Plucking hand - finger joint choice

[smeet]

Like most old (school) players, I started out with my plucking fingers remaining somewhat straight and rigid, and the entire finger rotates from the base joint/knuckle. It produces a strong tone, and by leaving the very last joint a bit relaxed, you can get a nice warm tone. But there is a tendency to bend the wrist too much with this technique.

As I started to play basses with 5/6 strings I learned about muting using a floating thumb. This requires flattening the wrist and base knuckle, and the plucking motion rotates mostly from the second joint of the finger. There are many benefits to this technique, as we all now know.

But (of course). Even after many years, I still get a fatter and more solid tone and attack from the straight finger technique. Also I can play considerably faster that way. I think it’s anatomical, because just drumming my fingers on a table is much faster with fingers straight rather than bending at the second joint.

I use both techniques. When playing a really fast lick I use straight fingers, but on a bright 5-string it can get noisy/ringy since my muting isn’t as effective without the floating thumb.

Am I alone in this? Before you say it, I know I’m overthinking it. But this is the way of my people. For we are the Overthinkers.

 

[Markmann]

I am the opposite but I think I may be the exception. I play slow passages with straight fingers and fast with my hand in a more curled form using more of the tips of my fingers and no thumb rest. I can be much more aggressive with that technique.

 

[Watchootognbout]

My fingers are always curved.Never used straight fingers for anything.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Try various speed drills with metronome to increase your speed in floating thumb technique.

The goal is to work out which habits inhibit your speed. You may need more muting from fretting hand for now to overcome these habits.

 

[smeet]

Try various speed drills with metronome to increase your speed in floating thumb technique.

The goal is to work out which habits inhibit your speed. You may need more muting from fretting hand for now to overcome these habits.

I've been trying to do that (and I will continue), but just wiggling my fingers away from the bass, I find just pure finger speed is much faster at the base joint than at the second joint. So it doesn't seem like a coordination problem, more like a nervous system limitation. I'll keep working on it of course.

 

[Lobster11]

I'm a big fan of plucking softly and letting the amp do the work, so one reason I favor the floating-thumb technique (apart from muting, of course) is that it discourages me from "digging in." Maybe the reason that, per your OP, you "get a fatter and more solid tone and attack from the straight finger technique" is that using "chopsticks" makes it easier to "dig in" (as compared to floating thumb) when you want to. Also, it occurs to me that maybe the reason you can play faster with "chopsticks" is that at high speeds you're switching from rest strokes to free strokes, which also is much more difficult with the floating thumb.

On those rare occasions when I want to either dig in or switch to free strokes for speed, I un-anchor my thumb and play with chopsticks as described by @Markmann. (I say "rare occasions" because when I want an aggressive sound and/or high speed I usually switch to a pick.)

 

[smeet]

I'm a big fan of plucking softly and letting the amp do the work, so one reason I favor the floating-thumb technique (apart from muting, of course) is that it discourages me from "digging in." Maybe the reason that, per your OP, you "get a fatter and more solid tone and attack from the straight finger technique" is that using "chopsticks" makes it easier to "dig in" (as compared to floating thumb) when you want to. Also, it occurs to me that maybe the reason you can play faster with "chopsticks" is that at high speeds you're switching from rest strokes to free strokes, which also is much more difficult with the floating thumb.

On those rare occasions when I want to either dig in or switch to free strokes for speed, I un-anchor my thumb and play with chopsticks as described by @Markmann. (I say "rare occasions" because when I want an aggressive sound and/or high speed I usually switch to a pick.)

These are good theories, but:
I get a different tone from chopsticks and floating thumb whether digging in or not (I rarely dig in).

I'm very conscious about rest vs free strokes. I almost always use rest strokes unless I want to play a lyrical melody line. My rest strokes are faster than my free strokes, which seems counter to what most people experience.

I've actually been thinking about these issues and working on them for quite a while. Everything has gotten better (faster/smoother/more accurate), but the differences between techniques still remains.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Am I alone in this? Before you say it, I know I’m overthinking it. But this is the way of my people. For we are the Overthinkers.

I've long known that, at least regarding physical playing technique, I am the opposite: I am an Underthinker. I have no idea what my fingers do when plucking a string. I would have to pick up the bass and watch my hand while playing to even begin to guess at which joints are involved.

I think I skew more towards OP's second example ("the plucking motion rotates mostly from the second joint of the finger") only because the idea of "fingers remaining somewhat straight and rigid, and the entire finger rotates from the base joint/knuckle" sounds really uncomfortable and inefficient ...conceptually. But again, I dunno, 'cuz I never thought about it or even looked to see what I was doing.

Great, now Imma be up all night wondering...

 

[smeet]

Just to show where I learned the chopsticks technique (I'm not imagining it I promise)
Here's a frame from Jaco playing Portrait of Tracy:

You can see it in action here at around 2:11

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

Lol, you've got me staring at the inside of my wrist wagging my fingers Trying these motions using my fretting hand as well.

I see a lot more percolating motion in the carpal tunnel area with fingers bent.
Hand straight, my middle loses mobility, working the back of the hand muscles more. Bent fingers and wrist moves the action further out into my forearm.

When I feel pain or strain, it's often in my finger tips (the worst!) or back of the hand, so maybe give those areas some attention. Consider looking at the hands of a pianist, since bass is a rhythmic, harmonic, and even melodic instrument.

 

[Les Fret]

Just to show where I learned the chopsticks technique (I'm not imagining it I promise)
Here's a frame from Jaco playing Portrait of Tracy:
View attachment 5107191



You can see it in action here at around 2:11

Yes, who’s to argue with Jaco! Both techniques are fine and valid. Each has its benefits and drawbacks. Yes there is a slight difference in tone between FT and chopsticks. That’s normal because you hit the string in a slightly different angle.