Index or Middle Finger?

[Acousticdude]

I've been playing Bass with a Pick for years using different picks made of different materials to get different tones, including felt picks. Well I decided that I really need to learn how to finger pick to round out my playing. My question is which finger should I start a Bass pattern with? My index finger or my Middle finger? Starting with my index finger feels more natural but I've heard that you should start with your middle finger. Is this a matter of preference?
Please advise with a reason.
Thank You

 

[Tim C.]

I have always done it middle-index. It feels very odd for me to lead with my index. I believe most bassists lead with their middle finger. You may be different, who knows. Do what sounds best and feels most comfortable.

 

[MikeBass]

I have always done it middle-index. It feels very odd for me to lead with my index. I believe most bassists lead with their middle finger. You may be different, who knows. Do what sounds best and feels most comfortable.

Same here.
Actually had to do it it figure it out though. Never thought about that before.

 

[sleepytime]

I frequently practice both. Or if I am playing something repetitive, I'll alternate fingerings.

 

[rtav]

Both... often!

 

[Snazzy Jazzy]

I also start with my middle finger and then alternate. I've never really thought about it before, I just start playing. I prefer to use a pick, but on the rare occasion when I use my fingers, I usually tend to start with my middle finger.

 

[Achtane]

I usually start with index and I feel more comfortable using index if what I'm playing is slow enough so that alternating is not needed. I'm gonna try to practice starting with middle just to keep "in shape", though.

 

[ben12390]

i play primarily with my index, unless it calls for a faster/more complex part, i toss in alternating index/middle. and if its harder i use my ring..
if my index gets tired ill use the middle by itself.
or ill act like i am gripping a pick, and use my thumb and index, and the index's nail as a "pick".
i love the pick sound, and sometimes i want to switch between styles in a song, without having to grab a pick, and that makes it more versatile.

but imagine it like this, if its 4/4, i use index on 1 and 3, and middle on 2 and 4. so i lead with my index

 

[FretlessMainly]

I suppose I always lead with my index finger, but there's certainly no rule here. If it's in time, it's working. I generally only use my index and middle finger, but in many situations, I get the bulk of the notes from hammer-ons and slide-ins/outs. For example, in a 15-note run (eighth notes with a quarter at the turnaround), I might only pluck 4 or 5 of the notes.

Not only does this save the right hand, it also allows for more expressive voicing of the run, at least to my ears. Consider the difference between:

1) da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da; and

2) da br ah da ah da ah br ah br ah da ah br ah,

with the da's being plucked notes and the br's and ah's being produced only with the fingering hand.

 

[onosson]

Interesting - I almost always start with my index. In fact, I probably play 75% of my lines with just my index finger, unless it's fast stuff or just straight 8ths or 16ths.

 

[walker rosewood]

you should be able to do both. I use all p i m a fingers err... pulgar, indice, medio, anular....errm... thumb index middle and ring! I use my pinky on guitar, but it's crooked and too weak for bass.

Exercise the weak fingers more then the strong ones. It will help develop dexterity, speed, and independence between fingers.

If you don't alternate at all, it makes it very difficult to clean up unwanted overtones.

 

[WarPhalange]

It's the start of a pattern. It honestly doesn't matter. Let me ask you this: when you play with a pick, do you start with an upstroke or downstroke? Probably a downstroke most of the time, right? Does it matter in the end? Not really, right?

 

[BassBob2112]

I use both seemingly at random...but when I look at it more, it seems I often will use the middle finger to pluck the string(s) that are further away.

So If my thumb is anchored on the E string, and I need to play notes on the A string, I use the index finger, and for the D string, I use the middle finger.

If I need to pluck the G string, my thumb jumps down to anchor on the A string, and the index finger takes care of the D string and middle finger takes care of the G string.

But, depending on the speed or complexity of what I'm playing this is all subject to change as needed.

 

[Skitch it!]

I'm not familiar with the 'start with your middle' quote? I've always started with the index to middle for 2 finger stuff. I think it's a matter of what you gravitate to naturally but what I would advise is that you concentrate on strict alternation crossing strings for a while, don't get into the raking habit too much. The four finger technique is usually thumb-index-middle-ring but I feel more comfortable using thumb-ring-middle and index, I found that Hadrien Feraud plays it this way too. Horses for courses but make sure you get the alternation down, that is the most important concern imo, my 2 ; )

 

[deaf pea]

...My question is which finger should I start a Bass pattern with? My index finger or my Middle finger?...

I use "the hook" (index finger only) about 98% of the time . . . . . . so I'd say "the index finger" . . .

 

[Fergie Fulton]

Link Removed

It really makes no difference at all its all in the mind...as the link will explain.

 

[RickeyC]

Just do what works for you!

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I've never once thought to ask myself this question... I just start playing. I think you're over-thinking this a bit - just get used to alternating you fingers and soon enough it will be second nature.

 

[kb9wyz]

I use "the hook" (index finger only) about 98% of the time . . . . . . so I'd say "the index finger" . . .

I'm with this guy. If you're not going to use at least the two, then just claw it. It will be more comfortable in the end.


And it won't look like you're just playing that way to flick off the audience.

 

[A tempo]

As stated before, as you develop your technique either will be able to take the lead. But morphologically speaking, say you are changing strings; your middle finger when ascending to the higher string, the index finger when descending to the lower string. That of course presumes that you have planned for this in your "strict" finger alternation, also mentioned above.