Is switching fingers on a note considered bad technique?

[nilorius]

If you can achieve this process to a pro statuss, it can be usefull. Though, i never had a situation to do it, like you did.

 

[jwr]

My fingers get sore and achy, so I tend to switch up techniques quite a bit or use multiple styles in one song. Whatever works right? I rarely use my ring finger to hold notes, for some reason it's incredibly uncomfortable for me. Some players just play different. It's all about what works for you.

 

[Sixgunn]

There’s the idea that what works for you works for you but that seems like a bad habit to get stuck with.

I completely disagree about it being a bad habit. Setup for upcoming notes/passages is important and sometimes without switching fingers, it can be physically impossible. The same technique is taught in piano.

 

[Jon McBass]

I'm learning All on Fire by Coheed and Cambria. (Wicked sick bass line by the way)

One thing I find myself doing a lot is landing on a note, and while that note is ringing out, I'll quickly switch what finger is holding that note down. For example, taking my middle finger off to swap it for my index finger while the note is still being played, so I can be ready to move to the next set of notes.

I notice this the most when I have to walk up a fourth, or step down a fifth. If I move from C (On the A string) to a G (On the E string) I'll walk that by using my Index on the C then middle on the G. But I may swap my middle finger on the G for my index to play an octave with my pinky. (If that makes sense)

Of course I do this! But very rarely—only when normal fingering won’t accomplish what is required. Noticed myself doing it once last night in the middle of a furious jam and it came very naturally, didn’t have to think about it. The note was sustained without any degradation. I studied classical piano as a kid and this was an accepted technique for that instrument as well. Sometimes it’s the only way physically to play a certain figure. Whatever gets the job done.

 

[Jon McBass]

Of course I do this! But very rarely—only when normal fingering won’t accomplish what is required. Noticed myself doing it once last night in the middle of a furious jam and it came very naturally, didn’t have to think about it. The note was sustained without any degradation. I studied classical piano as a kid and this was an accepted technique for that instrument as well. Sometimes it’s the only way physically to play a certain figure. Whatever gets the job done.

I see that Sixgunn beat me to it...

 

[Blankandson]

I switch probably a dozen times in each song. I'm just setting up my fingers for the next note(s). No one notices unless you have a bass player in the audience (I have several and they all noticed very quickly what I did - they all do it also). So go ahead. No one here should fuss at you for that.

 

[lz4005]

I do it regularly. I mentally refer to it as "handing the note" to a different finger.

One of my current bands has a song where I do it in the chorus, to get my hand in a position to play the verse without a big position change. It's no big deal.

I've done it on fretless too. Much more difficult, but still very doable.

If you want an exercise to practice it, play 8ths at a decent tempo on just one note but use a different finger for each one. I sometimes do that on gigs when I'm bored. I got the idea for that from watching Phil X doing a song where the bridge was chugging on one chord in drop D for 12 bars.

 

[JimmyM]

The trick with switching fingers in this manner is being able to tell the difference between switching for setting yourself up for better positioning or switching because you have OCD.

 

[Sixgunn]

The trick with switching fingers in this manner is being able to tell the difference between switching for setting yourself up for better positioning or switching because you have OCD.

It's OCE. Obsessive Compulsive Enhancement

 

[Mister Boh]

I feel like it's much more economical to land on the finger in another position. But plenty of great players have and do break "rules" for playing.

 

[HolmeBass]

I find myself doing this sometimes, but I try to keep it to a minimum. In the example you provided I would not switch on the C, leaving my index available to fret the G, absolving myself of having to switch on the G as well.

But sometimes there’s a stretch or something coming up where I do this. If at all possible I would also re-pluck the note when switching but I know sometimes that is not possible.

 

[Jon McBass]

I feel like it's much more economical to land on the finger in another position. But plenty of great players have and do break "rules" for playing.

Not sure it’s breaking a “rule;” again, it’s a valid technique for other instruments (at least keys) so why not for bass? Maybe there is a bass authority who disagrees. Anyway, the next time I use this workaround I’ll pay more attention and see if I was just being lazy...

 

[Fergie Fulton]

NO please, as one who has studied and taught WAAAAY too much theory, please let's NOT give it a name!

Already has a name...finger substitution...common to many stringed instruments..i have it in a bass pedagogy book from over 150 years ago

 

[Mister Boh]

Not sure it’s breaking a “rule;” again, it’s a valid technique for other instruments (at least keys) so why not for bass? Maybe there is a bass authority who disagrees. Anyway, the next time I use this workaround I’ll pay more attention and see if I was just being lazy...

You might be right. Perhaps I didn't use a good choice of words. I'm no authority for sure. It just seems easier to make the shift before playing a note rather than after. One less movement.

 

[craigie]

I never thought about this much until a few months ago when working on every breath you take. The video shows sting doing this to shift positions on upright. I thought “huh. That looks useful”

I’m a lot more cognizant of how I finger things lately not just for ease of playing but to lead into the next passage. A lot easier to land on the right note when you set yourself up for it. As an example: in the hotel California main bass part, how do you play bar 2? Bridging with your pinky finger or shifting and bridging your index? The 2nd way sets you up for bar 3.

 

[electracoyote]

And just to clarify, I don't think those of us who use and approve of finger substitution use it instead of good old position playing and planning ahead. But if you play long enough in a wide variety of styles, IME it's bound to happen, or the need may arise, at least once in awhile. It's so natural to me now it doesn't cause any additional mental or physical burden or slow me down a bit. Probably quite the opposite.

 

[Ekulati]

Already has a name...finger substitution...common to many stringed instruments..i have it in a bass pedagogy book from over 150 years ago

Ok. My undergrad was in classical guitar, guess we didn't have that book. Or I was absent that day...

 

[lermgalieu]

I completely disagree about it being a bad habit. Setup for upcoming notes/passages is important and sometimes without switching fingers, it can be physically impossible. The same technique is taught in piano.

Yep, I specifically remember being taught this on piano.

 

[Real Soon]

There's a song in a new band I'm playing with that jumps from a 3rd-fret C down to a 3rd-fret D on the low B string. It's playable and easier in drop D, but I feel behooved to learn both since I'm using the 5-string quite a bit elsewhere.

If I want complete smoothness, I've got either a big jump from ring to middle finger to get my index finger ready for the low D, or I hit the low D with my middle finger and switch to the index finger while on the note. Both take some work but do the trick.


Also, Portrait of Tracy has a measure in it I'm pretty sure can only be played with a finger substitution due to where the harmonics being touched lie. Obviously Jaco was into unorthodox techniques, but no reason the rest of us can't also be into them, used judiciously.

 

[Altitude]

If you're moving to position your left hand better for whatever it needs to do next, and if there's no effect on the sound of the played note when you move, what would the problem be?