Unusual 1-Finger "Finger-picking"?

[evanatch]

Hi all, I've been playing bass for about a year now, and I think my right hand technique is a bit different than usual.

When I'm playing really fast technical parts, I only use one finger and move it up and down, like a pick but without the pick. Working with this has allowed me to play things pretty fast like YYZ, The Trooper, or Panic Attack (Dream Theater). I can play with 2 or even 3 fingers, and I often do when I'm playing something more basic, but I think when I'm playing something really difficult, playing with 1 finger just allows me to play faster, cleaner, and more consistently. In terms of sound, I think it's a little bit different than regular fingerstyle, but not as clicky as using a pick. Honestly, I've never felt limited by using this technique at all.

Has anyone else seen this type of technique or use it? How does it work for you? Am I just weird?

[Flyingfrets]

Hey, whatever works for you. Eveyone has their own style. As long as it isn't limiting you, it's nobody else's business.

I was primarily a guitar player for the past 36 years. I always thought the way I played was a little odd (no pick, but not quite fingerstyle either)...until I saw Lyndsey Buckingham.

I find I can't do that on bass though (it tears my fingernails off), so I use a small, hard polyurethane pick on my Ric, and a large felt pick on my violin bass.

Adaptability has served me well, but like anyone else, I have my preferences. Go with yours.

[phangtonpower]

I just saw this from a thread about 3 finger technique.
Bass Lesson - Playing With One Finger - YouTube

[maturanesa]

the problem with that is you get a weaker note when plucking with the nail side of the finger, so you get an uneven un undefined attack. With two or three fingers you always pluck with the flesh part of the finger so the attack is more consistent...

[Ray man]

Yup, its the Geddy lee finger pickin.
It felt and sounded weird at first, now i couldnt possibly do 'the trooper' or anything else with a relentless bass line without this method.

[baileyboy]

Every so often I find myself plucking with one finger instead of two, though I've worked hard to overcome this, so only do it on rare occasions now. I know I'm doing it when my index finger begins to fatigue from overuse...

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by maturanesa

the problem with that is you get a weaker note when plucking with the nail side of the finger, so you get an uneven un undefined attack. With two or three fingers you always pluck with the flesh part of the finger so the attack is more consistent...

For me, the trick is to 'pick' using the very tip of my finger where the flesh meets the nail. This eliminates the problem with getting uneven tone from the nail side vs the flesh side.
So the attack happens at a single spot on the tip of my finger, not nail side alernating with flesh side.

It seems to work very well for me.

[evanatch]

Originally Posted by Ray man

Yup, its the Geddy lee finger pickin.
It felt and sounded weird at first, now i couldnt possibly do 'the trooper' or anything else with a relentless bass line without this method.

Wow, does Geddy Lee actually do this? If so, that's way cool.

Originally Posted by Ray man

For me, the trick is to 'pick' using the very tip of my finger where the flesh meets the nail. This eliminates the problem with getting uneven tone from the nail side vs the flesh side.
So the attack happens at a single spot on the tip of my finger, not nail side alernating with flesh side.

It seems to work very well for me.

This is pretty much exactly how I do it, thanks for explaining it a lot better.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by evanatch

Wow, does Geddy Lee actually do this? If so, that's way cool.

Thers an interview floatin around on youtube where he talks about it in depth.

[evanatch]

Originally Posted by Ray man

Thers an interview floatin around on youtube where he talks about it in depth.

I think I may have found what you're talking about. Geddy Lee Interview part 2 of2 - YouTube
Skip to about 2:10, very cool.

[Matthew_84]

I don't know if you guys have more flesh on your tip than I do, but I cannot keep my nail from striking the string on upstrokes, even with it as trimmed as it can go.

Any tips?

One thing I should ask, is that if you "flesh-only" players ever use an upstroke when moving up to a higher string? Like if I hit the E string with a downstroke but have to move up to the A, I'd strike it with an upstroke to keep strict alternation and my momentum, but I also find that's when I'm most likely to make contact with the nail.

[Clef_de_fa]

I did it once because I was playing for more than 6 hours in one of our reharsal and at the end my finger hurted so much that I did that for saving them.

otherwise no I don't do that, the only fingers I don't use to pluck is my pinky

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by maturanesa

the problem with that is you get a weaker note when plucking with the nail side of the finger, so you get an uneven un undefined attack. With two or three fingers you always pluck with the flesh part of the finger so the attack is more consistent...

Not for everyone. When I play regular finger style I use the flesh and the nail. It's the very reason I have to keep an eye on where my high mids are set.

To the OP, yer no more weird than any one of us is. We each have a way. Yours is as good any any.

[KingRazor]

I dunno how people do that, I've tried but I can't do it.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by Matthew_84

I don't know if you guys have more flesh on your tip than I do, but I cannot keep my nail from striking the string on upstrokes, even with it as trimmed as it can go.

Any tips?

Well, its hard to explain, but the fingernail is involved on both the upstroke and downstroke. How? You pick the string using the very tip where the nail meets the flesh for both the up and down stroke. So the attack is focused on the flatest point at the tip of ur finger. so thers no alternating from the fingernail side to the flesh side, its all focused on one spot on the finger tip. Kinda like using ur finger tip as a fat pick.

Keep in mind, this is just my interpritation of this method. It works for me.

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by evanatch

I think I may have found what you're talking about. Geddy Lee Interview part 2 of2 - YouTube
Skip to about 2:10, very cool.

You found it, thats the video.
Btw, u can realy hear his fingernail digin in.

[HaVIC5]

Mingus did this all the time on upright, and there's even a technique called the "Mingus tremelo" that relies on it.

Bryan Beller calls this sort of thing "flicking."

http://www.bassplayer.com/TabId/177/...ArticleId=4965

[Matthew_84]

That's not the first time I've heard people recommending to do this technique with the index and middle fingers side by side, but I've never understood why that's preferred. I always thought it would be easier just using one, and training both fingers to do it independently so you can switch to the middle if the index ever gets tired.

I'm going to try this though sometime tonight, maybe it would keep an even tone between strokes? I wouldn't think so, but I won't know until I try it

[PerlNinja]

If I'm not mistaken, Dusty Hill from ZZ Top also does this, and I'm occasionally doing it myself although I still prefer my own very odd 3 finger technique...

[Ray man]

Originally Posted by PerlNinja

If I'm not mistaken, Dusty Hill from ZZ Top also does this, and I'm occasionally doing it myself although I still prefer my own very odd 3 finger technique...

Nothin odd about using 3 fingers. I used to do that too.