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Trying to move to two fingers

#41
I play with 2 fingers, I've become obsessed with having the length of my index, and middle fingernails exactly right. It's not about hitting the strings with my fingernails, it's more about having the nails right, so the pads on both fingers sound the same. I play live every week, and before leaving the house, I trim them both the same (real short). I don't do that for practice sessions, but, it matters for live performance to me. If I don't do that, I have to make a conscious effort to get a consistent sound.
 
#43
Thanks for all the tips, guys. It's a lot of to think about. I practiced today and noticed the people who mention the length discrepancy being the main cause are correct. With the index I'm not hitting the pad but higher up on the tip, I think just due to the length. My middle is like a half inch longer than my index. Even when I play with the index and force the pad to hit, it does sound a little brighter. And sometimes it catches the nail. I guess this will take a lot of work to get a consistent sound (the index sounds nice and smooth, the middle almost sounds like a pick it's so bright!).

When I play fingerstyle guitar I don't have any of these problems so it's weird.
 
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#47
nbsipics said:
Use the meat. Of the fingers. Really.

This is so subjective, but it makes a big difference tips vs meat...
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This is the best answer yet. I've played with two fingers for my entire career, with occasional pick use, but very little. Rest your thumb on the G string and that will give you better reach.

A quick lesson I made up when learning to play two fingers was -- while sitting watching TV, hold your bass (without amplification) and mute the strings with your left hand lightly holding your fingers across the fretboard. Then with your two fingers, alternate one-two-one-two-one-two on each string starting four times each string. Do that every night for an hour and before you know it you'll be unconsciously using both fingers with ease.

You are absolutely correct in wanting to use both fingers. People can cite examples of great players using one finger but for me, when I see a one finger player I think "lazy." If you can use one finger you certainly can learn two, after all, aren't you using four fingers to fret? :)

I just read the suggestion of using felt flats. That will work, yes, but you will have so much more dynamic control over your sound when you are proficient with two fingers. The extra effort to learn two fingers will pay off in technique in the long run. Practice practice practice!

Kudos to you for expanding your boundaries and experimenting and learning. Best of luck to you! :thumbsup:
 
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#49
bassgirls said:
Thanks for the exercise, Alaska. How important is it to use strict alternating of the fingers -- for example say if there's 3 notes per string and on the 4th you want to skip strings?
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I found once I subconsciously use both fingers, whatever the last finger plucked, the other finger would reach to the next string automatically. Like I said, it become unconscious if you try my practice method for even just a month. I always start with the pointing finger first. Not a great answer, but I hope you get what I'm saying. :)

Edit: I guess I'm saying if I reach for another string I would automatically start with the pointing finger. Does that make sense?
 
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#50
bassgirls said:
Hey Freddy, my issue isn't one of synchronization. They are syncs and I can play something like 8ths notes evenly in terms of time. But it's the tone that's different. The index sounds dull, which I like, and the middle finger sound bright. So it really stands out when playing solo, and I don't like that. I might try trimming the nails down more because I notice on the index it's hitting mostly the pad of the finger, and on the middle it might be clipping just a bit of nail (even though I cut them as short as I can).
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I had similar issues when I first started playing. So it is very normal. My advise would be to keep working with both fingers. It will eventually even out with practice and time. You can play a ton of bass with just one finger, but I believe it will limit you eventually. Particularly with 8th and 16th notes. That being said. I still play some songs with just one finger ,because I can get a more consistent tone that way. And yes keep your fingernails short.
 
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#52
bassgirls said:
1. Is it okay to just use one finger? Is there any limitation other than speed?
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Sure is, many great players, especially upright players, use a 1 finger approach, and some get pretty darn fast. You will, of course, be able to play faster with 2, but it's not unheard of.
bassgirls said:
2. Is this normal and just needs practice to develop, or do some peoples' anatomy just result in this type of problem?
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its absolutely normal, and you can practice to even it out. Good old running scales with a metronome can do wonders. You may never get perfect, but if you want perfect, there's a thing called a keyboard...
bassgirls said:
3. Is there any exercise you can recommend to try to even out the tones? Even when I go very slow it seems to happen.
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see above :) start slow and keep at it. Make sure your nail isn't hitting the string. Your first finger will be a little smoother and more calloused than your second so that can take a little time to even out too.
 
