Finger style playing discussion

[HaphAsSard]

Ok , I would like to clarify my point (sorry I am french speaking so my English can 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.

(I'm Italian and believe I'll finish learning English when I'm dead...)
I'm with ya. As I said, looking for a sharper attack with fingers makes a lot of sense if you don't use picks: I only felt like stating the obvious, namely that it's never gonna sound exactly like a pick. Then I alluded to my holding a different opinion as to the possibility of maintaining a nuanced control with a pick (I believe good pick players can, just as good 6 string guitarists can) and the assertion that electric bass played fingerstyle vs. pick amount to two different instruments. As you mentioned, a case can be made that slap bass is also another instrument; tapping as well. Also: chord comping, or piccolo? I'm not willing to concede that, except on a case-by-case basis: a lot depends on the function of the instrument within the arragement. If a guy plays the same bassline with the same bass, once with a pick then the next time without, I maintain he's still playing bass, not two types thereof - just my opinion though. Again, sorry for the derail!

 

[zontar]

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 started doing that somewhere along the line without realizing it--it can work quite well in certain songs.
I started bass by learning to use two fingers, and over time added in a third, my thumb (Both with fingers and just thumb), and a pick.
But somewhere I started to mostly just use one finger, and picked up a few other things.

But now I mostly use my first & second fingers, (but not necessarily alternating) or my first finger (sometimes with the up stroke).

today I played bass and did both more than anything else.

basically I do what I need to get the right feel for the song.

 

[Leo was right]

(I'm Italian and believe I'll finish learning English when I'm dead...)
I'm with ya. As I said, looking for a sharper attack with fingers makes a lot of sense if you don't use picks: I only felt like stating the obvious, namely that it's never gonna sound exactly like a pick. Then I alluded to my holding a different opinion as to the possibility of maintaining a nuanced control with a pick (I believe good pick players can, just as good 6 string guitarists can) and the assertion that electric bass played fingerstyle vs. pick amount to two different instruments. As you mentioned, a case can be made that slap bass is also another instrument; tapping as well. Also: chord comping, or piccolo? I'm not willing to concede that, except on a case-by-case basis: a lot depends on the function of the instrument within the arragement. If a guy plays the same bassline with the same bass, once with a pick then the next time without, I maintain he's still playing bass, not two types thereof - just my opinion though. Again, sorry for the derail!

Don't be sorry, it is part of the discussion and it is interesting all you said. All this is philosophy and whatever the way you play the instrument, if it fit it is good. The instrument Leo Fender invent is so versatile you can do so much with it's amazing and it lead to the kind of discussion we have.

You know Jaco P and John Paul Jones had the same bass, the same amp, the same strings and sound completely differents.

I have the same problem than you but with Italian, my wife and I are planning our 4th trip to Italy in 10 years I hope speak Italian one day. We love Italy.

 

[pacojas]

i'm definitely not trying to emulate the pick sound. my objective is to sound as seamless as a keyboard note to note. i moreso feel like i'm pushing a button in a sort of metaphorical way. i hate finger noise because it's hard to overcome, but a soft touch is an overwhelming advantage, ime/o!

 

[I Need a six...]

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.

Huh. I play with all four fingers and if i need to hit e when in the high range, I use my thumb. Or when I want the roundest sound possible. But finger style is not my only thing, far from it.nor do I do the typical, hold down the roots bass lines, so I guess that's got a lot to do with it. When I play finger style In my pieces I usually lightly hit the string off the fingerboard to get the percussive sound I need to cut through an aggressive drummers sound. If it's softer peice, I'll do the traditional "roll my fingers over" style. I like to chord a lot, even if I'm using only basic finger style.

 

[CatSquare]

Lots of folks use their thumb and I never could, just doesn't feel natural to me. It's like using my pinky - the length and angle is all wrong. Working up to using my ring finger took practice, but I knew ol' ringy had it in him!
I can see how the thumb could help with slapping, but I just don't understand using it for plucking. Fatter digit = fatter tone? I don't know if I believe it. I'm not sold on the multiple-finger "flipper" technique either, as far as tone goes, but I can imagine it might help with endurance.

 

[Herrick]

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've been meaning to try this out. The three-finger picking technique is very weird for me to get down. I wonder if one technique has an advantage over the other. It seems most people use the three-finger plucking. Other than the tonal difference, why do people use the three-finger picking for fast stuff rather than the other method?

 

[Zodion]

I play Pizzicato in my three piece metal band and to get a good attack I play right above the neck pickup and rather than pull the string I strike it with the tips of my fingers for that metallic sound. During softer parts I'll use finger raking and standard playing. I don't really use my thumbs too much other than if I want special attack from the bass so I'll slap it (bassist from Havoc would do that).

Also I'll use my index finger the most, 2 for faster parts and I'll occasionally use 3 for galloping parts. Still working on three finger speed and I never really got into Beller 's technique so I just slam it with 2 fingers for now

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

I grow out my nails a bit to get a Steve Harris tone and I can play faster.

