Plucking help...

[Bass Troll]

Until recently I felt fairly confident with my plucking proficiency and what not, but I've started to analyse my technique and it's seems it's pretty flawed in a few areas, a little help would be much appreciated.

For the 3 years I've taught my self, I've developed this tendency to use my nails when playing. Often they would extend past my fingertips a few millimeters, and this seemed to be in contrast to most finger style players. Firstly, this was not at all for tonal purposes, it's just a bad habit I have developed.
I really want to achieve the tone and soft attack of having short nails, but now that I have cut my nails I seem unable to get a solid note, or with any sort of consistency. It's really bad, my dynamics have been thrown out completely, every note seems to be at a random volume and have a random attack, especially when using my 3rd finger for 3 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 1 straight 16ths.

My first question is basically this, what exact part of my finger tip do I pluck with? How can I achieve the consistency I had with longer nails?

My second, equally important question is this: When I had longer nails, I used to angle my fingers inwards (towards my palm) when plucking, and part of my reason (apart from tone) is that this seems to pretty inefficient compared to plucking with straighter fingers, as I can go much faster with the latter technique. But I just can't seem to achieve any form of consistency like I used to have... What angle should my fingers be at, and how bent?

When another bass player with very similar interests to me (like that of John Myung, Dream Theater), he got a much better tone, one very similar to Myung's tone here, and it made me realise how much I wanted the tone of shorter nails, and how much of our sound comes from our fingers. It's just that now I try to play with shorter nails, every note seems to be incredibly dull, and have no attack at all.

Thanks.

EDIT: Another problem, do I play across the pickup, or more into them? I seem to get this odd clicking every few notes when trying to play with straighter fingers, as if the string is slapping the fretboard.

[TOOL460002]

my right thumb nail is slightly longer for picking. flamenco dudes do it. nothing wrong with using fingernails- or picks- or a chair- which was amusing to see.

when playing fingerstyle- i contact the string with the underside of the finger (the topmost portion of your fingerprint) and from the first joint past the knuckle- my fingers are bent somewhere in the 10-20 degree range.

also- if youre used to hitting the string with your nail- and youre just now starting to use the flesh of your finger- its a new and different effort/tension/movement- so youre probably inconsistent at the moment.

personally- i think you should consider acrylic nails.

[kb9wyz]

Not that I'm any kind of expert, but I think that nails for picking are both good and bad.

Good: You get a nice, sharp attack on even quiet notes.

Bad: You get a nice, sharp attack on even quiet notes.

You see where I'm coming from. I ended up trimming my nails short because I got tired of always getting the sharp attack. Sometimes, though, I still want a sharp attack, and so I do what I have come to call "hammer picking." I don't know if there is a real term for it, so I invite anyone who might know to share it with me. I basically bear down on the strings with my regular picking fingers, in between the neck and the neck pickup, which gives a sound similar to slapping. If I want a sharp attack without the growl, then I go over the bridge pickup and pick fairly hard. This increases the initial attack, but keeps the ringout fairly mellow. It isn't the same as using your nails, but I like this better.

When I did use nails, but I wanted a mellow tone, I would pick with the sides of my fingers. Take a look at someone playing upright and you'll see what I'm talking about. Then I would shift closer to bridge or neck to adjust the brightness of the note.

As far as consistency of volume, I just practiced a lot and got the feel for the string.

I hope this helps. If it doesn't, then sorry.

[Bass Troll]

Yeah, I can certainly hear where you're coming from in terms of the finger slapping, however I think this is the cause of that clicking sound I mentioned earlier. My main problem is I can't produce any sort of clarity with short-nailed normal finger style. Myung achieves this incredibly clarity on every note in the video, and I have had another, more experienced bassist play my bass and show me how much tone comes from the fingers.
Thanks for the help.

[Traver]

One of Myung's trademarks is exactly that, though: He bashes the hell out of the strings when in low registers, giving it that "slappy" sound.

[jonbass]

Practice with a metronome and you'll get more consistent. There is a broad range of what people will say about right hand technique, from Jamersons one finger tecnique to the Gary Willis/Matt Garrison ramp technique. Practice your scales, 3rds etc.. starting with half notes, then quarters then eighths, triplets etc.. it will get better.

[adube810]

on your plucking hand, take your fingers and push down on a table. your going to want you knuckle to be slightly bent. pull your finger back toward your palm while putting light pressure down on the joint closest to your nail while passing through with the pad of your finger. make sure not to have your knuckle go straight or else it will lock up your fingers. i know its not the best description, but watch the 3 billy sheehan instructional videos on youtube. it really helped me understand how to successfully play with 3 fingers in my right hand

[adube810]

also, play where you feel comfortable. theres no wrong place to put your plucking hand really. it all depends on the sound your going for. generally speaking i dont play by the bridge. i tend to stay over my P pickup. if i want a tighter sound i angle my wrist a little toward the bridge while my thumb is anchored on the pickup. if i want more fundamental i play more thoward the neck. or if i play with a very hard attack by the neck i can get an almost slap like tone

just practice and your technique will get cleaner over time

hope i helped broseph