Finger style playing discussion

[Leo was right]

Since I am only finger style bass player, I like to start discussion about technique, trick, or any subject you want to share with us.

I don't want any segregation here, if someone start a thread about pick playing, slapping, or any others methods , I would read it with interest.

So feel free to react.

 

[BazzTard]

I'll start.

I love the variety of tones I get with my MIA P just from where I pluck the strings. Close to the bridge for fast stuff that needs clarity, it also is more trebley. In the middle for most stuff. Up near the neck for boomy bass tones.

I recently discovered a new technique to play really fast where using the usual two fingers doesn't work.

Hold both fingers together and pedal back and forth over the string like you would with a pick. Can play as fast as you need to, without cramping.

 

[CatSquare]

I'll have to try that bazz, I recently discovered the magic of playing with one finger - it's surprising how fast I can play like that. Now I'm working on incorporating the single finger upstroke into my usual three-finger technique.
I love playing with my fingers between the neck and the neck pup for that big tubby thump.

 

[NoiseNinja]

I'll start.

I love the variety of tones I get with my MIA P just from where I pluck the strings. Close to the bridge for fast stuff that needs clarity, it also is more trebley. In the middle for most stuff. Up near the neck for boomy bass tones.

I recently discovered a new technique to play really fast where using the usual two fingers doesn't work.

Hold both fingers together and pedal back and forth over the string like you would with a pick. Can play as fast as you need to, without cramping.

I use that too, in combination with classical guitar picking technique.

I recently got back to use pick more again though.

 

[Leo was right]

Oh yeah guys! I also discovered too these techniques recently and really liked it.

You can really mimmick the up down stroke of a pick specially if you keep the pick up covers on fender or Richenbaker bass as a rest for others fingers.

 

[jdwilliams]

Here is Bryan Beller showing the up stroke idea you guys are speaking about:

 

[pcake]

i've played fingerstyle guitar for decades, so when i started playing bass it was only natural that i continue to play fingerstyle asi love feeling the strings when i play. when i was playing bass in metal and punk bands, i used a lot of attack, and my nails would wear off really quickly, so i used to get acrylic overlays done on my nails. not only did this make them practically bullet-proof, but when playing harder, my nails sounded like picks due to the acrylic, which i had done extra thick for strength.

these days, i'm not in any bands, so i don't get the overlays done (they require maintenance, and i'm not ready to get into that yet), but even on flatwounds if i play a lot my nails wear off just a little each time i play for a longer period, and on roundwounds i lose some nail when i play even for a few minutes. i tried super glue directly on the nails and tips of the edges, wasn't thrilled although it helped. i was considering the gel nail stuff you have to cure under UV light. what are you guys doing to protect your nails, if anything?

 

[mpdd]

double tapping with one finger and raking are ok if it works for you, same thing with muting with fingers other than your thumb sometimes, don't over think stuff

 

[Leo was right]

I use that too, in combination with classical guitar picking technique.

I recently got back to use pick more again though.

True. The physical position we have playing electric bass specially with a wide neck is very close to the classical guitar.

My trick is to have the fingers at a right angle from the bass in order to just whip the strings with the tip of the finger, so I put back the pickup and bridge covers on both j bass and p bass and use it as a rest for the pinkie.

The purpose of these covers at the start of the conception of the instrument was really this function, my avatar name come from this. (Leo was right )

Samething with the Telecaster guitar on the bridge pickup and since the jazz bass was conceived for guitarists using a pick the bridge cover was designed larger and the p bass thought for playing with the thumb so the hand rest on the cover, it is far from Jaco style of playing.

Leo Fender was the Léonard-de-Vinci of modern time considering all his works.

 

[Leo was right]

I'll have to try that bazz, I recently discovered the magic of playing with one finger - it's surprising how fast I can play like that. Now I'm working on incorporating the single finger upstroke into my usual three-finger technique.
I love playing with my fingers between the neck and the neck pup for that big tubby thump.

This is the Jamerson secret, all the tone is in this finger that he name it the hook.

 

[Leo was right]

I'll start.

I love the variety of tones I get with my MIA P just from where I pluck the strings. Close to the bridge for fast stuff that needs clarity, it also is more trebley. In the middle for most stuff. Up near the neck for boomy bass tones.

I recently discovered a new technique to play really fast where using the usual two fingers doesn't work.

Hold both fingers together and pedal back and forth over the string like you would with a pick. Can play as fast as you need to, without cramping.

Want to try something funny?
Play THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT , Nazareth version, or I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER from sly and the family stone with this technique.

(Reply for CatSquare, sorry, smartphone fart! )

 

[Leo was right]

i've played fingerstyle guitar for decades, so when i started playing bass it was only natural that i continue to play fingerstyle asi love feeling the strings when i play. when i was playing bass in metal and punk bands, i used a lot of attack, and my nails would wear off really quickly, so i used to get acrylic overlays done on my nails. not only did this make them practically bullet-proof, but when playing harder, my nails sounded like picks due to the acrylic, which i had done extra thick for strength.

these days, i'm not in any bands, so i don't get the overlays done (they require maintenance, and i'm not ready to get into that yet), but even on flatwounds if i play a lot my nails wear off just a little each time i play for a longer period, and on roundwounds i lose some nail when i play even for a few minutes. i tried super glue directly on the nails and tips of the edges, wasn't thrilled although it helped. i was considering the gel nail stuff you have to cure under UV light. what are you guys doing to protect your nails, if anything?

