Fingering Hand Technique

[pbass2]

My bass instructor (an accomplished guitarist) insists that I must alternate fingers and never use the index finger consecutively.

This is absolutely ridiculous. Someone shoulda told Jamerson I guess. Maybe go tell Family Man, or heck, any good fingerstyle bassist. If you CAN pluck with the same finger on a bass part (i.e if the tempo allows it) you get a very consistent tone. It's very often a very good technique to use, especially in the studio. He's simply flat-out wrong.

 

[KenD]

Wasn't it Gary Willis who said something like (paraphrasing) "Since we were given all these fingers, we might as well use as many of them as we can."

 

[HolmeBass]

I have seen lesson material, like Adam Nitti’s “Focus Forms”, that we’re written specifically to require strict plucking finger alternation. It’s an etude; it probably won’t be like real music that you’d perform.

 

[pbass2]

This works and sounds great - but not for upstrokes!

Bernard Edwards was incredible with that technique on really funky stuff. But I do recall reading that his fingers would get pretty thrashed.

 

[bigjames]

I’m assuming he’s exaggerating. It’s good to be able to alternate fingers but if I’m playing Stand By Me I’m probably just gonna use my index finger.

Or if moving from say, "D string" to "A string". I often rake with one finger.

 

[40Hz]

I appreciate the reply, but he did get mad at me saying he needed me to fix it before the next lesson. I like high standards, but this is supposed to be fun. Best wishes.

Sounds like your typical guitar instructor who also teaches bass.

He’s being an ass about it and grandstanding IMO. And his insistence on absolutely strict alternation is not the way most bass players - including highly regarded professionals - play their instrument.

Good teachers also don’t get mad at their students or issue ultimatums. If that’s the way he rolls then I’d suggest finding yourself another bass teacher.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I can't agree with your instructor.
I use from 1 to 3, depending.

 

[Pings Bass]

I used to teach paradiddles for right hand dexterity. But yeah, you should mostly alternate, except for string crossings.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

My bass instructor (an accomplished guitarist) insists that I must alternate fingers and never use the index finger consecutively. I can use my index, middle and ring finger but never use them twice in a row.

I will have to undo 10 years of training which I am not keen on doing, especially at my age. Will it be worth retraining myself? What say you?

For stock-standard bass playing, the default technique in the mainstream is usually fingerstyle with alternating fingers, but one can really develop consistency of tone/time/touch plucking with the right hand index finger, a la double bass, especially walking over jazz standards ( if that's your thing). I mean, James Jamerson practically invented modern electric bass playing, and having come from a background playing jazz on double bass, only ever used his right hand index finger. Has your teacher heard of Jamerson? Given the virtuosity of the man, someone's got to have pretty big balls to insist Jamerson's technique was wrong because he didn't alternate fingers. LOL. That's absurd.

What about playing steady quarter/eighth notes on a rock tune. To me they always sound more consistent plucked with the index finger

What might your instructor say about Wes Montgomery, the jazz guitar virtuoso who played everything with his thumb?

Technique is a means to an end not the end itself and insistence on a singular technique to the exclusion of others possibly more appropriate in the context of the music is not something a good teacher should ever do IMO

 

[Samatza]

The sole purpose of practice is preparation for performance. If you don't plan to perform how you practice then what is the point of practice?

I understand what you mean but for me I still practice rudimentary exercises, designed to support good technique, learning songs I look for the easiest way to execute the lines so strict alternating takes a back seat at that time.

The practice part for me is so my hands don’t get lazy and fall into bad habits.

 

[SteveCS]

I understand what you mean but for me I still practice rudimentary exercises, designed to support good technique, learning songs I look for the easiest way to execute the lines so strict alternating takes a back seat at that time.

The practice part for me is so my hands don’t get lazy and fall into bad habits.

Likewise, I practice rudiments to maintain good condition, but I also put them into practice when performing - the techniques practiced are those needed for the performance - it makes the actual performance process more pleasurable and more musical because it becomes only about the music.

