Your first problem is that you are taking bass lessons from a guitarist. That’s like getting a race car driver to teach you how to drive a semi. They may be expert drivers, but in completely different ways with completely different vehicles. Back from my days as a bass educator, I would take in to account your age and your goals. If you are 16 and dreaming about music college then darn right I’m gonna teach you perfect technique and be a stickler about it. If you’re a 67 year old retiree and just wanna play a few tunes at your church then I’d meet you where you are as far as technique and help you achieve that goal, and then build from there and slowly build that perfect technique. There are no “nevers” in music. There are plenty of situations where repeating one finger is fine or even preferable. I recommend you find a new teacher, one that’s both a good bassist and a good teacher. Despite what they all think, bass, it’s role in music, and the approach to filling that role is not something guitarists understand.
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Fingering Hand Technique
- Thread starter The Legend
- Start date
It's funny as i've had a very similiar discussion regarding piano when playing repeated notes. I was always taught "NEVER play a repeated note with the same finger".Then i saw my teacher do it, and when I queried it, she said "well, sometimes you can..."
So, yes, it's probably best to learn strict alternation, and then know when it's not required or desired.
So, yes, it's probably best to learn strict alternation, and then know when it's not required or desired.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
The greatest surges of personal growth I have experienced were preceded by my stubbornness and discomfort with change.
There are many guitarists that play multiple instruments really well and have the gift of being a great teacher in many areas of music. I have taken Bass lessons from a guitarist that makes a great living playing Bass. He's a well rounded musician.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
You mean plucking technique?
Hit the strings how it's easy for you. That said, two alternating fingers is the easiest way to build speed. But, I pluck with one finger all the time. And repeat the same finger. It's un natural not to at times. But, I've also got 23 years of bad habits. And 2 years of trying things the right way. It works for me.
If you're taking lessons, from an instructor, and he's telling you to do something, do it.
Your instructor's job is to teach you the basics, to lay a solid foundation.
Once you've got that part down, of course you can deviate here and there if necessary. There are always exceptions and under those circumstances you should act accordingly to get things done.
But the focus should not be on the exceptions. So just listen to your instructor.
Once you've got that part down, of course you can deviate here and there if necessary. There are always exceptions and under those circumstances you should act accordingly to get things done.
But the focus should not be on the exceptions. So just listen to your instructor.
Ask him about three finger technique, and you could mention Gary Willis if he's dismissive.
Hey OP! You should precise your question.
If you are not yet able to alternate without making mistakes, and if what we are talking about are some exercises given to you by your teacher, aiming at teaching you how to play with alternating fingers, then, yes, your teacher is right in insisting you do it correctly. Alternating fingers is an important technique and it is worth learning it (otherwise why taking lessons?). (this being said, there is no justification for your teacher to be "mad at you" if you do not succeed yet).
If, on the other hand, what your teacher is telling you is that repeating fingers, or raking, is intrinsically bad, and that you should never ever do it (did he mention what terrible thing will hapen to you if you dare do this?), then you should find an instructor that is competent at teaching bass technique (being a skilled guitar player does not qualify to teach bass).
So, it all boils down to what "if" is the correct one. Without this precision from you, OP, all comments here will be based upon speculation.
If you are not yet able to alternate without making mistakes, and if what we are talking about are some exercises given to you by your teacher, aiming at teaching you how to play with alternating fingers, then, yes, your teacher is right in insisting you do it correctly. Alternating fingers is an important technique and it is worth learning it (otherwise why taking lessons?). (this being said, there is no justification for your teacher to be "mad at you" if you do not succeed yet).
If, on the other hand, what your teacher is telling you is that repeating fingers, or raking, is intrinsically bad, and that you should never ever do it (did he mention what terrible thing will hapen to you if you dare do this?), then you should find an instructor that is competent at teaching bass technique (being a skilled guitar player does not qualify to teach bass).
So, it all boils down to what "if" is the correct one. Without this precision from you, OP, all comments here will be based upon speculation.
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skyline_01
Endorsing artist: Nordstrand Audio, Tsunami Cables
Look at Jerry Schiff and Jamerson. One finger plucking. About 20 yrs ago, I was so inspired by Jerry (Bass Player magazine article) that I switched from index & middle plucking to single index. Good for about 95% of my playing. Certainly little "ditty" bass lines require that I use the middle finger for a 1/16th note or something.