My Way of playing use mainly the tip of the finger, I use thomastik strings Flatwound, very soft action but lot of mid harmonics and my problem is the sound is very good at the begining of a gig but if I play too hard the skin get softer and I lose some attack, so I put up the volume and play more softer than before and discover how the sound is richer when the strings are plucked that way, I think getting a volume pedal, so maybe for you with more gain and softer attack with compressor, gate ect. You could save your nails.

I try to not play harder than necessary.

 

[MrLenny1]

I'm working on the double thumb method.
It simulates a pick action.

 

[Leo was right]

I'm working on the double thumb method.
It simulates a pick action.

Can you give more details on your technique?

 

[HaphAsSard]

Ironic that much of this thread so far is dedicated to ways of emulating a pick...
(But I suppose discussion on rubber, felt or otherwise soft picks as means of emulating pizz on pick threads would be more or less the same.)

For the record I do bass pizz and guitar-type fingerstyle only, don't use picks (I would, sometimes at least, if I could learn how to properly hold one).

 

[Leo was right]

Ironic that much of this thread so far is dedicated to ways of emulating a pick...
(But I suppose discussion on rubber, felt or otherwise soft picks as means of emulating pizz on pick threads would be more or less the same.)

For the record I do bass pizz and guitar-type fingerstyle only, don't use picks (I would, sometimes at least, if I could learn how to properly hold one).

You are right, why we try emulate a pick? Because we want to have a good focus of the notes which is easy with a pick but you lack in articulation dynamics and I find it less fun. It is a different instrument when played with a pick or finger.

Can you imagine Jaco, Stanley Clark with a pick? Or Chris Squire in pizzicato?

It would give something different for sure!

And slap is something else, you have the choice.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I don't see anything wrong in your and others' quest for a finger style with more attack. (Attempting it while expecting it to sound exactly like a pick would be a fool's errand IMO but as long as one is aware of it, why not?)

Because we want to have a good focus of the notes which is easy with a pick but you lack in articulation dynamics and I find it less fun. It is a different instrument when played with a pick or finger.

These I don't agree with, but yeah, opinions and all. Sorry for the interruption.

 

[tonemachine]

I recently took my first lesson since about 25 years ago...I'd like to get to the next level without reinventing the wheel anymore.

I brought a Humbucker Humbucker MusicMan to my lesson. My teacher plays a Jazz Bass.

While I am able to pluck anywhere on the string, my fingers don't naturally sit evenly over either pick up on my MusicMan basses. On the other hand, my teacher plucks with his two fingers centered on the neck pick up and suggested that this is one of the components of getting the exact same tone from each finger; he implied that I should try to figure something out, or implied that it can't be done since there are two rows of pole pieces on each humbucker so its impossible to center on any one row of pole pieces without being out of whack on the adjacent row. He wasn't judging, so no need to get upset anyone!

This is just food for thought for anyone who might be interested. My ears are not so particular at this point, I can't tell such a subtle difference as one finger over the poles and one a finger away. Even when I went home and tried it on my Jazz, I can't really tell. I have way too many other musical deficiencies to be overly concerned. He's an accomplished upright player, too, so his ears are very discerning and probably figures I should get good habits ASAP.

 

[Leo was right]

I don't see anything wrong in your and others' quest for a finger style with more attack. (Attempting it while expecting it to sound exactly like a pick would be a fool's errand IMO but as long as one is aware of it, why not?)

These I don't agree with, but yeah, opinions and all. Sorry for the interruption.

Ok , I would like to clarify my point (sorry I am french speaking so my English could be better) I am not trying to sound exactly as a pick but have an attack similar to have a good focus of my playing in the band.

For this it need to make research on the strings, action, eq, compression, ect.

That you may be not have to do when you play with a pick, but I prefer touch the strings with my fingers, better control.

I don't like to play with a pick, it is only personal, but I admit there are great bass players playing with a pick, without naming them.

 

[Leo was right]

I recently took my first lesson since about 25 years ago...I'd like to get to the next level without reinventing the wheel anymore.

I brought a Humbucker Humbucker MusicMan to my lesson. My teacher plays a Jazz Bass.

While I am able to pluck anywhere on the string, my fingers don't naturally sit evenly over either pick up on my MusicMan basses. On the other hand, my teacher plucks with his two fingers centered on the neck pick up and suggested that this is one of the components of getting the exact same tone from each finger; he implied that I should try to figure something out, or implied that it can't be done since there are two rows of pole pieces on each humbucker so its impossible to center on any one row of pole pieces without being out of whack on the adjacent row. He wasn't judging, so no need to get upset anyone!

This is just food for thought for anyone who might be interested. My ears are not so particular at this point, I can't tell such a subtle difference as one finger over the poles and one a finger away. Even when I went home and tried it on my Jazz, I can't really tell. I have way too many other musical deficiencies to be overly concerned. He's an accomplished upright player, too, so his ears are very discerning and probably figures I should get good habits ASAP.

On my jazz bass and my p bass I put back the pickup covers,if you have the chance try it, at least on the neck pickup, it give a rest for the others fingers and relax your hand so better playing (Jamerson technique ).