 

[BigJohnAZ]

IDK, Jamerson did pretty well and Geddy did, too, until he developed his "flamenco" style later on. I play with just my index a majority of the time, and no, I'm not putting myself into the aforementioned artists' realm lol

 

[RocknRay]

I appreciate the reply, but he did get mad at me saying he needed me to fix it before the next lesson. I like high standards, but this is supposed to be fun. Best wishes.

If your teacher gets mad at you, tell them you are there to learn, not be the butt of their annoyance, and if it happens again, end it. Regardless of who they are.

 

[BassFalcon]

I have seen lesson material, like Adam Nitti’s “Focus Forms”, that we’re written specifically to require strict plucking finger alternation. It’s an etude; it probably won’t be like real music that you’d perform.

just for conversation sake, if you’d want to reap every possible benefit you could and really explore what your hand can do you would run it through all possible permutations.
Run through the whole exercise with:
All first finger only
Then
All second finger only
Then
All third finger only
Then
All fourth finger only
Then
All thumb
Then alternate 1&2
Then alternate 1&3
Then alternate 1&4
Then alternate 1&thumb
Then alternate 2&1
Then alternate 2&3
Then alternate 2&4
Then alternate 2&thumb
Etc. Etc. until you’ve gone through every single possible permutation. After that get your cap and gown because you’ll have a doctorate in right hand technique. Easy peasy.

 

[JamesDeGrandis]

Not the first post on this topic, but here goes.

My bass instructor (an accomplished guitarist) insists that I must alternate fingers and never use the index finger consecutively. I can use my index, middle and ring finger but never use them twice in a row.

I will have to undo 10 years of training which I am not keen on doing, especially at my age. Will it be worth retraining myself? What say you?

First... This is a guitarist... He is telling you something akin to the validity of teaching "alternating picking"... When the teacher says... Always alternate your picking... Up down up down up down...
This is a skill test... You are going to alternate... If you get better... You may be able to integrate your ring finger... Or even pinky.
You are not going to unlearn what you know... You are learning a new skill.
Just like a slap... double slap... Or a strum...
All of these skills have a time to be used... But you have to focus on each one individually to master them. Think of a drill where you play a different note of a scale on a different string everytime alternating fingers...
If you can do that consistently, you will master it... It's about control and mastery of a skill.
You will decide how you play... They are pushing you to master something you find difficult...
Sounds like the reason we take lessons to me.

 

[mike buzzetti]

single finger vs alt fingers feels and SOUND different ! the back beat sounds better single finger IMO but use what works, thats why you have 4 of em.

 

[grimjim]

Just my opinion. It's good to practice alternating fingers, but in some scenarios it will be better to use a single finger twice or alternating back and forth depending on what/where the next note is.

 

[groovepump]

Why don't you take lessons with an acomplished bassist? Did your guitar player teacher hear about raking? Does he dislike James Jamerson's playing?

He probably doesn't know who that is . . .

 

[packhowitzer]

Meh, I've been playing for over 30 years. I admit that I spent some of that time trying to adhere to fairly strict hand techniques - for both hands (one finger per fret, alternating fingers, not wrapping my thumb over the neck, etc..). It was especially true during my formative years - I didn't want to make bad habits I suppose. But these days, I tend to do whatever serves the song and is most efficient for my aging hands. In fact I switched to fretless mostly because it was easier on my left hand (albeit at the expense of having to listen more closely to intonation). But as far as playing goes - I pluck and pick and thump in any way that I think will serve the song - sometimes it's the edge of my thumb, sometimes is standard plucking, sometimes using a pick. I spend much less time worrying about technique these days and much more time considering overall dynamics and what will serve the song the best.

 

[drumvsbass]

but he did get mad at me saying he needed me to fix it before the next lesson

You need a new teacher if that is their attitude. I'd kick their teeth in.