Octaves

[c4lvint1me]

having trouble with Octaves which fingers do you use??

[Orangeclawhamme]

I started out trying to use my index finger for the root and the middle finger for the octive. I couldn't tell you how I do it now. Sorry.

[Chef FourString]

I reach with ring or the little one.

[panda bass]

I use my index and pinky, usually.

[panda bass]

This is crude, I know, but Practice something like this:
Fingering:

----1---3---4-1-4-1-4-1---4-----0--4--0-4---4-1---4-1--4-1-4-1--1-3----3--4-4-1
G|-------------------------3:-------7.----7.--7.-----7.---6.---5.----------4.-5.-----|
D|------3.--4.---3.--3.-----------0.----0.----------------------------4.---------5.---|
A|---------------------3:-----------------------5.----4.---3.----2.------------------|
E|--3:--------3.---3.----------------------------------------------2.-------------3::|

.= quarter note
:= half note
::=whole note

[Orangeclawhamme]

Hang on a minute, were you talking about how you pluck the strings or how you fret the strings?

[ReginaldPLinux]

That's a very good question, actually!

For fretting, It's usually my index and ring, but I find it helpful to be able to use the middle and pinky, too. Here's a crude little example of what I mean. The fingers I'd use are up top, where I'd put 'em on the board is underneath.

===================
========R======P===
===================
====I======M=======

[------------------------
[---------7--------8----
[------------------------
[----5--------6---------

I go over variations on that little thing every so often. I'd suspect my technique is a bit odd, and I'm no skilled educator by any means so I'm not sure if I should encourage you to do what I do.

For plucking, my first instrument was guitar, and one of the right hand techniques I use, (it grew out of a mash up of my own take on the scruggs style and a dog 'classical' style one of my early instructors passed on to me) sort of overlaps in my bass playing, so I'd rather avoid giving you any detrimental pointers.

[Erick Lam]

On fretting hand, I use index and pinky or middle and pinky.

[Skitch it!]

Depends on what I'm playing but usually for straight octaves index and pinky, mid and ring are usually muting.

[Russell L]

I play mostly with index and pinky with ring finger together anyway (like upright), so the octave is the same. For plucking I use index and 2nd finger mostly always.

[c4lvint1me]

Originally Posted by Orangeclawhamme

Hang on a minute, were you talking about how you pluck the strings or how you fret the strings?

both actually

[Erick Lam]

Originally Posted by c4lvint1me

both actually

For plucking, I usually use index on the lower octave and the middle or ring on the higher octave. In some rare case, I might use the thumb on the lower octave and any of the other for the high octave.

[IncX]

i use my thumb and index finger to pluck the strings (sounds cleaner that way) ... i used to get flack cause the guitar player thinks im gonna slap and pop...

i fret with my index and pinky or ring finger

You Make My Dreams Come True (Hall & Oates) - bass cover - YouTube

[SLaPiNFuNK]

1 / 4 ... 1 /3 further up the neck.

[JimmyM]

Index and little finger is best to use so you don't risk injury.