Is this improper finger technique?

[Din Of Win]

I have been about a 95% pick player for the last 11 or so years of my bass playing. Any finger playing has been pretty relegated to practicing and writing.

Now, i have been constantly practicing with my fingers the entire time, and i feel more than compotent playing with out a pick. Recently, i purchased a Fender Jazz bass and i have decided i enjoy the tone much better when played with my fingers instead of a pick.

I generally play in more punk sounding bands and i have, i guess, adapted my figer playing to match that. I was at practice last weekend trying to get up to snuff on our songs without a pick (hah, some are easier than others). Halfway into one song our drummer stopped the song, perplexed at what/how i was playing, remarking he hadn't seen it before.

I play mainly with my index and middle finger. But, for faster parts, i do not have the dextarity to play as fast as i need to while alternating both fingers. Instead i guess i 'flick' back and forth with my index finger. I'll pluck up with the padded side (like normal), but then i pluck back down with the back of my nail. While i can only keep this up for a single set and i'm pretty dead afterwards... is this right?

I know 'if it sounds good it shouldn't really matter'. But now my drummer's comment has me feeling a bit self concious...

[Nashrakh]

It's not really a common technique but quite legit, I'd say - I know some guys who use their thumb to execute the same technique you do (edit: On second thought - they use more of a picklike hand motion, but I guess the result is basically the same).

So, your drummer may not know this one, but I wouldn't call it improper technique, as long as you don't hurt yourself.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

I have been about a 95% pick player for the last 11 or so years of my bass playing. Any finger playing has been pretty relegated to practicing and writing.

Now, i have been constantly practicing with my fingers the entire time, and i feel more than compotent playing with out a pick. Recently, i purchased a Fender Jazz bass and i have decided i enjoy the tone much better when played with my fingers instead of a pick.

I generally play in more punk sounding bands and i have, i guess, adapted my figer playing to match that. I was at practice last weekend trying to get up to snuff on our songs without a pick (hah, some are easier than others). Halfway into one song our drummer stopped the song, perplexed at what/how i was playing, remarking he hadn't seen it before.

I play mainly with my index and middle finger. But, for faster parts, i do not have the dextarity to play as fast as i need to while alternating both fingers. Instead i guess i 'flick' back and forth with my index finger. I'll pluck up with the padded side (like normal), but then i pluck back down with the back of my nail. While i can only keep this up for a single set and i'm pretty dead afterwards... is this right?

I know 'if it sounds good it shouldn't really matter'. But now my drummer's comment has me feeling a bit self concious...

Geddy Lee uses this technique all the time. I've heard him use it as far back as his rickenbacker days (i.e. All the World's a Stage) and it works great for him....

LS

[wite_rabit]

The legit bassist behind Murderface in Dethklok uses a similar technique but utilizes his paired index and middle fingers... To accomplish the fast passes as you describe he generally uses his first THREE fingers but switches to the back&forth for quick tremolo passes. Record a sample, I'm curious what it looks/sounds like dude!

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by wite_rabit

The legit bassist behind Murderface in Dethklok uses a similar technique but utilizes his paired index and middle fingers... To accomplish the fast passes as you describe he generally uses his first THREE fingers but switches to the back&forth for quick tremolo passes. Record a sample, I'm curious what it looks/sounds like dude!

[wite_rabit]

Originally Posted by Valerus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS7NXRQXem4


I'm still new, but fully impressed! XD

[Mikio]

lol, I don't like my J Bass for fingers that much, I like it perfect for Pick Playing

see, we all like it different ;D

[Din Of Win]

Originally Posted by Mikio

lol, I don't like my J Bass for fingers that much, I like it perfect for Pick Playing

see, we all like it different ;D

Which is why i love TB.


I grew up playwing with a pick on P basses and my ATK (more of a stingray-ish sound). So a pick on my jazz just sounded weird to me. I still use a pick most of the time, and i LIKE the way it sounds... this is more of a 'first time fingers sounded good' than a 'first time a pick sounded bad' sittuation.

Thanks everyone for making me feel way less selfconscious

[MusicBokonon]

It's definitely not "wrong" by any means. I used to do it all the time before I got the three-fingered technique downpat. It's helpful if you're sticking to one string, but it could be problematic if you need to switch strings fast.

[Billnc]

I think I learned the technique from a Chuck Rainey article years back.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by unclejane

Geddy Lee uses this technique all the time. I've heard him use it as far back as his rickenbacker days (i.e. All the World's a Stage) and it works great for him....

LS

Hmm... here are his own words regarding his use of the technique:

Originally Posted by Bass Guitar Magazine, July 2007, P. 38.

"'Animate' was the first song I actually tried doing it with, and on my solo album, I started doing it more. With Vapor Trails it was really much more present. And now, it's just part of the toolbox."

"Animate" is the opening song from 1993's "Counterparts".

[Iritan]

I use this or I assume is a similar method everytime I play bass. It is an awesome technique that I've gotten many compliments about. Master it, and enjoy it's splendor, when you can acheive the same speed with one finger than other people do with three, it's a good feeling.

[GerManson]

i play that way too..
bass players always notice it

[KPJ]

Originally Posted by Billnc

I think I learned the technique from a Chuck Rainey article years back.

+1

He describes it in his method book. An excellent resource.

http://www.chuckrainey.com/books.htm

[Marcury]

Jack Bruce uses this technique.