Unbalanced fingers.

[nonohmic]

So, I have a problem.

I love the sound of my middle finger, nice and warm, fat - can really get a lot of different tones from it.

But my index sux! Really bright, sometimes feels like it's clipping the strings with the nail even though if I trimmed my nail anymore I wouldn't have one. The consistency of the surface of each is similar but the index finger is just really thin and it comes across that way.

It's got to the stage where I'm playing simpler lines with my middle finger only.

Anybody else have this problem or any advice?

Cheers.

[Hawaii Islander]

Have you tried changing the angle of attack of your fingers?

Some people slightly curve their middle finger to make it the same length as their index finger. I use another method that many people also use. I angle my fingertips toward the bridge which makes them strike the strings more evenly.

[ga_edwards]

A couple of things, are your fingers perpendicular to the strings, perhaps a little under 90 degrees. If the bass is too low and the neck it pointing upwards you may be plucking the string more with the side of you fingers than the tip.

Another one I picked up from a Billy Sheehan DVD is to jack the pickups right up, as far as they'll go without the string touching and pad them out underneath so they are solid (I use pieces of mousemat foam). You can then use the pickup surface as a 'ramp', running you fingers over the surface and plucking the strings. This ensures the strings are plucked consistently the same way every time producing a more even volume. It also stops fingers getting trapped beneath the string from digging in too hard. I also find I can pluck a hell of a lot faster.

[Hoover]

Fernando Saunders mentioned something in an interview 20 or so years ago (I'm pretty sure it was in an issue of Guitar Player...because it predated the first issue of Bass Player!) that always struck me as incredibly perceptive & clever: He said he plucks with his index and his 3rd finger, rather than index & 2nd, because the 1st & 3rd are the same length so it's easier to get more even, consistent alternate plucking. I've tried it enough to agree with him, but not quite enough to be able to utilize that technique instinctively.

[elpelotero]

it's normal and it happens. One finger is typically more dominant. For example, I almost always lead with my middle, whereas most people lead with their index.

Also remember that the index finger will be striking the string in a different area than the middle will. You can't change the spacing of the fingers in your hand, so that'll be there forever.

Try playing lines only with your index to build it up. There's a great exercise that Gary Willis does to help players get a consistant attack from both fingers...here it is around 3 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md8FCeqNrcM