Two Finger Picking Technique

[aaronhutson]

Before anyone hounds me about doing a search, I did and nothing came up that helped me personally.

Okay so just for the record, im not a beginner and I know what Im doing. However, I have always played with a pick. What I have done finger style were whole notes in worship service or just using my index finger really fast, not the right technique im sure. I mean, I can play fine with one or two fingers, but i dont think the technique is right. So even though it sounds fine, I dont wanna look like a dumb. Ha.

So im asking you guys, whats the best two finger style technique? I dont want to do three finger because I would like to work my way up instead of skipping.

I play a P Bass so is there anything else i need to know about that (Thumb rest, Ramp)?

I just want to look like I know what im doing instead of just sound like it as long as nobody sees my right hand. Ha.

[sanderic]

Wow, this will open up an interesting discussion, simply because I have never compared, or even thought about, my two finger "technique". For the record, EVERYTHING you play is bassed upon sound. For years I used a pick on a Gibson EB-1 because it was the best sound for that bass. However, on my Jazz and Precision basses, which have been my mainstays for over 20 years, I use a two finger technique based upon sound.
1) The second or middle finger gives a fuller sound because the flesh pad of the finger forces the string to vibrate.
2) the first finger gives a brighter sound because I use more of the fingernail to strike the string.

So the second finger is the primary "pick" unless I have a line that needs two fingers. Note that when I speed up, I tend to strike the strings more with the fingernails of both fingers because the slightly brighter sound tends to give more deffinition to the lines.
I will be much interested to read other peoples opinions on this subject.

[aaronhutson]

Sanderic-

Im kinda the opposite in that my index is my main picking finger that gives a cleaner and more consistant sound. My middle tends to hit too hard, causing an inconsistant tone if im playing straight eights. But with any change in rythm or syncopation it sounds fine.

Mostly im trying to find the most efficient way for speed, changing strings, and that sort of thing.

I tend to use the flat, or fingerprint, part of my finger and i think i dig in too much.

[genericusername]

I like to crank it up and barely touch the strings. Allows me to play faster.

[aaronhutson]

I tend to dig in more. Habit maybe?

[mpdd]

been playing without the pick recently because i have been having this weird numbness in the meaty area of my palm below my pinky, anyway i try to play lighter, but for some reason i can only play softly during the intro of songs then i dig in as soon as the tension starts building

[klokker]

I use the drop thumb technique to elminate ringing. On the bottom E or B depending on 4-string or 5-string I don't rest my thumb on anything.

I pretty much alternate fingers and try to be consistant with that. Pretty much. Its amazing how fast you can go with two fingers once you get warmed up good.

[aaronhutson]

Is there a "correct" part of my fingers, direction to pull string, distance or strength to pull string?

Like I said, I can do it fine. But I want to know the best technique.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by aaronhutson

Is there a "correct" part of my fingers, direction to pull string, distance or strength to pull string?

Like I said, I can do it fine. But I want to know the best technique.

Here is a short video on desirable elements in a plucking hand technique.

YouTube - ‪plucking hand.mp4‬‏

if you understand how and why your hands work then you can incorporate elements of what is natural into the technique.

First point is that your hands have two sides, a dexterous side and a power side. The dextourous side is the thumb, fore and middle finger. That is why whenever you do anything of precision or exactness with the hands, the ring and little finger curl in to the palm out if the way...power is not needed so the instinct is to put that option to one side. Why we do this is a many fold answer, but simply the middle and ring finger share some tendon and muscle functions, so by folding or tucking the ring and little finger in to the palm, we isolate the other side of the hand to function better.

Try it and and see, go around picking up small items or handle things that require precision and you will tuck the middle and little finger out of the way.

The same is true of a two finger picking style when you use the fore and middle finger, tuck the ring and little finger out the way and let the finger perform better. It is not for everyone, but always try and enhance what is natural to the hand.

[aaronhutson]

Wow.. I am kind of shocked at the lack of participation in this thread.

And here I thought TB was full of people ready to tell you what to do... Ha.

Any advice helps! I dont want to get Carpal Tunnel!

[oniman7]

If you have a P-bass, I'd suggest either using the pickup or trying to get a ramp on it. I know some people can't use the pickup and use the body instead, which (from my understanding) isn't preferable. Start by laying your arm over your bass. My wrist bends at almost a 90 degree angle when sitting, roughly 35-35 while standing. The thumb sticks out and rests on the pickup (or the B/E strings - I play a 5 string)

Let's start on the A string. Rest the pad of your finger on the string, ready to strike. Now pluck the string. Your fingers should bend mostly at the first finger joint (the metacarpal?), and slightly at the knuckle. Move all the way through until you hit the next string. This is important. Your finger should move all the way back and touch the string behind it -- an E in this case. Do the same with your second finger. Repeat, making sure your finger comes to rest on the next string each time. When you're ready and want to get faster, you can do a sort of circular motion where one finger is moving forward as the other moves back.

[JimmyM]

Always alternate, even when skipping to lower pitched strings. Raking might feel easier at first, but you'll thank me for telling you to stick rigidly to alternating once you master it.

[aaronhutson]

Originally Posted by oniman7

If you have a P-bass, I'd suggest either using the pickup or trying to get a ramp on it.

A thumb rest or a ramp? Or both? I can see the advantages of both, but I dont want to clutter up my bass.

Maybe a ramp that i use also as a thumb rest, just like you would the pickup?

I dont know much about ramps. Is there a specific p bass ramp or do you make them yourself or what?

[JimmyM]

You'd have to make it yourself. Personally, I don't see the point in the ramp. I've tried them before and they annoy me to no end. The ramp does nothing you can't do without a ramp. I guess some folks like them but not me.

[oniman7]

Oops. I may have misunderstood a ramp. I picked it up from Talkbass, so I may have picked it up wrong :P Anyways, I'm just talking about some kind of thumbrest. I know I've seen a lot of people here complaining about trying to use a Precision pickup as a thumb rest. I've played some that went both ways. Some, the pickup was at a reasonable height to use. Others I wished had some kind of thumbrest. But that's just me. That may, in fact, have been the least important part of my post

[JimmyM]

BASS | The Willis Site

The ramp goes under the strings to keep you from digging in too deep. Not my thing...I can control how much I dig in on my own.

[oniman7]

Ohhhh. Yeah, that's probably unnecessary. What I'm talking about is a thumb rest.

[aaronhutson]

I can definetally see a ramp serving multiple purposes. Whats the best way to make it? Or would it be better to just order a cheap thumb rest?

Are they considered "training wheels"?

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by aaronhutson

I can definetally see a ramp serving multiple purposes. Whats the best way to make it? Or would it be better to just order a cheap thumb rest?

Are they considered "training wheels"?

As you'll see above, I don't think the ramp really does anything as far as a thumb rest. I could be wrong, but that's what it looks like.

Also, that signature model has a ramp. I've played a couple higher end basses with thumb rests on them. I can't see anyone considering them training wheels, especially on a P-bass, where you might not have an optimal thumb rest. Some people are comfortable on them. I'm usually not.

[aaronhutson]

Originally Posted by oniman7

As you'll see above, I don't think the ramp really does anything as far as a thumb rest. I could be wrong, but that's what it looks like.

Well I just figured I could use the ramp as a thumb rest also. Using the pup works, but the screw tends to get in the way. So i thought if its the same height it would work.

But I may be wrong..