 

[bearfoot]

I've been meaning to try this out. The three-finger picking technique is very weird for me to get down. I wonder if one technique has an advantage over the other. It seems most people use the three-finger plucking. Other than the tonal difference, why do people use the three-finger picking for fast stuff rather than the other method?

I was watching bass player lesson vids last week - that technique was in Larry Graham's vid, he calls it the LG pick - he dislikes using picks and developed the technique as an alternative with a sharper attack.

 

[rtslinger]

I use the Jamerson Hook if am not using a compressor and I want to have each note volume and tone the same on different strings. Alternating between index and middle doesn't consistently give me that. It is something I just discovered on my own that works for me. All the rest has been mentioned playing in different position in relation to the pickups and the bridge and neck. I also have found I can get a decent deep tone out of roundwounds if you play on the neck at about the 17th fret great if you have no time to switch to your bass that has flats and someone calls out a blues song.

 

[Herrick]

I was watching bass player lesson vids last week - that technique was in Larry Graham's vid, he calls it the LG pick - he dislikes using picks and developed the technique as an alternative with a sharper attack.

That's cool. He must have been using this technique for a long time. I'm not really into his kind of music but I'd like to see that technique in action. Do you know of any videos on YouTube that show Graham using this technique?

 

[bearfoot]

That's cool. He must have been using this technique for a long time. I'm not really into his kind of music but I'd like to see that technique in action. Do you know of any videos on YouTube that show Graham using this technique?

its in my youtube que at home, will post later here -

* sorry, the PC is down for the moment! I think the power supply has flaked.
Anyway, the lesson is super easy to find.

 

[Leo was right]

Huh. I play with all four fingers and if i need to hit e when in the high range, I use my thumb. Or when I want the roundest sound possible. But finger style is not my only thing, far from it.nor do I do the typical, hold down the roots bass lines, so I guess that's got a lot to do with it. When I play finger style In my pieces I usually lightly hit the string off the fingerboard to get the percussive sound I need to cut through an aggressive drummers sound. If it's softer peice, I'll do the traditional "roll my fingers over" style. I like to chord a lot, even if I'm using only basic finger style.

Talking about bass on keyboard, I am a big fan of Peter Hammil, Lee Michael, Ray manzarek, there a lot to learn from these guys.

 

[Munjibunga]

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.

I play predominantly fingerstyle with occasional use of a pick, depending on the song. A friend of mine is a fingerstyle player, too, but he grows his fingernails out about a quarter of an inch and can get a pick-like attack whenever he wants. It's a little more subtle than playing with a pick.

 

[Leo was right]

I play predominantly fingerstyle with occasional use of a pick, depending on the song. A friend of mine is a fingerstyle player, too, but he grows his fingernails out about a quarter of an inch and can get a pick-like attack whenever he wants. It's a little more subtle than playing with a pick.

It is another way of solving the equation.

 

[Dan Waineo]

I remember an interview where someone mentioned that Jaco was very particular about his nails. It is part of my sound, but they stay pretty short. It's a combination of fingerpad + nail that I like.

 

[descendent22]

I've always been primarily a finger player. When it comes to bass that's how I've always played my best and enjoyed playing the most. It was that way for the longest time. I never thought a pick should be anywhere near a bass and slap playing was just something I could never do... Well some years later and I find myself now playing pick bass, finger bass, and getting into funk with popping and slapping. I owe the pick playing to my influences in duff Mckagan and Paul Simmonin. I still play with my fingers but a I play with a pick as well, depending on the song and sound i'm goin for. Paul Simmonin plays both finger and pick and that really brought me to a different level.then with guns n roses being one of my favorite all time bands duff Mckagan who doesn't give himself enough credit is probably the best rock pick player out there. That brought me to another level. That's a whole other story when it comes to my influences and styles. The point that I'll end on is that when it comes to bass I try to get better and improve everyday. I challenge myself, set new goals, and came to the conclusion that limits are endless I'll never stop trying to become the best I can possibly be.

 

[Muddslide]

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.

Excellent and true post, IMO, and this is one of the main reasons I adamantly believe there is no such thing as a "one trick pony" bass--only one trick pony players.

People who can only get one sound out of any bass (or any instrument really) have a deficiency in their range of techniques. It's not the instrument.

I'm not saying a passive one-pickup fretted 4 banger is gonna be made to sound like an active fretless 6 string, but my point still stands.

Back from the late 70s to late 90s, my first 20 years of playing, I only used a pick 10-15% of the time.

Now it's closer to 50/50. Really enjoy pick playing now too and I like the attack. I do also sometimes just pinch my thumb and forefinger together as a fake pick.

Invisible pick!

 

[peterpapas]

I'm 2 finger player and always had been. Lately though I've been trying to pluck with three fingers or four to get a little more speed. I'm finding it quite difficult to do that. Kind of feels like I'm starting to learn the bass all over again. Any tips or ideas?