One finger

[Thumpin6string]

If not obvious, I play 6 string basses. I always used to play with just the index finger, but I wanted to get my speed up. So, I started playing with 2 fingers and tried alternating. I seem to favor my index finger, so I don't end up alternating. Instead of playing 1 2 1 2 1 2, I end up playing 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 or any combination with the index finger being the one I use most. However, now due to arthritis, my index finger is starting to become unusable, so I'm trying to shift to using my middle and ring fingers. I'll see how it goes over time.

 

[mrcbass]

Yeah, I'm guilty of that technique.

Being self taught I developed bad habits early on to get up to speed quickly, so didn't properly develop my engine. I've developed it a bit over the years (been playing for almost 9), but my big issues is that the fingers on my left hand try to mirror the fingers on my right hand and get me out of sync sometimes. I generally use just one finger and augment with two fingers when doing stuff like running 16ths (where the left hand is static) or occasional quick passages and do also sometimes use my one finger like a pick (plucking on both up and down strokes).

At this point, I don't struggle with speed as much as I do with pain on busy weekends - doing all the strikes with one finger does add up and can lead to finger tip pain and general joint issues (have encountered trigger finger in last sets more than a couple times). I spend a good amount of time working on higher volume/lighter touch technique which helps a lot.

 

[SBassman]

It certainly didn't get in the way for James Jamerson. Not for me, though. To have any chance at keeping up at higher tempos, I Have to pedal.

Recommended to work on that, and then at least have it as a comfortable option.

Try playing Rocco type lines - without pedalling. Aint happening.

 

[SemiDriven]

Session great Chuck Rainey would do straight 8's or 16ths with his index finger going back and forth over the same string to get a double-stroke.

Huh...I stumbled on this technique while playing a song at rehearsal recently. Actually turned out quite well -- added a little special sauce (pick-like) to the bass tone.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Session great Chuck Rainey would do straight 8's or 16ths with his index finger going back and forth over the same string to get a double-stroke.

I have recently started to do this as part of the whole "Real-Bassists-Don't-Use-Picks" extravaganza. I'm certainly not able to do it reliably, but I'm getting there.

 

[sethlow3]

Used to a lot via Jamerson, but your speed has a limit. It has a similar thing in rhythms and feel to all downstrokes with a pick.

In more recent years I switched to three fingers, but needed something a little more versatile for patterns of four.

For the last four months I’ve been using all four fingers and it’s been the best approach for me now. Not necessarily just for speed, but ease of use.

 

[sheesh]

I use two fingers. Occasionally I use a pick.
Regarding tone, consistency, I want both fingers to sound the same. When I practice I challenge myself and pretend that I am in a studio and a sound engineer is listening and they don' t want to hear any finger noise.
Regarding number of fingers, I have TRIED four, inspired by Entwhistle as a practice matching index right and left middle right and left, etc . . . not something I adopted . . .

 

[KellyC]

I think that if you play long enough, you learn to adapt your techniques to get the sound you hear in your head. A lot of bassists have spent time working on the one finger technique because the subtleties of the sound really can’t be achieved with any other technique, and many of us tend towards obsessiveness and don’t care that no one in the audience can hear the subtleties that we’re chasing.

 

[Lobster11]

Personally, I find it interesting to compare this question to the analogous one with respect to pickstyle: i.e., downstrokes-only vs. strict alternation.

When I started out I focused entirely on fingerstyle using the traditional (alternating) two-finger method, so that became natural for me and I rarely deviate from it. When I decided many years later to learn pickstyle, the analogous technique of alternate picking came naturally to me for more-or-less the same reasons, in particular efficiency.

But when thinking about it I also discovered an important difference. One reason I enjoy playing with a pick is the physical up-and-down motion in the wrist -- like a rhythm guitarist, so to speak -- and as much as possible I like to play downstrokes on downbeats and upstrokes on upbeats. When playing straight fours or straight eights, etc. this is the same as strict alternation, but when the line doesn't follow that rhythmic pattern I tend to go with the downstrokes-on-downbeats rather than strict alternation. I suppose technically this would be like using your index finger on downbeats and middle finger on upbeats (or vice-versa), but to me it doesn't feel the same. When I tried to play fingerstyle using the index-for-downbeats method it just didn't work for me in the same way as the downstrokes-on-downbeats method does with a pick, so I still tend to strictly alternate with my fingers independent of the upbeat/downbeat distinction.

Does that make sense?

 

[Paul New]

there you say it. If you practice BOTH techniques. If it’s the only technique you can play it’s very limiting. There is only one Jamerson and even he could not play fast fusion lines with one finger I guess. Not that he needed to, but still.

It’s not as limiting as you think. Try it sometime.

 

[Tim Schnautz]

The legendary Jerry Scheff. One finger picking with no backstroke

 

[SturmUndDrang]

It's a carry over technique from upright. Most upright bassists tend to stick with one finger. These days most electric bassists aren't coming from that perspective. Times change and so do techniques.

 

[sethlow3]

It's a carry over technique from upright. Most upright bassists tend to stick with one finger. These days most electric bassists aren't coming from that perspective. Times change and so do techniques.

Yes this.

Great guitarists (especially the more classically inclined) can play with a pick and fingers when they play fingerstyle it varies between thumb and all four fingers. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less, but they at least use a thumb, index, and middle.

There are nice things about both school of thought. One finger upright and all fingers guitar, but it’s a bass guitar. You can mix and match from both. I’ve just gotten to a point where I feel like two fingers is super limiting when you have three other fingers you can use.

 

[JimmyM]

I see no reason to limit yourself just because a handful of top bassists do it.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

It is limiting only using only one finger. (But, if it works for you, WTH.) Try playing "On The Dark Side" by John Cafferty with one finger, or "I Gotta Line by Spirit". (Not saying you ever would) but you would get my point.

You piqued my curiosity so I just pulled out a 5 string and played "I Gotta Line On You" (which I've played for years, BTW) with index finger only. The bassline (Mark Andes is a great player, check out his playing in JoJo Gunne!) doesn't lend itself to that approach, though, IMO. Interesting exercise, though.

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[bigdaddybass12]

If you can do it that is fine. But you need to learn to use your middle finger. Right before a gig I cut my 1st finger. I had to use my 2nd & 3rs fingers

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

The more approaches to playing I can utilize, the better. As far as facility goes, it's pretty amazing what different bassists do. On "Express Yourself" by Charles Wright the bassist plays with a thumbpick (I started playing with a thumbpick, myself) and fingers (I think, can't quite tell from the video) like a Piedmont guitar picker and does tricky string jumps with ease. I have some p-basses with ashtray covers and discovered that when I play AHEAD of the p.u. cover I almost automatically revert to index finger only on my right hand (my default position is resting my thumb on the cover and playing between the p.u. and bridge). I'm not consciously trying to emulate Jamerson, it just feels natural. The more I insist on a particular approach, the more I handicap myself.

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[Chrome Dome]

May get harassed for this about playing with one finger? I alternate back and forth index and middle finger. You don't play with two picks do you? LOL

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I utilize thumb, 1st 2nd and 3rd fingers. My right pinky is lonely (and useless).

 

[dbsfgyd1]

James Jamerson is well known for playing only with his index finger he called "The Hook".

Good call.