Although I am kind of sad that I lost my double finger plucking ability.
Although I am kind of sad that I lost my double finger plucking ability.
Playing with alternating fingers is worth learning. No doubt.
But playing well with one single finger is also something that neads to be learned: in particular, there is a way of using the string on which your finger lands, when playing rest strokes, as a "spring board" to bounce back and be ready to play the next note. The place where you play the string (closer to the bridge or closer to the fretboard) enables you to adjust the strength and depth of the "spring board" in order to match the speed at which you need to play. This is particularly effective when playing walking bass lines; in this situation, I usually rotate my finger towards the bridge to pluck the string with the "meat" of the finger, rather than with the tip, like done on DB.
But playing well with one single finger is also something that neads to be learned: in particular, there is a way of using the string on which your finger lands, when playing rest strokes, as a "spring board" to bounce back and be ready to play the next note. The place where you play the string (closer to the bridge or closer to the fretboard) enables you to adjust the strength and depth of the "spring board" in order to match the speed at which you need to play. This is particularly effective when playing walking bass lines; in this situation, I usually rotate my finger towards the bridge to pluck the string with the "meat" of the finger, rather than with the tip, like done on DB.
Have your instructor reach out to Carol Kaye, or summon the ghost of Jamerson.
or check out the first minute of this. Forget only needing 4 strings - Jaco only needed one finger!
skyline_01
Endorsing artist: Nordstrand Audio, Tsunami Cables
As an exercise in building speed and technique, I can see forcing you to do alternating fingers. For playing, though, I do a lot of double stops where one finger is plucking one string the other another string, so strict alternating gets in the way of what i want to play. Technique is done for the point of giving you better capabilities - when it does that, technique is good. If it gets in the way of the art or becomes an end in itself (see endless shredding and wankery), then it's not good.
But surely you practice and exercise those double-stops as another technical element rather than trusting your luck that everything will come good on the night? What's the difference? The purpose of practice is performance preparation and readiness. Why would anything that is to be performed not be developed and prepared through practice?
We're miscommunicating. Absolutely double stops are an element of my playing that does require developing technique, but a different technique. The rhythms I play doing double stops often work better with my index finger doing multiple strokes in a row on one string, the middle finger being dedicated to playing the fifth or octave at different times. I have no problem with people developing technique - my prior post said that. In my case, I have a slow index finger due to prior carpal tunnel issues that will never fully resolve, so I HAVE to use alternating fingers in a lot of circumstances to be fast enough. You just have to realize where a technique works, and use it there, but not where it gets in the way.
My point is that you develop technique to assist in the art, not as an end in itself. I have no problem with technique, but I do (getting back to the OP's issue) have a problem with insisting that a certain technique be used exclusively (except in an exercise to develop the technique).
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Unless you are taking lessons from a classical guitar player strictly for the music theory, I would consider looking for a good teacher that is a bass player.
My mentor and instructor is a 40 year veteran pro bass player who has taught bass for over 20 years. I asked him directly about this a while back. He said you need to know how to alternate pick. For some fast 16th note basslines, it might be the only way you can play it cleanly and in time. He also said you should know how to rake the stings. Sometimes one finger works for whole or half notes. I am not sure what style of music you play, but if he is adamant about the alternating fingers 100% of the time, I would seriously consider looking for a new teacher. It sounds like he wants to teach you to play bass like a classical guitarist.
For me, any line that is quarter note or faster, I usually alternate, with raking as needed.
I ran across this video that has some basic exercises that could help you with alternate finger plucking.
Good luck!
My mentor and instructor is a 40 year veteran pro bass player who has taught bass for over 20 years. I asked him directly about this a while back. He said you need to know how to alternate pick. For some fast 16th note basslines, it might be the only way you can play it cleanly and in time. He also said you should know how to rake the stings. Sometimes one finger works for whole or half notes. I am not sure what style of music you play, but if he is adamant about the alternating fingers 100% of the time, I would seriously consider looking for a new teacher. It sounds like he wants to teach you to play bass like a classical guitarist.
For me, any line that is quarter note or faster, I usually alternate, with raking as needed.
I ran across this video that has some basic exercises that could help you with alternate finger plucking.
Good luck!
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