This guy is playing his $200 dollar pawn shop bass - he seems to do alright with it.
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If tone really is in the fingers...
- Thread starter mbell75
- Start date
So Anyway, it looks like when someone challenges our $300+ bass purchases... the gloves come off.
Except if they're the silk gloves we wear to reduce string noise... we can keep those on.
Except if they're the silk gloves we wear to reduce string noise... we can keep those on.
Which fingers? The fretting ones or the plucking ones?
On the fretting hand, the tone of the note is coming off of the fret, not the finger.
On my plucking hand, my index finger produces a different tone than my middle finger and so does the ring finger. The index finger is the brightest and the ring finger is the smoothest and deepest.
I don't know man! In a band scenario, seems the amp's and bass' eq are the tone factors.
On the fretting hand, the tone of the note is coming off of the fret, not the finger.
On my plucking hand, my index finger produces a different tone than my middle finger and so does the ring finger. The index finger is the brightest and the ring finger is the smoothest and deepest.
I don't know man! In a band scenario, seems the amp's and bass' eq are the tone factors.
My personal order of preference:
- It is pretty
- It is comfortable to play
- It isn't too heavy
- Tone
Okay, so set your amp and bass EQ any way you like, then pick a bass. Play with your fingers near the neck, play with your fingers near the bridge. Do this with both a soft touch and an aggressive touch. Now play with a pick using the same variations in touch and position. And then do it all again with your thumb.
Okay now tell me again about how the fingers don't affect tone.
When members of a young Duran Duran were asked why they only dated models, one replied, "because we can".
it's more cars vs drivers than "all in the fingers"
my fingers definitely do certain things, for sure - weather i'm in a cheap or expensive bass.
to say it's all in the fingers is just false. that can be demonstrated by switching from a neck to bridge pickup....
my fingers definitely do certain things, for sure - weather i'm in a cheap or expensive bass.
to say it's all in the fingers is just false. that can be demonstrated by switching from a neck to bridge pickup....
i won't say they notice the change from the majority of basses. but the two extremes i've mentioned, yes, people have taken notice. the fretless gets comments nearly every time its played. (bass sounded really good today!) never any comments with any other bass I play, except from the band leader. he has a distinguished ear though.
It's an overused cliche, often stated by people who want to take excessive credit for their tone. Sure fingers, technique, etc. contribute to overall tone but not nearly as much as the amp and bass and how they're dialed in.
Even the best amp with the best bass sound like crap with bad technique. I say technique is more important than bass, amp, or any pedal you may put between the two.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
People love to say “tone is in the fingers” but it’s just not accurate. Mojo/skill/feeling/passion is in the fingers, sure, but a Stingray simply doesn’t sound like a P bass no matter how you play it. That being said I’m sure most of the greats can make a Squier sound as good as a Fodera, but why should they have to? You buy a luxury car for the comfort and looks of it, not because it drives faster. In my experience a well made instrument just feels better in the hands. It’s a comfort thing.
I think my point (which I’ll admit I didn’t express very clearly earlier) was more along the lines of: And if they did, then what business is it of anybody else anyway? Music is a pretty strict meritocracy in many respects. The poseurs and full time brand name snobs get outed pretty quickly most times.
Oh I hear you. I’ve gotten attitude for the temerity of bringing a Gibson (plus a PB) to an audition; being too young or too old; not having the “look”; being too well dressed or not dressed well enough for a gig; not wanting to get stoned right before a gig; having a bandmate imagine his GF was getting a little too interested in me (although even he admitted I had done nothing to encourage it)…it goes on and on and isn’t going to stop.
My big problem (if it is a problem) is I’m kind of a purist when it comes to music. I don’t care much about looks or gear as long as it gets the job done. I’ll respectfully listen to suggestions and any criticisms directed at me. And some of it I will take to heart because I know (and actually do believe) I don’t know it all. But I don’t give everything said to me the same weight. Because I’m also of the opinion not every opinion is worth seriously considering. I’m just in it for the music. And I just want to play bass. Period.
So because of that, on some level, I never really got why somebody would care what somebody else is doing if it isn’t causing problems. Most arguments in music really come down to differences in personal taste and style rather than actual substance. So things like which brand, or whether or not to use a pick, or slapping, or tube vs solid-state, or digital vs analog, or “Is a Ric or a JB more appropriate for XYZ genre?”, are things I don’t worry about as long as it sounds good and serves the song. Because I know I don’t have to personally like something for it to be good music.
Brand name bass discussions drive me nuts for two reasons. First, at you average stage volumes, subtleties go out the door and any bass will probably work just well in the hands of an experienced player. Second, if you feel playing a specific brand or price tier of bass ups your game, then play one and let it go at that. Sing its praises if you will. That can be useful information to someone. But lay off the personal digs. Your bass - your call. Nobody’s arguing with you about that. Now in exchange please reciprocate and kindly extend that courtesy to every other player.
Hope that better clarified my earlier sweeping statement.
"The tone is all in your fingers", when taken as a blanket statement, is not true. Of course, that's the usually result with statements like that.
I also believe, as another TB'er mentioned, that it is most often meant as a "don't become overly obsessed with gear" kind of thing.
I also believe, as another TB'er mentioned, that it is most often meant as a "don't become overly obsessed with gear" kind of thing.
