Newbie playing w/ 1 finger...

[Bondtana]

Hey everybody. I've been self teaching myself to play bass. I'm a week in so far...

When I first picked up a bass and started playing around with it, I felt more comfortable playing w/ one finger as opposed to 2. After a week of light practice, I figured I should get some pro opinions on whether or not I should continue this way, or teach myself to use 2 fingers...

Any opinions on this?

Thanks.

PS I postulated that playing with 1 finger would eventually mean more work for my fretting hand... Is this is true? I have really small hands, so that may be an issue too...

[fretlessman71]

Hand size shouldn't be an issue. Just means you have to get around a little more than the rest of us, and even then it's no big deal.

I would ABSOLUTELY recommend learning to play with two fingers. Here's an easy exercise to try:

Play the open A string with your index.
Mute the A string with your middle.
Now PLAY the A string with your middle.
Mute it with your index.

Sit down in front of the tube and do this for 1/2 hour. See what happens.

[Justin Tuskey]

I used to only play with one finger, but because I didnt have the finger coordination to use two, after awhile, i began to just use my other finger without really noticing, and now i look back and wonder how i even played some passages with one finger, haha. work smarter, not harder. its not a golden rule or anything, but you'll get used to it and it should be easier and more comfortable

[Ric5]

You should learn many styles.

-learn the old Mel Bay thumb plcking method.
-learn to use a pick.
-learn the 2 finger plucking style.
-learn the John Entwistle "typwriter method".
-learn thumb slapping.
-learn the Geddy "flamenco style".
-learn to palm mute.

and learn any other method you can concieve.

[animal52]

While I think that two is probably better, I'll go ahead and play devil's advocate for a second... Tim C. (of rage/audioslave) plays mostly with one finger. I believe his reasoning is that it results in more consistent timing. Works well for his style of music, but I can't see that working if you're thinking of playing faster/trickier basslines.

You could always try playing with a pick if your not digging the fingerstyle.

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by animal52

While I think that two is probably better, I'll go ahead and play devil's advocate for a second... Tim C. (of rage/audioslave) plays mostly with one finger. I believe his reasoning is that it results in more consistent timing. Works well for his style of music, but I can't see that working if you're thinking of playing faster/trickier basslines.

You could always try playing with a pick if your not digging the fingerstyle.

James Jamerson used on finger (the "hook") for all of his playing, and it's all damn tricky for us normal player to play with TWO fingers. Ron Carter uses one finger on upright bass, and it's unbelievable the kinds of stuff he plays all up and down that fingerboard with a single finger.

That said, I don't recommend going into bass playing planning on using one finger. The amount of work that these two musicians (and others) had to put into "one-finger" technique to play all the stuff that they did is phenomenally greater than the work you will need to put into developing solid two-finger technique. It's going to take practice, like everything you do on the bass, to get it feeling right and natural. Don't assume just because you can't get it going within your first week or even first few months of practice that you'll never get it going, or it's not worth practicing. Practice takes time and effort, but it will come, and you will be better off for it.

[Bondtana]

Thanks for the advice fellas. I'm gonna get the 2 fingers going.

[Munjibunga]

Sometimes I catch myself playing a line with one finger and I feel guilty about it, so I jump back to two.

[atheos]

Two fingers give you:
- more control
- more speed - the more fingers, the faster stuff you can play
- less stress to a single finger, allows you to play a lot longer
- better flow, especially when moving from one string to another

So yeah, that's the one and only thing you must learn. Slapping, tapping and all that stuff only if you need to (or want to).

[bonzo4880]

and while we are at it, make sure you are using all four fingers on your fretting hand. leaving the pinky out of the party is a common newbie habit.

[Slax]

Originally Posted by bonzo4880

and while we are at it, make sure you are using all four fingers on your fretting hand. leaving the pinky out of the party is a common newbie habit.

