Question on fingerstyle

[Chipsonfire]

When I first started playing bass (less than a week ago ) I intuitively wanted to play using my thumb. I've practiced using alternating index and middle finger and that is becoming second nature. However, this was merely because I've never heard anyone really mention playing with the thumb aside from slap. I now use my thumb anchored on the E string when I'm not playing on that string because I find that putting it on the pickup is awkward and I can't reach the G very well. So my question is this: would it be unwise to start hitting that E with my thumb? I've tried it a few times and, other than not quite being used to it, it seems to be very natural to me. I'd only use it for single notes or slow successive notes on the E, otherwise I'll just use standard finger style. Will this hinder me at all? Any suggestions that I might not have thought of?
PS sorry for whoring this sub-forum but I really want to make sure I have good technique and I'm unable to get a bass teacher out here

[Qvist]

I used my thumb in the beginning aswell. You grow use to use your your f*ck'n'point fingers if you just keep doing it

Also, try resting your thumb on the E string when pulling the G string, lot's of bassists I know does that! Hope your training goes well, cheers

-Qvist

[anon_6j591b0]

You'll have a hard time sounding like other players if you don't use the techniques they use and the majority of finger players alternate between index and middle fingers. On the other hand there's nothing wrong with playing the way YOU want to play especially if you don't care much about copping other people's stuff. Check out NRBQ's Joey Spampinato for a guy who plays great with his thumb and index finger.
Check it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=h-s8JFTt-vo

[JimmyM]

Eh, I'm not in favor of it. You pretty much restrict yourself to being a simple player if you do that. It's hard to get any real speed up by doing that. Some people don't care about speed and that's fine, but sometimes you might need to be able to play something hard, and by using that technique, it's going to be a struggle.

[Chipsonfire]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Eh, I'm not in favor of it. You pretty much restrict yourself to being a simple player if you do that. It's hard to get any real speed up by doing that. Some people don't care about speed and that's fine, but sometimes you might need to be able to play something hard, and by using that technique, it's going to be a struggle.

I don't see how. If I need speed, I'm going to use standard alternating finger style.

[CrazyWallaWalla]

*$%@ em all dude, play how u want, I'm sure someone out there made fun of Larry Graham at first too

[Chipsonfire]

Originally Posted by CrazyWallaWalla

*$%@ em all dude, play how u want, I'm sure someone out there made fun of Larry Graham at first too

Getting made fun of is the least of my worries lol. I don't want to limit myself because of my technique, that's all. I'm determined to become competent with a bass because, well, I want to be able to play music with my friends as well as by myself.

[Lowpro]

Well you can always try to master classical style on bass, where your thumb plays a pretty big role, and I can't really find a reason to say no to using the thumb exclusively on E string, but it really helps to diversify how you play. I wouldn't say you need to worry about it because honestly, it's very hard to develop a pure habit of thumbing the E string. The transition to fingerstyle on the E string will be second nature. Either way your fingers get more limber and start dancing between strings faster and faster, and you'll be able to adapt if to your E string easily. I'll put money on that.

But really you're still developing technique anyways man, most habits that some consider bad don't hurt for starters.


Also, I don't know I was just thinking about habits, and some you may wanna make sure you adopt:

Left hand technique is the most important and the easiest to develop bad habits. Learn to use your pinky, the ring finger won't cut it. I use my ring finger personally to mute all the strings because of resonation, and the pinky to nail those other frets.

Also, try to keep a habit of keeping your hand close to your bass, makes your mutes easier and more subtle, unless you're left-hand slapping but that's a different thing altogether.

[Tenma4]

I'm all about using the thumb. I use the thumb, and 3 fingers. My index goes both directions, and part of the time I use my index and thumb like a pick. Thumb + fingers allows me to pluck chord/melody stuff with a separate bass line. I can reach across the strings quickly and easily with my thumb and fingers. The thumb technique allows me to play 2 independent lines limited to what my fretting hand can handle. My vote...use your thumb.

[Chipsonfire]

Originally Posted by Lowpro

Left hand technique is the most important and the easiest to develop bad habits. Learn to use your pinky, the ring finger won't cut it. I use my ring finger personally to mute all the strings because of resonation, and the pinky to nail those other frets.

I'm definitely working on using my pinky, even when it's not necessary, just to strengthen it and get some dexterity and agility as well (I feel like I'm playing an RPG... ).

[Lowpro]

Heh, I used to be like "I swear to God the pinky is the most worthless weakest finger ever, I'll never use it" but really, it offesr so much felxibility, no more handcramping, makes everything easier.

Fingerstyle is really easy to grasp and it really doesn't lend itself to bad habits. It really is a "practice makes perfect" routine. Best thing I can say is develop speed, play diatonics, or just toy with...

I—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I
I----------------4-5-6-7-6-5-4--------------------------4-5-6-7-6-5-4--------------I
I-----4-5-6-7--------------------7-6-5-4----4-5-6-7---------------------7-6-5-4---I
I--5------------------------------------------5---------------------------------------------I


I---------------4-5-6-7-6-5-4-------------------------------------------------------I
I----4-5-6-7--------------------7-6-5-4-----------4-5-6-7-6-5-4---------------I
I--5-----------------------------------------4-5-6-7-------------------7-6-5-4----I
I----------------------------------5----------------------------------------------------I


I--------------------------------------------I
I----6-9-6---4-7-4-----------------------I
I--7--------5----------4-5-6-7-6-7-----I
I---------------------5-----------------5----I

I know you wanna stray from tabs, this is an exercise on Sputnikmusic I used that helps develop speed and just lefthand technique.

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/category.php?catid=3&i=3 <-- MORE EXERCISES! hah!

[Chipsonfire]

grr I hate tabs lol. They are so hard for me to read! The way they are written to counterintuitive for me But once I get the spider figured out, I'll practice that when I can.

[Lowpro]

Lol then you and I are near opposites. I almost speak tab, like "Play A 7 8 9, then D 3 an 5" etc. I've had middle-high school band education, which is enough to know what those little dots mean

[Chipsonfire]

I've never been in band, other than for a few weeks when I was 11 lol. This is the first instrument I've practiced regularly and I've been at it less than a week I have, however, taken a few theory oriented music classes: 2 semester in HS and then the same thing again in college as a refresher.

[Deacon_Blues]

Playing only with the thumb is a slow, very limiting technique but it has a round, warm sound that suits certain styles very well. My dad plays with this technique exclusively but that is because he hasn't ever bothered to learn anything else and he plays mostly quarter notes anyway...

Fingerstyle (alternating index & ring) is a much faster and versatile technique. Learn that properly and you will be able to play most of the music there is out there.

Instead of anchoring your thumb on the E string, you might want to use the floating thumb technique instead (check the sticky here in the technique forum). I use to play like that most of the time, but for certain lines I prefer anchoring the thumb on the neck pickup, or sometimes the bridge pickup.

Good luck with practicing!