Flat fretting fingers a good thing?

[smeet]

So I saw this youtube video today, which is of course clickbait BS, but it got me thinking about whether fretting the strings with tips is perhaps limiting in some ways.

I've always tried to stay on my fingertips. It seems it improves dexterity because the fingers have a natural curve. But is that true?

I understand flattening fingers for muting, barring across strings, etc.

But, is there also added expressiveness that slightly flattening the fingers allows?

This video is of course 6-string-guitar-centric (and maybe is more true there), but do you guys think there is there any reason to avoid playing on fingertips on bass?

Maybe it's style-specific, so bebop solos and the like need fingertips, but blues/rock/country type playing can benefit from flattening? Maybe?

I'd love to hear your opinions.

 

[Pilgrim]

The only thing that flattening the fingers on a guitar does for me is to play two or more strings at the same fret. Not intentionally.

 

[Lobster11]

"Flat fingers" for me most of the time, for both comfort/relaxation and muting. I generally fret with my fingers somewhere about midway between the tip and the pad. It took me awhile after starting out to stop thinking about the fretboard as a typewriter.

 

[MonetBass]

Flat fingers for playing on multiple strings for me. Otherwise, I stay on the fingertips.

 

[slimefuzz]

When I was learning, it was explained that arching the fingers so the tips would
contact the string would give the maximum mechanical advantage due to the strength
of the arch.
It made sense to me, so I do that when possible with guitar and now bass.
But of course it's whatever works as long as your fingers are strong enough.
(e.g. I could never play guitar with my thumb over top onto the fretboard).

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

So I saw this youtube video today, which is of course clickbait BS, but it got me thinking about whether fretting the strings with tips is perhaps limiting in some ways.

I've always tried to stay on my fingertips. It seems it improves dexterity because the fingers have a natural curve. But is that true?

I understand flattening fingers for muting, barring across strings, etc.

But, is there also added expressiveness that slightly flattening the fingers allows?

This video is of course 6-string-guitar-centric (and maybe is more true there), but do you guys think there is there any reason to avoid playing on fingertips on bass?

Maybe it's style-specific, so bebop solos and the like need fingertips, but blues/rock/country type playing can benefit from flattening? Maybe?

I'd love to hear your opinions.

I think it sounds cool sometimes, yeah.
I've done it before just like messing around while vamping simple stuff during rehearsals, but I've never really used it as a style/tone choice for a song.
Maybe I should.
You're right about the clickbait bs nonsense aspect of the vid.

 

[lfmn16]

So I saw this youtube video today, which is of course clickbait BS, but it got me thinking about whether fretting the strings with tips is perhaps limiting in some ways.

I've always tried to stay on my fingertips. It seems it improves dexterity because the fingers have a natural curve. But is that true?

I understand flattening fingers for muting, barring across strings, etc.

But, is there also added expressiveness that slightly flattening the fingers allows?

This video is of course 6-string-guitar-centric (and maybe is more true there), but do you guys think there is there any reason to avoid playing on fingertips on bass?

Maybe it's style-specific, so bebop solos and the like need fingertips, but blues/rock/country type playing can benefit from flattening? Maybe?

I'd love to hear your opinions.

No, no, no. I play bass and guitar and flat fingers are just poor technique. Particularly when playing fast, fingertips have a smaller footprint and are quicker to press down and pick up.

 

[N4860]

I use both depending on the song/style. For faster technical stuff I generally would use more of my tips. For something funky with fretting hand muting, you kind of have to use flat fingers. Think something like What is Hip by Tower of Power. I suppose you can still do that style while using the finger tips but it feels quite awkward to me.

 

[J Wilson]

This is one of those things (like hooking your thumb over the top / bass side edge) that I think you shouldn't do, and then shortly see somebody doing it that's just wailing away like nobody's business. Whaddya gonna do ?

 

[dbsfgyd1]

So I saw this youtube video today, which is of course clickbait BS, but it got me thinking about whether fretting the strings with tips is perhaps limiting in some ways.

