Willy ou get used to using your finger instead a of a pick?

[fender_bassist1]

I am a new bassist and i am wondering if I should use a pick for my first couple of weeks or should i start finger picking immeadeitly?Does finge rpicking get easier as you do it more often?


Travis

[TOOL460002]

im rediculously biased- since i hate picks with a passion (my fore-finger and thumb can outdo any pick on speed, easy).

anyway- dont use a pick. start fingers only. later you can integrate finger style- 2-3 fingers with double thumbing or LG picking, or right hand tapping or slap or false harmonics. its so helpful not to have a pick in hand. dont start and you wont have to switch over when youve had that ingrained for years.

[De Teng]

Can't add anything else.... just DON'T... it serves you right in the end.

[JMX]

Start with fingers, add pick later for versatility.

[wulf]

Are you coming from playing guitar or some other instrument that (often) uses a pick? If so, there might be some benefit in getting going with a pick but otherwise I'd echo JMX and say get the finger thing down first.

Wulf

[screwball]

Originally Posted by JMX

Start with fingers, add pick later for versatility.

+1

[the ombudsman]

Originally Posted by JMX

Start with fingers, add pick later for versatility.

+2

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by fender_bassist1

I am a new bassist and i am wondering if I should use a pick for my first couple of weeks or should i start finger picking immeadeitly?Does finge rpicking get easier as you do it more often?

your strings are just vibrating metal in a magnetic field... hell, hit your strings with a chicken leg if that's what feels and sounds good to you

but however you intend to play, you should probably start doing it that way as soon as possible - and like anything, the more you do it, the easier it becomes... sounds like you intend to play predominantly fingerstyle... so in your case, ditch the pick and get on with it

just try and always remember that technique is just a tool to create music... you don't often get novelists making their 'typing technique' the focus of their creative endeavors...

[fender_bassist1]

well is there any specific fingers i should start using?and yes, i did used to play guitar so i am used to using a pick. and thanks for all the help so far.


Travis

[TOOL460002]

i would say start off playing with your pointer and middle finger- and remember to lead with your middle finger- that's a good habbit to get into.

wait until you've mastered that(and probably slap, too) and then decide if you have the desire to develope other fingering techniques. the ring finger is pretty cool for really fast triplets and thumbs are good for all kinds of stuff. and just amputate your pinky now- it's useless.

oh- and just a tip- if youre comfortable with a pick- you might try using your pointer finger as a picking device. Larry Graham dubbed that the "LG pick" in his own honoro, i believe. i think the pointer finger is better than a pick- because you can hit the string with variable amounts of finger nail and flesh to go from hard trebley sound to more muted.

[FUNKonthewall]

Originally Posted by JMX

Start with fingers, add pick later for versatility.

What are we on now? +3?

[fender_bassist1]

when you say lead do you mean to start off every song with the middle?or do you mean if you are on one fret you woould play it constantly and keep on playing it but use both fingers ?

[Rich600]

I dont know what youre trying to say there but what the dude that said that means is when youre gonna play something, hit the first note with your middle finger and then your index and so on...its more consistant.

[TOOL460002]

yeah- just start out the song or section with the middle finger. my bass teacher told me to do this long ago- and it's something you wont even think about having to do in a little while.

but- typically if you're playing a bassline written by a good fingerstyle bassist (play a lot of Stone Temple Pilots- 3rd and 5th cd especially) you'll find it more comfortable to start with the middle, because great basslines normally have the right combination of raking up and smoving around from string to string so that the part is just easier to play if you start middle finger.

just like left hand fingering you have many options- and any is good as long as you can play the part correctly and comfortably that way- but i would say from experience try to start middle first every time- and rake up (ie same finger hits the D and moves up to hit the A).

also- James Brown has some awesome basslines that are a little tricky but flow so well when you get it down. also- Tower Of Power.

[fender_bassist1]

thank you guys so much for all your tips! I think they will really help me a lot.once again, thank you

[Ozzyman]

Originally Posted by cowsgomoo

your strings are just vibrating metal in a magnetic field... hell, hit your strings with a chicken leg if that's what feels and sounds good to you

or a turkey leg

[wulf]

Originally Posted by fender_bassist1

...and yes, i did used to play guitar so i am used to using a pick. and thanks for all the help so far.

If you're used to playing with a pick then I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to play bass that way for a while. There are plenty of great players who seem to be entirely or largely pick players so it's not 'wrong' (although it does fly in the face of the prevailing zeitgeist).

On the other hand, you have to remember that playing with your fingers will feel wierd to start with, whether you knuckle down to it now or put it off for ten years. If you want to learn how to do it, you're going to have to start doing it!

What instructional materials do you have? Most teach-your-self bass packages are going to spend some time on that aspect of playing, probably with illustrations and exercises to boot. If you haven't got anything like that at all, you might find it worthwhile investing in a book, video, DVD or even a lesson or two with a teacher.

Wulf

[Raven]

Learn to use your fingers.... they'll callous up in no time. As you progress and learn more, you will find using a pick limiting on bass. The use of a pick is acceptable, if you're going for a certain sound, or if your playing a multi course 12 string, (triple strung 4 w/ 2 ocatve strings) since there isn't a lot of room for fingers on those beasts, but you will be much happier in the long run if you just learn to use your fingers.

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by Ozzyman

or a turkey leg

Oh Man - now you made me hungry. I'd better put down the bass, and get over to my Mom's house!

Joe

[fender_bassist1]

One last question. When you use your fingers , do pluck the string or tap them?