Pinky vs Ring on the fretboard

[bearshimmy]

you have 4 fingers to fret with, no reason not to use them all =)

[whyseye]

I use 1-2-3, but that's mostly because I have really tiny hands, and my pinkies are even smaller - barely over an inch long, so even on a short scale, it's easier to do a three finger, three fret stretch (and it is a stretch), and shift as needed.
If I'm playing around up on the G string at the 16th fret or so, I can sneak in some pinkie action, but how often does that happen, lol.
No teacher would approve of my technique, but since I'm not working with standard-equipment hands, why use standard-equipment technique?

[SelenaBassGirl]

I use my index and ring most..or sometimes I use the ring and middle at the same time. I use pinky when I am doing the typical country bassline..using the 1-5-4 technique (um, did I say that right? I still don't get the number thing right!!) my most used is the ring and middle...least used is middle.

[fourfinger]

See user name.

[KrisH]

Originally Posted by Yours fretfully

I haven't been playing for too long (about 2 years on and off), but I've made ENORMOUS progress when I recently discovered the pinky was actually worth something...

My "a-ha!" moment after playing for a year or two (while still in high school) was discovering how to use my pinky. It made a world of difference in my technique, speed -- everything. The downside: I twisted my pinky this past week, and playing DB on Friday night was excruciating. Not too rough on electric bass Sunday evening, though.