Play with how many fingers?

[tobbemar]

I've played bass for a little more than half a year now. I've been trying to play both with two fingers and three, but I can play equally fast both ways, although with a líttle less precision with three fingers though to my inexperienced ringfinger.
I like playing hardrock and heavy metal, aswell as occasionally jazz and rock n roll. So I'm wondering, what technique should I try to develop? I can't really decide because it feels the same, but which one is usually best for playing fast and aggresive?

[VanillaO]

if you want really fast, i suggest a pick :P I can play a lot of fast metal with two fingers, if triplets are involved though I'll probably use three..

[SunneyBoy]

at the moment i am playing with four fingers Thumb index mid and ring ! its hard to coordinate it all but i am gonna try sticking it out hopefully it will pay off in a year or two!

[MistaMarko]

I played with 2 (ring, middle) for about two years, then I started getting into Dream Theater stuff and it's a lot faster so I integrated the ring finger, and I sucked so bad with it at first, but if you practice all scales up the neck once a day with it, in literally 3 weeks the ring finger will feel natural to you.

I do not understand how a pick is faster than fingers, it just seems that fingers can be faster. My fingers are lightyears ahead of a pick.

[Dash Rantic]

Personally, I just use two fingers most of the time, and three for triplets. Works well enough for me

-Dash

[doctorjazz]

I've used three fingers since Day 1. Playing with two feels like having a hand tied behind my back. I get the thumb in occasionally too, but that's usually only when I'm doing a lot of chords.

[Luis Fabara]

Im really fast with 2. However Im practicing using 3 each time, because sometimes I need to go even faster and constant.

It was sloppy at first, but practicing constantly develops a good technique and can be more flexible than using 2 fingers. Specially when playing fast stuff thats constant , or uses a lot of string crossing.

[PrimusNut]

I play fast enough with 2, and the only time I use 3 is for triplets. I really see no need of learning 3 when I can play fast enough with 2. That's not saying that I will never learn to play with 3, but I can't see myself devoting my practicing to it in the next few years.

[gkbass13]

i use 2 mostly....either index and middle or index and ring. ill use three for triplets, and for chordal work or some fingerings on my 6 string i will use my thumb as well.

For fast tremolo-like picking, I just use my thumb in the good ol' up and down motion.

[excane]

95% of the time, index and middle.

When the mood strikes, I'll throw the ring in there.

If I feel like a complete tool, the pinky gets a chance in the spotlight for a few minutes.

[Swimming Bird]

All of them. For pretty much everything; fingerstyle is usually four, when I finger pick I anchor with my pinky but use my thumb, slap uses thumb (up and down) and all four fingers to pop, tap uses everything, and I'm starting to work on a mod to Steve Bailey's fretless technique -- thumb is root, but middle ring and pinky all hit the harmonic note.

The pinky is where it's at.

[chaosMK]

Why limit yourself? Two fingers has no advantage over three.

I dont know why this 2v3 discussion always comes up.

[thumpette]

I usually play with 2 or three when fingerpicking. As far as slapping, I usually play with the thumb (slap) and my index and middle finger for popping.

I read an interesting article on how to teach yourself to finger pick with four fingers. I haven't quite gotten through it, but it's very in-depth:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/...s/Hanging_Ten/


-Ann-

[El-Bob]

i hate picks so i am trying to get 3 fingers going so i can play triplets, it is working quite well & it may work for you too

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by thumpette

I usually play with 2 or three when fingerpicking. As far as slapping, I usually play with the thumb (slap) and my index and middle finger for popping.

I read an interesting article on how to teach yourself to finger pick with four fingers. I haven't quite gotten through it, but it's very in-depth:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/...s/Hanging_Ten/


-Ann-

sounds like a good idea

[PABassPlayer]

I'm not sure why, but this works for me.
I play with fingers pretty much exclusively, and then I go into triplets, I turn my wrist forward toward the neck and I can get alot more speed (with clarity) that way.

I dunno, try it...it works for me.

[tplyons]

I do two. Have been known to throw in a third, but mostly just two.

[kipsus]

I practiced Sheehan style three finger plucking for about a year. Well the ring finger won't ever be as strong as the first two but overall it's great to have more fingers to use even if you don't. Especially when crossing strings.
Many times I found myself playing slow even with three fingers and it sounded ok, but for blues I prefer using two. Really fast riffs are easier with three I think..

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by SunneyBoy

at the moment i am playing with four fingers Thumb index mid and ring ! its hard to coordinate it all but i am gonna try sticking it out hopefully it will pay off in a year or two!

not sure if you've seen it, but there's a TBer on here called Mike Flynn. He uses that kind of technique.

http://www.munkio.com/music/Victor/4fingerpicking.mov
http://www.munkio.com/music/music_lessons.html

And, as far as I play, I use two fingers. But, if I'm playing something on the D or G strings, and need to hit something on the A or E, i'll use my ring so I don't lose any momentum.