A Question about Fingerpicking

[Tetsu69]

Hi, im new to these forums, and relatively new to the bass too. (Been playing about 7 months) Im taking lessons right now, and my teacher's teaching technique (try saying that 5 times fast) is that I should learn fingerpicking before using an actual pick.

Now when I use fingerpicking, he tells me to have my fingers land on the previous string to prevent unwanted noise or whatever (im not exactly sure what this is called). The question is how important is using this technique? I can't seem to get a hold for it because it sounds choppy when I try to do it and concentration on doing it slows down my playing too. If this technique is pretty necessary then if you have any tips for me, it would be appreciated.

[Uribam]

I'm 50/50 on that. When I started I never used a pick. I still don't use a pick. Bass just sounds better to me played with fingers and lots around here agree. Some don't. As far as where your finger ends up after a note, honestly it doesn't matter. A serious lot of bassists will play a note and land the finger on the "picking" hand on the next string. Sometimes I do not. Sometimes I do. I learned slap bass quite early on and got used to my finger not touching things after I popped a note. It depends on if you have a tendency on touching other strings after a note is played.
I feel your teachers way is a good way to learn. I also think my way would be good to learn. I also think they way of a player to not ever do that is good to learn. You can never ever learn enough about music so learn it all.
Furthermore, and as an additive, music is fun to play, so play how it's fun to you. If others disagree with how you play, that's ok. Just play for fun and for love of playing and everything will be fine. Just keep playing!

Scott

[tobie]

Originally Posted by Tetsu69

Now when I use fingerpicking, he tells me to have my fingers land on the previous string to prevent unwanted noise or whatever (im not exactly sure what this is called). The question is how important is using this technique? I can't seem to get a hold for it because it sounds choppy when I try to do it and concentration on doing it slows down my playing too. If this technique is pretty necessary then if you have any tips for me, it would be appreciated.

It is quite common to let the playing finger rest on the lower (in sound) string next to the played string directly after plucking the string, to dampen unwanted sustain from unplayed strings. It's quite important in the sense that it's one of many tools you'll use for this purpose. Another popular way of achieving this is the floating thumb technique (search it on this site).

One of the popular ways to prevent unwanted sustain from higher (in sound) strings, is to rest the index finger of the fretting hand lightly on all strings - unless it's fretting at that particular moment.

[Chickencha]

I think that finger picking and pick techniques are best developed in parallel (assuming you want to learn them both). It's frustrating when you've gotten pretty competent on one technique and then you want to learn the other and all of a sudden you're back to the basics.

As for resting your finger on the lower string after picking, that's called a "rest stroke" (as opposed to a "free stroke"). I don't think either technique is more correct than the other. My impression is that more people use rest strokes than don't, but I really don't know. I say do what's comfortable in that case. Others may disagree.