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Practice, practice, practice.
You can achieve phasing, chorus, tremolo... even modulate famous dirt pedals like the RAT and such. All with the fingers on any bass!
You can achieve phasing, chorus, tremolo... even modulate famous dirt pedals like the RAT and such. All with the fingers on any bass!
every PGA player...forget that...anyone who plays golf professionally could wipe the floor with you using the rental bag from the clubhouse. but when they're competing, they use the tools specifically fit for their games and their body.
game/tone/whatever is in the hands, but tools designed for those hands maximize performance.
*also a lot of them get paid to
You bring out excellent comments about the bass and tonal differences depending on plastic pick, plucking location, thumb, fingers, hard or soft touch. As we all know, there is a world of difference in tone from plucking off of fret #20 and plucking 1/4 of an inch away from the bridge saddles.
And I acknowledged in my post that my index, middle and ring finger have different tonal qualities when plucking.
And my amp's and bass' active eq also have a big effect on tone.
I once read an article about Yo Yo Ma the famous cello player and he said that he wished that he had bigger fingers because he thought it would improve his tone.
Umm, tone on an electric bass? Whatever.
Tone starts with your fingers. ...but before it can get to your ears, it goes through strings, how strings are impacted by the vibration of the body, pickups, electronics on-board the bass, the connector jack, the cable, the input of the amp, initial gain stages, tone stacks, power amp, speaker wire, speaker...and how the cabinet impacts the performance of the speaker. ...not to mention the room this occurs in and ALL of the seemingly little infinite points in between.
If you don't have your fingers right, everything down the line falls apart. That's why there is SO much focus on fingers. Once you get your fingers right, you can then really get the rest of the parts down the line right. That's why there is equally so much focus on gear. When it comes to high end gear, there are a number of reasons why someone might get a $2k bass over a $200 one. Some reasons are more vain... and some make a lot of sense to anyone. I'd never buy a bass because it is $2k. I have, however, bought a bass because it was $200. It was all I could afford at the time. These days, life has been kind to me... so, I have a bass that is on the order of $1600 to $1700. Not the most expensive bass I have owned.. but by far my favorite. What being able or willing to afford more does allow is flexibility. Back in the day, my choices were limited to what was on a pawn store wall. There was no, "I don't like the feel of this or the sound of that." I just had to make it work. Sure, there is a lot to learn there and good lessons at that. ...but when you either get more financially secure or, simply, music gear is a priority purchase, now your options grow. You don't have to buy only what you can afford and make it work. You can get closer to just trying things out and seeing what works best for you. Me? The second I heard the USA Geddy Jazz bark at me when I dug in, that was the one. I don't even play much Rush. I respect G. Lee, but I am just not a Rush guy. I play literally nothing even close to him. But the feel and the bark was perfect. Didn't need to hear anymore. Wrap it up. Amp? Darkglass X7 and that is literally it. I am always direct. Expensive? For a pedal? Hell yes it is. For it being EVERYTHING in my rig that isn't a bass or tuner? Nope. Cheap as hell.
What constitutes expensive gear is relative. ...just like people's reasons for getting one thing over another. In the end, I don't peddle in gear snobbery. I don't make fun of lawyers that buy expensive as hell SRV strats. I don't pick on teenager buying the $100 Synsonics bass off the pawn store wall. All that matters is that you bring it. You bring it, you're good in my book. Doesn't matter what you spent. Get what feels right to you.
If you don't have your fingers right, everything down the line falls apart. That's why there is SO much focus on fingers. Once you get your fingers right, you can then really get the rest of the parts down the line right. That's why there is equally so much focus on gear. When it comes to high end gear, there are a number of reasons why someone might get a $2k bass over a $200 one. Some reasons are more vain... and some make a lot of sense to anyone. I'd never buy a bass because it is $2k. I have, however, bought a bass because it was $200. It was all I could afford at the time. These days, life has been kind to me... so, I have a bass that is on the order of $1600 to $1700. Not the most expensive bass I have owned.. but by far my favorite. What being able or willing to afford more does allow is flexibility. Back in the day, my choices were limited to what was on a pawn store wall. There was no, "I don't like the feel of this or the sound of that." I just had to make it work. Sure, there is a lot to learn there and good lessons at that. ...but when you either get more financially secure or, simply, music gear is a priority purchase, now your options grow. You don't have to buy only what you can afford and make it work. You can get closer to just trying things out and seeing what works best for you. Me? The second I heard the USA Geddy Jazz bark at me when I dug in, that was the one. I don't even play much Rush. I respect G. Lee, but I am just not a Rush guy. I play literally nothing even close to him. But the feel and the bark was perfect. Didn't need to hear anymore. Wrap it up. Amp? Darkglass X7 and that is literally it. I am always direct. Expensive? For a pedal? Hell yes it is. For it being EVERYTHING in my rig that isn't a bass or tuner? Nope. Cheap as hell.
What constitutes expensive gear is relative. ...just like people's reasons for getting one thing over another. In the end, I don't peddle in gear snobbery. I don't make fun of lawyers that buy expensive as hell SRV strats. I don't pick on teenager buying the $100 Synsonics bass off the pawn store wall. All that matters is that you bring it. You bring it, you're good in my book. Doesn't matter what you spent. Get what feels right to you.
