Thumb/ finger picking

[jamesgor2]

I have started using an alternating thumb finger technique. Particularly during rapid/funky parts. Almost like a subdued slap and pop, the same wrist rotation. Don't see many bassists doing this. I could use alternating fingers - but this is so easy it feels like cheating. Interested to know what any one else thinks.

 

[basspraiser]

If it work and sounds good it ain't cheating....

I use that once and a while when I am doing octaves

 

[lowfreq33]

I do that a lot with chordal parts that I want to let ring. Thumb and two fingers like a banjo.

 

[EssJay]

Al Cisneros of OM does this quite a lot (at least on the older stuff, saw them on the last Australian tour a month or so back and they mostly played Adviatic Songs songs which didn't use it as much, also wasn't much distortion used so it was a more chilled show than the last time I saw them), the songs At Giza and Meditation Is The Practice of Death are good examples of this.
I did try to use the playing style after being inspired by him and it works well for stuff when ya need an open string drone, but it didn't work quite so well for me when trying to play some Motorhead or Iron Maiden. I still use it though.

 

[Jbassrockboy]

Developing Thumb and fingers is really good but learning to plant using this technique is important because it facilitates muting and controlling noise or unwanted tones coming off plucked and non plucked strings.