatural and I would get sharp tendon pain in my hand and arm. The only way I could play was with my thumb.

tl;dr - during the finger healing process, you can't use a pick.

puddin tame · #13 10-06-2010, 07:31 PM

Oh and go tell Tony Iommi how you're afraid of getting your fingers jammed in a door, i'm sure he'll sympathise

NickInMesa · #14 10-06-2010, 08:35 PM

You're not the only to prefer finger style:

Poll: finger style vs pick style

You will not hurt your fingers. Only injury you risk is carpal tunnel. The one time I developed the symptom I immediately stopped playing for a week and adjusted my posture.

kudzoorude · #15 10-06-2010, 08:57 PM

One of the best session cats in Nashville history, Gary Lunn, plays with his middle and ring fingers because he's missing part of the first. And I WISH I could play half as well as he does with all my fingers. No excuses man.

In all my time playing finger-style, I have NEVER jammed my fingers. What are you going to jam them against? A string? It bends!!

soundgardenis · #16 10-06-2010, 09:03 PM

Listen Black Sabbath-ozzy era- is my favorite band. Tony Iommi is my favorite guitar player. Geezer is my favorite bassist. After you brought that up I put the pick down and I'm playing fingerstyle. Iommi worked so hard to play here I'm alive and healthy and I'm being a little wuss about it. I feel much more liberate now that I'm jamming with my fingers. I'm noodling around the neck. It feels great. I'm not going back to a pick ever.

soundgardenis · #17 10-06-2010, 09:05 PM

Thank all of you for the replys. I wish you all luck. I hope none of you injure yourselfs playing haha. Including myself. I'm kind of a burnt out "drug addict" so I get things mixed up in my mind sometimes.

taphappy · #18 10-07-2010, 12:20 AM

Develop three fingers. That way, if you get a boo-boo on one, you can use the other two.

But, for CTS paranoia, do some research. Non-standard mouse (ie trackball) for your computer, different keyboard (ergh-o-manic, or go nuts and map to dvorak, heh) with an arm wrest, there's a bunch of different stuff you can do. Bunch of different techniques out there for bass, as well, and it would be good to start out that way.

Nick, which technique did you go with to fix your posture?

Mayers · #19 10-07-2010, 10:03 PM

In 11 years I didn't hurt my finger,arm ... anything.

The key is to warm up before playing. You won't hurt yourself that way.