Right hand finger plucking direction

[Champion]

Hi all, I am very very new to playing bass (only a week or so). I want to get a round, fat sound but I found that my finger nail occaisionally hit the string. I have already trim my nail as much as possible.

The only way that I can avoid it is to pluck slightly sideway i.e. not using the tip only but a bit of the side of the finger tip. When I pluck my finger actually go very slight towards the thumb instead of straight to the palm. Is this OK or a very bad habit?

Thanks for your help!

[puddin tame]

best to get a teacher, if only for one lesson, to set you up with proper technique

[BassBob2112]

What kind of strings are on your bass / what kind of bass?

Roundwound strings will give you a more 'clanky' sound. Maybe that's what you're hearing and thinking it's your nail? Flatwound/tapewound strings will have a more mellow sound.

Are you really 'grabbing' the strings with your finger vs. more of a letting the finger 'roll' off the string?

[Skitch it!]

Flatten and straighten your fingers slightly and avoid the hooking, play across the string with your pads rather than hook under and connect with the nail ; )

[Champion]

Thanks for your quick response. I have a Ibanez EDB500 and I think it is roundwound but I need to check. I am think I am rolling over the string quick softly. Actually, it often happens when I jump from the higher note strings to the lower ones. e.g. G back to A.

Am I supposed to move my arm and keep the wrist 'locked' when I try to reach the higher pitch strings? What I find is if I use my wrist or finger to reach the higher strings then the pluck angle is different, and the sound become inconsistent.

Good advice on getting a teacher, but I cannot afford it at the moment.

Thanks again!

[thetawaves]

Originally Posted by Champion

Am I supposed to move my arm and keep the wrist 'locked' when I try to reach the higher pitch strings? What I find is if I use my wrist or finger to reach the higher strings then the pluck angle is different, and the sound become inconsistent.

If you're finding the sound inconsistent, maybe try a "floating thumb" or "floating hand" technique. I'm guessing your anchoring your thumb on either the E-string or pickup cover and going at it with fingers from there?

Try either anchoring your thumb (or just play without an "anchor") on the string above the string you're playing and moving it every time you switch to a different string (so if playing on G, rest thumb on D. If playing on A, rest thumb on E...etc). It helped me keep the sound consistent as I would be hitting the string with the same part of the fingers when I hit a note.

If you're still having issues with your finger-nails hitting the strings, angle your attack so your going at the strings more with the pads of your fingertips. Likewise I found I can cop quite a good plectrum tone by playing with the bony parts of the fingertips.

Spend some time experimenting with different strengths of finger style "attack" and hitting a string with different parts of your finger, I found it's all about developing the muscle memory to achieve the different sounds. Also try keeping your wrist straight and your palm flat when playingm I had someone point this out to me on one of my youtube videos and it's helped alot with the aches and pains on my picking hand. All this IME, IMHO etc...

[Fergie Fulton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeodP4P0ivM

The link should get you started

[Champion]

Thanks for your advice thetawaves. You are right, I was resting my thumb on pickup cover or the E-string. I used the thumb to mute the E string and my ring finger to mute the A string when I hit the G string. I actually tried the floating thumb method last night and felt that it was better (one less finger to control : ) and as you pointed out, help me to hit the string with the same part of the finger).

However, this increases the movement of my arm as my thumb now needs to reach for the high pitch string instead of just stretch my plucking finger. Is this correct? Previously, I just rest forearm on the guitar and let my fingers to do the work, but now, I can't.

It seems like there so many ways to pluck that are subtly different ...