Index & thumb vs index & middle finger for plucking technique.

[Nighthound]

I play 7 and 8 string guitar and I use my index and thumb for my right hand and adapted that style when I started playing bass. What are my disadvantages by using my thumb and index to pluck instead of using my index and middle finger? Am I loosing speed? I find I can do the disco octave thing much faster and cleaner using the thumb and index. I get a tighter more staccato sound and it also allows me to get into a slap position. Thanks for any comments.

 

[Lee Moses]

The only disadvantage I see with your approach is that it could be more difficult to get a consistent attack. A thumb making a downstroke will typically sound different than an index or middle finger making an upstroke. But if you are comfortable with that approach and it works for you, I wouldn't abandon it. I might practice quarter notes, 8th notes, 16 notes, etc. on the same note to work on getting a consistent sound from both digits.

 

[IconBasser]

If you're used to it, speed shouldn't really be an issue. Lee is right though, using your thumb will give you a big round muted thump, kind of like a double bass. Using your fingers gives you more midrange and treble, with a more defined start of the note.

I use my thumb occasionally, but only when I'm muting the notes to let the low frequencies ring out on the bottom for an interlude or something.

 

[Oneirogenic]

I use my thumb in addition to index/middle quite frequently on bass in an adapted guitar type style. If you position your thumb and fingers correctly the tonal difference between can be diminished to the point its unnoticed in a mix.

 

[Nighthound]

I use my thumb in addition to index/middle quite frequently on bass in an adapted guitar type style. If you position your thumb and fingers correctly the tonal difference between can be diminished to the point its unnoticed in a mix.

Cool. Yes I can not really notice the difference maybe very little and not enough to hurt anything tone wise.

 

[maturanesa]

"What are my disadvantages by using my thumb and index to pluck instead of using my index and middle finger?"
Probably a not even attack with thumb and index, and a thinner sound because thumb and index would be free strokes,
instead of restrokes like index and middle...

 

[Nighthound]

Well now I'm using 3 fingers my thumb index and middle.