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#53
All you really need is one finger but it can be good to have the others usable for some stuff. I really like the sound of 2 or more strings plucked at the same time especially on guitar for jazzy stuff.

I have always been a nail biter but now try to clip em mostly now. I pretty much keep all my nails overly short so they never bother me.

As to the difference in tone. Maybe take a little time to experiment how you use your fingers until you get them to sound close enough.
 
#54
bassgirls said:
Yeah that's all. I'll look more closely during practice tonight to see if the nail is too long. I'm looking at my fingers and the index seems to have more flesh where I strike the string, whereas the middle there is a slight curve to it (this finger was cut off as a kid and sewed back on so it's slightly crooked) and b/c of that the nail seems to poke out more in the corner. I wonder if that little piece of nail is catching and I'm not realizing it.

Do you guys file your nails?

I can play with a pick just fine, I can play with one finger, and I can play fingerstyle guitar using 4 fingers. So I feel like it's something with bass alone. :/ I just can't figure it out.
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My middle finger is unusually long compared to my index.
When in playing position, the index tip is even with the middle's first knuckle.
But the tip of my middle finger seems to be fleshier that the index, so the nail doesn't cause much of a problem.

I don't file, I just clip short.
But I can see how the crooked finger might cause to catch a nail easier.

Really weird out if the box idea... How about cutting off the tip of a latex glove like doctors and nurses use, maybe a couple inches and wearing it on the middle finger? Get ones with a tight fit.
 
#55
To use two fingers and have each finger sound the same, you have to arch your wrist a little more forward and inward to make up for the fact that your middle finger is longer. Pay close attention as to how much arch you need to help smooth your notes. Then , practice your scales and songs making sure you're alternating your fingers on each note, focusing on consistency. Come to think of it, I had to practice just hitting eighth notes , like an open E. I practiced to a lot of AC/DC. Great music for this topic. It takes practice but you'll get it. It's a good technique to learn to prevent finger fatigue, imo. One finger works fine for most stuff, though.
 
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#57
In my honest opinion, ALMOST ALL bass players play with two fingers and while I like it and got accustomed to it, I think you should stick with the pick or morph your classical guitar skills over to bass like some other bass players have. It will make you more unique and speed up the music part of bass that you ultimately want. Check out guys like Bobby Vega, Carles Benevente, or miss Carol Kaye. There are so many ways to make a pick sound cool or even like fingers.

If you must play with fingers, as it's already been mentioned in this thread, James Jamerson is simply one of the best players of all time and only used one finger. He was a bass player's bass player.

I wouldn't really force yourself to play with two fingers unless it's just an absolute must to you. Then be ready to practice a lot a lot a lot on it.
 
#58
make sure as you are working on you alternating fingers... that you also alternate which finger you start with. ie: I M I M I M I M and M I M I M I M I for 8ths and for triplets I M I I M I I M I and M I M M I M M I M
do these skipping strings too.
and don't worry.. as you put in the hours working on the technique, the tone will even out.Also incorporate your right hand skills from guitar. That is a plus.
 
#59
Session1969 said:
To use two fingers and have each finger sound the same, you have to arch your wrist a little more forward to make up for the fact that your middle finger is longer. One finger works fine for most stuff, though.
Click to expand...

I did exactly that to take care of the problem the OPs describing. I hang the wrist over the bass to where the hand hangs down until it stops naturally thus the meat of the fingers hits the strings eliminating the sharp attack from the tips. It worked for me anyway.
 
#60
Finger style playing with the index finger only, is possible, in fact it can be smooth and impressive as James Jamerson did. You can use both sides of the index finger if you choose, almost like a pick. (up and down stroke.) I do this often. However there are many advantages to using 2 fingers. Practice playing triplets with the index and middle finger. Start slow, get it steady, increase the speed. A metronome would be very helpful. Then practice repeated eighth notes. Start slow, get it steady and as even sounding as you can. increase speed gradually. Finally play your tunes exclusively with both fingers. It will feel natural in time. If 2 fingers continues to cause your attack and tone to vary to a degree that is unacceptable to you, you might consider the next higher gauge strings.
 
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