How do you fret 2 strings on the same fret?

[lexxmexx]

Let's say you are playing a C arpeggio - C E G octave C. Since G and 8va C are on the same fret but on the D and G strings respectively, how do you fret these notes?

Using the pinky to press on both strings or one string at a time? I have tried this but one of the notes will sound muddy due to not pressing the string hard enough.

[jschwalls]

I almost always use seperate fingers to fret on bass....

[Dan1099]

Not pressing hard enough? It's possible, and, IMO, desireable, to fret with as little force as possible. I think your problem is you aren't pressing well with one finger, not that you aren't pressing hard enough.

That said, I don't generally bar anything unless it's high up the neck, on the D and G strings, for a quick bouncy fill or something. Every other time, I use one finger per string. The only other exception to this is that sometimes, when using the 5th down an octave (same fret, one string lower) as a pickup note between long, whole note feel stuff, I'll sort of rock my middle finger down and then back up.

[MarkTAW]

Moving between strings on the same fret is always gonna be a choice between two different fingers, or lifting a finger and putting it down again.

I don't know anyone that uses one finger across multiple strings - on guitar, sure, but on bass? Never heard of it.

[Marcury]

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

Let's say you are playing a C arpeggio - C E G octave C. Since G and 8va C are on the same fret but on the D and G strings respectively, how do you fret these notes?

Using the pinky to press on both strings or one string at a time? I have tried this but one of the notes will sound muddy due to not pressing the string hard enough.

Why are you using your pinky?

You can use two fingers or you can practice mini barres and lay one finger across the two strings.

But if you are doing this at the third fret for the g and c (or pretty much anywhere else for that matter), then you can use other fingers besides the pinky.

[GBGLJE]

I do it on a regular basis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zrxqWw5aWE

[wazzel]

What I do is fret the note on the lower string with the tip of my finger then roll my finger down to catch the same fret on the next higher string. I end up fretting the second note with the part of my finger that is around the first knuckle. I don't use it all the time, depends on where I am comming from and where I am going with my run. You need to make sure you mute the first note or it will ring.

[sublime0bass]

+1 wazzel. you are probably using the pad of your finger to fret, which means the pad of the 2nd finger is fretting the 2nd string (the middle pad, unlike the first, doesn't really apply pressure adding to your muffled sound). try fretting with the tip of your finger (its a good habit for agility, anyway) and then the hard part of the fingerjoint between the 2 pads will [probably] apply sufficient force to fret both

also, i agree with others above - as far as fretting pressure goes, less is more

[lamarjones]

I have runs where I hit two notes on the same fret on different strings (d and g for what I am currently thinking about), and let the ring for a half second, then do it on a different fret, repeat, blah blah blah...

it was suppossed to be my pinky, and no I couldn't make it happen clean with my pinky. So I used my ring finger, and it worked out.

So yes, with the index, middle, and ring, I can hit two or three notes however I need to on the same fret by barring. do I feel the need to work up my pinky to that level? not really. I don't do it all that much, and certainly not a lot with lover strings, but some licks end up sweeter by doing so.

[MarkTAW]

Yeah, I was thinking I'd probably do it with ring and pinky finger. It all comes down to how fast, which direction, what notes came before, and what notes come after.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

I don't know anyone that uses one finger across multiple strings - on guitar, sure, but on bass? Never heard of it.

FME, it's pretty common.
A great example would be all those Root-5th-octave things so prevalent in a lot of Motown tunes (& Latin-style tunes). I doubt the players at that time used 2 fingers (ring/pinky) to perform those figures.

Another example would be Klaus Voorman's opening figure on Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"...in order to pull off those 4ths, all 4 strings are Barre'd with the index finger.

IIRC, even Bass Player did a lesson on this 'technique' a few issues ago.

[peterbright]

Roll your finger from the G to the octave C. Try it. It's easy.

[tmw]

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

I don't know anyone that uses one finger across multiple strings - on guitar, sure, but on bass? Never heard of it.

I bar (with one finger, across multiple strings) as often as I need to. With sufficient pressure, there should be no fret buzz. It can be done.

[MarkTAW]

Well there you go - people do barre multiple strings with their pinkies.

[lexxmexx]

First of all, thanks to everyone for replying to this thread.

JimK had got it spot on, that's the style I am trying to learn. The Dummies book had recommended using the pinky on both the 5th and octave. Some of you had mentioned rocking the finger between these 2 notes, while some will bar the notes. So, which is the legitimate method? I've tried barring but all I got was a sore finger and loads of fret buzzes....

[Marcury]

The legitimate method is the one that works for you. If you're really dedicated learn to do it a few different ways and then it depends on the situation which you use.

[funkydanbass]

A lot of people have said that they barre with there pinky on a bass. It may be 'easier' to do this in the short term, but using two fingers to fret the notes individually is going to give you greater control over each note. Barring where a finger has pressure applied so the finger bends back on the joint is NEVER good. If you are getting pain from this, don't do it! As a 'rule' never barre with these fingers, if you have control of your pinky it is actually easier to use individual fingers, (and cleaner).

Upright bass players 'hop' across stings to play 4ths all the time, (they don't barre). It might be worth looking into that technique...

[hyp.spec]

I have no problem doing 2,3,4 string barre chords with any of my fingers...

then again I have monster hands...

[Peck_Time]

Originally Posted by funkydanbass

Upright bass players 'hop' across stings to play 4ths all the time, (they don't barre).

I've seen plenty of upright players barring 4ths or minor 7ths. It just takes a bit of practice.

[detracti]

For me, it depends on what comes before and after, the notes in that sequence. If I understand it, I have this to do in Paranoid (Black Sabbath), after the first verse lines - (actually starting w/ root C and then repeating starting w/ root D if I'm not mistaken)

In that case, I use my pinky right up as close behind the fret as I can get, and pull back hard on my wrist to get the octave to ring out. If I don't really crank on it, I get a "thud".

In most other cases, though, I'll just roll my index finger off the root, and bar the 5th and octave w/ my ring finger.