lazy hands

[Insanity^2]

Hey guys, I was just doing a bit of improv... well, messing about and I realised that i tend to favour using my pinkie over my ring finer on my fretting hand, and often just use the index on my plucking hand
I know that i should make sure I'm using both fingers when plucking, and I'll work on that but does the fretting part matter? I have average size hands, but when playing even simple tunes such as 'Money', it's awkward to use my ring finger so I go straight for the pinkie... Will this hold me back in the long run?

[crazyguy832]

May, may not. Standard position in double bass is "index, middle, pinky."

That said, I generally stick to the "one to a fret" rule and I play on a 5er with smaller than average hands.

Not using one finger entirely will hold you back, definetely. There are a lot of chord shapes which are virtually impossible without using your ring finger and, higher up on the neck, it becomes a lot easier, anyways.

As far as your right hand goes... as long as you use two fingers when you need to, I wouldn't especially worry about using one finger. Unless you're pushing that finger at all, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Just make sure to practice with both at some point in time!

[mccartjm]

I have the same prob with a lazy 3rd finger on my fretting hand. I have learned to jam my fourth finger in to places where most players probably wouldn't, like triplet pull offs in the upper register for example. I started on upright, so thats probably why i've never really used my third finger. We were taught to do everything 1st 2nd 4th.

[Nakedfish]

I use the following fingers -

Fretting - 1st, 2nd, 4th.
Plucking - Thumb, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Whatever works for you!

[skeptikal]

That's odd my pinky is the weak one. My ring finder and index finger really do most of the work. My middle finger is used mostly to come across to the E string or a string lower than what i'm playing with my index/ring.

I'm just getting my plucking hand going to use my index and middle as opposed to just my index and it's tough but it's helping my speed pick up.