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Finger picking: thumb vs index/middle
- Thread starter Jfever
- Start date
Fingernails?
Where do you pluck with your fingers? Very close to the neck? You may be literally scraping the highest fret.
Where do you pluck with your fingers? Very close to the neck? You may be literally scraping the highest fret.
Yep, first thing I'd check is fingernails.
Also, I tended to pluck slightly towards the fretboard initially and there was any amount of buzzing and scraping. This corrected itself automatically, I don't know why or how, or when. I've only been playing 6 months, so it happened quite quickly. The other bleeding obvious include a ring or bracelet.
Also, I tended to pluck slightly towards the fretboard initially and there was any amount of buzzing and scraping. This corrected itself automatically, I don't know why or how, or when. I've only been playing 6 months, so it happened quite quickly. The other bleeding obvious include a ring or bracelet.
I think I may be plucking towards the fretboard. No other obvious culprits other than it just doesn't sound the same. What about the moment you are muting one string to the pluck a second time with the next finger. There the muting activity in of itself could be creating a harmonic "ringing" sound? And/or it's where my hand is on the plucking side, I pluck over the fretboard and I may be in a "harmonic zone" of some sort? This is turning into a complicated issue. Thanks for your response.
I've noticed the same thing; I think it's my calluses against the string. Turning down treble reduces this, even then no one hears the string noise from a bass in a band mix, especially live.
Thumbs are larger and softer and I think the crispness I hear when using my finger tips is from their firmer tissue at the ends..... I also play flamenco guitar where crispness is a priority. That and some Hazel Bishop #33/Clear helps too.
Now I also play bass, primarily old school technique where my thumb is the weapon of choice.....nice rich thumps!
But I also octave a lot with a finger or two, so it's always a concern about making a higher note steal all the ear action from the lower notes. I've developed a compensating feel to help balance the low-high situation........ unless I need one to overshadow the other.
Guess I'm saying that finger tips can be tamed, but I still prefer thumb-thumpy bass to competing with the guitars and horns in their respective sonic turf.
Nevertheless.... I see some bassist playing sweetly with their finger tips ....... and I wonder ....... just how soft their hand are too.
Not that I care.
I just wonder.... in an academic way!
Now I also play bass, primarily old school technique where my thumb is the weapon of choice.....nice rich thumps!
But I also octave a lot with a finger or two, so it's always a concern about making a higher note steal all the ear action from the lower notes. I've developed a compensating feel to help balance the low-high situation........ unless I need one to overshadow the other.
Guess I'm saying that finger tips can be tamed, but I still prefer thumb-thumpy bass to competing with the guitars and horns in their respective sonic turf.
Nevertheless.... I see some bassist playing sweetly with their finger tips ....... and I wonder ....... just how soft their hand are too.
Not that I care.
I just wonder.... in an academic way!