I've always tried to stay on my fingertips. It seems it improves dexterity because the fingers have a natural curve. But is that true?

I understand flattening fingers for muting, barring across strings, etc.

But, is there also added expressiveness that slightly flattening the fingers allows?

This video is of course 6-string-guitar-centric (and maybe is more true there), but do you guys think there is there any reason to avoid playing on fingertips on bass?

Maybe it's style-specific, so bebop solos and the like need fingertips, but blues/rock/country type playing can benefit from flattening? Maybe?

I'd love to hear your opinions.

Definitely not a flat finger guy, a by product of playing guitar, at the same token, I don’t use the finger ends like the pic one the video.

 

[N4860]

Also, just to add, that video has mostly nothing to do with flat fingers vs using fingertips. I know he brings it up and then tries to basically equate playing with fingertips as not having the ability to articulate notes. Plenty of guitar players can play a phrase with all of the articulations that this guy does using their finger tips.

 

[Artman]

Flat is technically incorrect technique, but it’s very useful for a particular style and sound.
Rocco played that way his entire life.

 

[sleepingEB0]

Take my advice:
When you see a youtube video of a guitar geacher or gear tele marketer (sorry, andertons, rhet Shull)
hit 'not interested' so you dont waste time on e-celeb non sense.
You'll be much happier.

 

[coy garcia]

I learned to use fingertips and teach that way. Flat fingers are poor technique on bass.... however there are many very famous players who have perfected poor techniques. Life is funny that way.

 

[mambo4]

More expression is good
there are many superior paths to more expressive playing
flattening fingers is pretty far down my list of paths.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I use both depending on the song/style. For faster technical stuff I generally would use more of my tips. For something funky with fretting hand muting, you kind of have to use flat fingers. Think something like What is Hip by Tower of Power. I suppose you can still do that style while using the finger tips but it feels quite awkward to me.

When I hear someone playing a ToP bass part, the first thing I notice is whether they mute with their left hand like Rocco did.

Granted, to play like Rocco requires a complete re-think of left hand technique, but a lot of his bass parts just don't sound "right" to me with fingertip articulation.

In terms of impactful note delivery, Rocco's technique is like being punched in the face by a prize fighter, while the other is more like being slapped across the face.

Personally, I alternate between fingertip articulation, Rocco's technique, and Simandl, depending on what serves the song best.

 

[220_Hz]

Bobby Vega was interviewed recently by Scotts Bass Lessons, he was showing off the differenc in tone with both styles of playing. Basically he was talking about the flat finger playing style being more suitable for slower styles of music or where you might want more "oomph" from the note due to the extra amount of flesh pressing the string vs playing with fingertips, where you have the ability to play faster and with more articulation.

in short, yes there is a case to be made for playing with both styles.

 

[boogieman63]

i was using fingertips but trying to play flat after watching this

 

[Durham52]

This is one of those things (like hooking your thumb over the top / bass side edge) that I think you shouldn't do, and then shortly see somebody doing it that's just wailing away like nobody's business. Whaddya gonna do ?

Yes, after reading a few pages of debate over thumb over, or on the back of the neck, some time ago, I did a bit of checking, just out of curiosity. I found photos and videos of many of the bass greats switching from one to the other, I guess because it worked best that way, for what they were playing in that moment?

As with most things rules are a good guide, at least until you know enough to know when to break them. Anyone who insists that there is only one way of doing anything, is most often wrong. (Unless they're in bomb disposal maybe.... )

 

[smeet]

I’m a constant student of technique (not to say that I have great technique). I’ve revamped the way I use both hands several times, and I’ll keep evolving. I know about “good” technique, but on a new instrument like electric bass we are still discovering what proper technique is.

I do use flattened fingers and bunch-o-bananas fingers, and even the infamous baseball bat grip at times. If nothing else, it keeps me interested to make playing feel a bit different, and perhaps sparks some different playing ideas.