Not true. Double bass technique is all 124 for the fingerboard hand. Using the index and pinky as the same finger. It's considered proper technique also, perhaps not favorable to one-finger-per-fret, but proper none-the-less. I tend to use it as much as I can on the lower registers to decrease strain on my hand. (I was taught from day one the one-finger-per-fret way... just doesn't work for me 100% of the time).

Choose what's comfortable, but always learn other ways to keep in your arsenal when necessary.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by animal52

While I think that two is probably better, I'll go ahead and play devil's advocate for a second... Tim C. (of rage/audioslave) plays mostly with one finger. I believe his reasoning is that it results in more consistent timing. Works well for his style of music, but I can't see that working if you're thinking of playing faster/trickier basslines.

Right, plus two other things...1. Timmy C can play 2-finger style perfectly fine, and B. You, me, and the OP are not Timmy C or James Jamerson.

[bonzo4880]

no, i was talking about leaving the pinky out all together. read more carefully before you type. i did that when i started playing, and see plenty of people all the time just playing with IMR fingers. Due to the physicality of playing bass and the strain that it can put on your hands and fingers, you have to learn how to play economically and with minimal exertion. using the 124 approach in the lower registers definitely makes sense and i never spoke against it. i just mentioned it because i see bassists using ONLY their first three fingers and treating the pinky like a red-headed stepchild. that last finger takes more work to get up to speed and strength with the other fingers, but is most certainly worth the effort.

[TheVoiceless]

Originally Posted by animal52

While I think that two is probably better, I'll go ahead and play devil's advocate for a second... Tim C. (of rage/audioslave) plays mostly with one finger. I believe his reasoning is that it results in more consistent timing. Works well for his style of music, but I can't see that working if you're thinking of playing faster/trickier basslines.

You could always try playing with a pick if your not digging the fingerstyle.

Yes and Jamerson also used one finger to pluck (the hook).

I would suggest to learn to use two fingers then move onto three fingers. The trick with using two fingers is to get the same attack from both fingers.

[derelicte]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Here's an easy exercise to try:

Play the open A string with your index.
Mute the A string with your middle.
Now PLAY the A string with your middle.
Mute it with your index.

Sit down in front of the tube and do this for 1/2 hour. See what happens.

OMG i totally remember doing that back when i first started!! hahaha

I also highly recommend learning 2. For me, I use 2 mostly, but the exercise above helps dramatically in accenting / staccato and dynamics control. For serious, learn 2 and get the beat consistent and go faster i.e tower of power style!!!!

[sevenyearsdown]

I think as you progress, you will have no other options but to start using the second finger. If you practice frequently enough, chances are the second finger will just start happening on it's own where it's needed, at which point you can build off of it.

There are occasions whe I accidentally use a third finger, and I never practice three fingers.

[Wicked_Bassist7]

the way I learned the two finger techique is just by solid practice. there isn't a potion that can replace a good half hour of just practicing. yet.

[Audiophage]

Originally Posted by animal52

While I think that two is probably better, I'll go ahead and play devil's advocate for a second... Tim C. (of rage/audioslave) plays mostly with one finger. I believe his reasoning is that it results in more consistent timing. Works well for his style of music, but I can't see that working if you're thinking of playing faster/trickier basslines.

You could always try playing with a pick if your not digging the fingerstyle.

One finger gives you a more consistent tone, because depending on where you strike the string you get an emphasis on different overtones. If it's for timing you have some things that need to be worked out with a metronome.

[Stumbo]

I used a pick for many years. I liked the tone I got out my setup ('64 Jazz/Sunn 2000s). I played in 3, 5(2x), 7, 9 piece bands and many, many blues/rock party jams. I got the tone required for each band and not one member of any band or jam ever complained.

That being said, after joining TB and reading through some of the threads, I decided to start practicing with my fingers. I've been practicing off and on for awhile and two fingers are comfortable now. I need a lot more work but I like being able to play with a pick or not. I even went to a small jam a couple of weeks ago and didn't even take a pick with me.

Just keep at it and you'll get it eventually.

[ImaStupidBaby]

Jamerson only needed one finger.