• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

How many fingers do you use?

For the majority of playing, how many fingers do you "pluck" with?

  • One

    Votes: 16 4.8%

  • Two

    Votes: 196 59.4%

  • Three

    Votes: 82 24.8%

  • Four

    Votes: 23 7.0%

  • Five

    Votes: 8 2.4%

  • Pick

    Votes: 5 1.5%
  • Total voters
    330
#21
I play in a thrash metal band and end up using three fingers an awful lot. I'd say that I use 3 fingers on every song, whether for triplet parts or for an accent / grace note / rake on certain things. I use four on a couple of parts where I'm playing eighth notes at 200+ bpm...
 
#23
I've tried learning the 3 finger picking method but I found it hard getting accurate and powerful with my ring finger so I just stick to two fingers. I rarely use the thumb+index+middle method for melodic lines or stuff like RATM's Bullet In The Head, etc.
 
#24
Index-middle-ring...thumb. I don't don't know how many folks have this problem, but my middle fingernail grows really close to the tip, so it clicks more than I like. I cut it really short, and usually alternate index-ring and use the middle more for triplets and ghost notes. I think. Now I'm all analyzing it, thanks. :spit:
 
#25
I kind of have a Geddy-ish kind of style. On low notes especially, I only use more than my index when I have to play quick little passages or lots of 8th notes. the rest of the time I use my index, upstroking with my plucking hand on the E string. Although, I have those kind of quick little passages a lot, and also have a lot of songs with constant 8th note-rooted pulse when I play with my church youth band. So, I end up using two a lot.
 
#27
2 about 90% of the time, 3 thumb index middle for chords, 3 index middle ring for fast stuff, and I've been working on 4 thumb index middle ring, ala Matt garrisson and 4 index middle ring pinky, hadrien feraud, but I have never actually uses them musically...
 
#28
totallyfrozen said:
I'm really surprised at how many people actually play electric bass regularly with only ONE finger. I thought that technique would have died with Jamerson. Are you one-fingered pluckers also upright bass players? Did you learn it on DB?
Click to expand...

I started on the electric bass using two fingers but it just feels more natural to use one. If I play disco stuff, I can start using two, and when I play something like "Helena" by My Chemical Romance I use three or a pick.

Still, 90% of the time I use just my index finger.:bassist:
 
#30
totallyfrozen said:
Are you one-fingered pluckers also upright bass players? Did you learn it on DB?
Click to expand...

I'm not. Never played a DB before.

For me, it's something that has naturally grown, as I like the sound my middle finger produces more than that of my index finger (middle finger apparently has more flesh to the tip, making for a softer sound), and thus favoritism formed into a (bad) habit.

Luckily I play with two enough, so it's not like I can't do anything else. I can else play with three (learned that ages ago), but playing with one finger is just my go-to practice.
 
#34
totallyfrozen said:
I'm really surprised at how many people actually play electric bass regularly with only ONE finger. I thought that technique would have died with Jamerson. Are you one-fingered pluckers also upright bass players? Did you learn it on DB?
Click to expand...

I started on DB and used two from the start. I use one finger for certain songs - I get a slightly different sound on some songs by using just one finger. Maybe I shouldn`t, but I do. I`m not very disciplined in my plucking, I guess. I kinda just go with it on the fly - some songs I`ll use just one finger one day, then three the next. Or a pick.
 
#37
I use all my fingers, but never all at once. I generally use two: either middle and index, or less commonly thumb and index (slap). For triplets I use ring-middle-index fingers, and I've been working on using a 1-2-1-3 technique for faster parts. I can play fairly fast with two, but I find it helps me to keep a steady beat because when I get too fast my fingers start to trip up. Poor pinky never gets much use, but I include it in two of my warm-up exercises to keep the whole hand working.
 
#38
Index and middle almost exclusively.

Ring gets some love now and then when I just feel like using it to pluck a note or two.

Thumb for chords and down strokes, and sometimes I extend all my fingers and hit the strings with the nails to give some chords a unique sound.
 
#39
I'd say I average 3: T-I-M for slap, I-M for most fingerstyle and throw in the Ring finger or thumb on occasion.
I am curious about using all four for 4/4 ultra speed, I might have to work on that. My pinky is like 1.5" shorter than my middle finger, it's always been tough to incorporate.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back