Index Finger Plucking Different Sound Than Middle Finger

peaveybxp · #1 07-15-2009, 10:57 PM

I was playing today and I noticed something odd. When plucking with my index finger, a brighter sound comes out of the bass than if I plucked with my middle finger. I tried changing the position of the finger, and still the sound was very different. It is extremely annoying, because I hear a bass sound, then a higher pitched sound come from the same fret. If there any way I can change this so that the index and middle fingers sound the same when playing?

TOOL460002 · #2 07-15-2009, 11:06 PM

how long have you been playing? equalizing finger strength takes time. my last bass teacher (and those before) always said to start off riffs with your middle finger.

assuming youre hitting the string with the pad and not the nail, just slow it down and focus on it. i dont know if thats what you wanted to hear, but the "slow it down and focus" thing is the answer to pretty much all technique issues.

dmusic148 · #3 07-15-2009, 11:07 PM

It's probably to do with the fact that many fingerstyle players use their index finger more, and thus build a thicker, harder callus on it. Can you tell the difference? If not, maybe you need to trim your nail back a bit.

**T. B. Player** · #4 07-15-2009, 11:11 PM

Finger strength matters; nail size matters; callous thickness matters; so does plucking with your finger tip (where your nail can grab the string and make it sound like a pick) as compared to plucking with your finger pad (so that your nail doesn't hit the string at all).

Now try your third and fourth fingers...

Can't do that? You need more practice.

Z

Wayne8 · #5 07-15-2009, 11:13 PM

Happened to me and it was that callous thing. Got better after I started making sure I was alternating more. At the time though, as a work around until my callouses evened out, I played with middle/ring.

Kevinmach · #6 07-15-2009, 11:14 PM

I am currently going through the same issue with my ring finger, and believe both responses are correct. If you look at the finger itself, the pad is really not smaller than the middle or index. Which really only leaves 2 possibilities. The callous on the pad of the ring finger (or your index finger, in your case) is not fully developed and creating a different sound- or, even more likely- the strength (and therefore accuracy) just isn't there yet. As been said, keep focusing and keep practicing.

Catdaddy · #7 07-15-2009, 11:27 PM

I believe that Jamerson played mostly with his index finger, and called it "the hook" or something like that. I too have noticed over time that I get a better, more fundamental tone with my index finger, and so use it pretty much all the time except where speed is a factor. Because of this, it is stronger and has more callous, so it is kind of a "self-fulfilling prophecy", I guess.

BeerBeer · #8 07-16-2009, 06:22 AM

I must admit, I really like playing with 1 finger Jamerson-Style
Its just because you'll never get 100% the same sound out of both fingers, maybe 95% or even 99%, but not 100

The sound with 1 finger is just more .. unified? ^^

anyway. higher pitched additional sound when playing with index? smells like fingernails to me ^^

bassplayer7768521 · #9 07-16-2009, 01:22 PM

I've gotten a near even tone with my index, middle, and ring fingers. A lot of has to do with callous level, strength, the angle you're hitting the strings. etc.

The best thing you can do is practice alternating, building up that callous on both fingers, and pay close attention to the amount of force you apply in each pluck.

-Mike