Tips or pads?

[Greenman72]

When you play, do you use the tips of your fingers on your fretting hand? (Like, curled fingers, only touching one string, using just the fingertip?)
Or do you use the pad of your fingers? (Flat fingers, laying across multiple strings, using the pad of your finger?)
Is there a "right" way to do it?

 

[bholder]

Depends on the song and the tone I'm going for at the moment. Everything from full pads to tips & nails, depending. No right way. Laying fingers flatter helps when muting is necessary. But I generally like some arc to my fingers.

 

[Lobster11]

I reject the premise that using fingertips is "precise" and using pads is "sloppy." That might be true on guitar, with all those skinny strings crammed close together, but not on a bass (at least one with standard string spacing).

 

[MonetBass]

On fretted, I tend to use in between the pad and the tip. But for fretless, I use mostly the pad.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

When you play, do you use the tips of your fingers on your fretting hand? (Like, curled fingers, only touching one string, using just the fingertip?)
Or do you use the pad of your fingers? (Flat fingers, laying across multiple strings, using the pad of your finger?)
Is there a "right" way to do it?

How about some of both? I’m not so sure you can properly mute with using both.

 

[SteveCS]

When you play, do you use the tips of your fingers on your fretting hand? (Like, curled fingers, only touching one string, using just the fingertip?)
Or do you use the pad of your fingers? (Flat fingers, laying across multiple strings, using the pad of your finger?)
Is there a "right" way to do it?

I use mainly tips, but also pads sometimes, and all areas in between. But I voted carrots, on the basis that I don't associate use of the pads with imprecision or inaccuracy - they just create a different set of tones/timbres.

 

[MCS4]

I reject the premise that using fingertips is "precise" and using pads is "sloppy." That might be true on guitar, with all those skinny strings crammed close together, but not on a bass (at least one with standard string spacing).

Same.

 

[Wasnex]

To some degree the contact point varies with the requirement of the music. I don't always use the actual tip, but do tend to try and maintain arched hand/fingers most of the time. So the contact point is near the tip. However there are times when it is beneficial to flatten out a finger and/or bar or roll across strings. That does not mean it's right to flatten you fingers all the time or grip the neck like a baseball bat. IMHO letting the hand and fingers collapse should be the exception rather than the norm.

 

[MechaSparky]

Why isn't there an option for "stump?" What kind of commie poll is this?!

 

[pbass2]

Damn, now I have to think about this next time I play....

 

[Brandon Shea]

I'm at a point where I don't consciously think about this anymore, but my left hand usually ends up pretty flat, and my fingers make contact with any higher strings I'm not playing. I've gotten good enough at my muting technique that my stepdaughter can try plucking random strings while I'm playing and nothing extra rings out.

 

[Don41_2]

I voted mostly pads, easier to roll the fretting hand to get to that low 5th or start the walk up from the 4th.

 

[Bassinthemudd]

I don't really pay attention to that, but since I play a P Bass, it must be tips.

 

[CrimsonGhost]

This is an interesting thread.

Just going by callouses looking at my left hand,
Pointer and middle fingers tips and top part of pads.
Ring finger pad all the way to the right big long callous.
Pinky tip.

Bad technique? Short sausage fingers? Idk. I guess everyone has some odd habits.

Mine is sometimes my middle finger will overlap my ring finger when doing runs up high. Idk where that came from or why my brain does this as my fingers are plenty strong after playing for over 35yrs... But all in all I use anything I can to get the job done! Lol

 

[CryingBass]

I have always said "use the pads". But I started mostly on double bass and jazz. I think the best players do both, often.

 

[Boneless]

It depends. Use your finger as it wants to be used. Pads means a smoother tone, tips means a more "precise" tone with more treble content. You should get this sort of tactile/audio feedback when you play anyway.

 

[MechaSparky]

Usually the tip, but for tricky parts sometimes I use the shaft. Especially for slap.

 

[gln1955]

I suppose it depends where I am on the fretboard and where I need to go next, how fast I need to play, etc. I don't really think about it. There's a part of my brain that takes care of things like that and I don't question it.

 

[monsterthompson]

Why isn't there an option for "stump?" What kind of commie poll is this?!

 

[andymac]

I don't notice any difference in tone between tips and pads (on fretted anyway).

But I do notice a big difference in mechanics, so I use both depending on the part. Sometimes my left hand will be much more relaxed if I can keep the fingers parallel to the fretboard, hence all tips, especially if there is a lot of fourths/ rolling in the part. On the other hand, I find that tips requires less force to fret cleanly; so if it's a single note kind of line that's kind of fast or repetitive, tips help me not get tired out.