Trying to move to two fingers

[Kahrmine]

If one finger suits your style, you don't have to use more. If you're looking to open up some expressive possibilities by adding fingers, you can even out the tone.

I use my first three fingers (pinky is too short). I noticed at first that my middle and ring finger also sounded different than my index finger. The index finger is a bit pointer by design, and the others are a bit fatter and padded.

The key to getting the same kind of tone out of the others as your index is in how much of the end of your finger you put over the string to pluck. The index finger because of its shape has a pluckier tone. You will notice if you pull back a bit from putting so much meat of your middle and/or ring finger you can get a similar tone. Use more of the end and tips of these fingers and your tone will even out across the fingers.

I hope this helps.

 

[BecDeCorbin]

After years of trying to conform my technique to "the norm" or what was considered correct, I recalled some sage words I heard once......whatever you can do to get the sound, technique be damned, get it however you can get it.

I stopped trying to use two fingers and settled into being quite content with mostly using just the index finger. I'm a happier player by not feeling that I have to do it a certain way.

 

[Spidey2112]

When you practice, force yourself to alternate. The more you do it, the easier it will become.

As to tone, remember, your middle finger is longer. Try tilting your hand slightly toward the bridge, so the angle and distance for both fingers is closer to even.

Good call... BG, do you hold the neck high, straight horizontal, or dive? Happens all the time, or only when you sit, or stand?

 

[barry irwin]

Hey guys. I currently play fingerstyle using only 1 finger (index). I can use 2, but when I use the 2nd (middle finger), the tone is so much different (it has much more attack and sounds brighter). I like the more mellow tone of the index finger and want the 2nd to sound that way, but I can't seem to get it to.

1. Is it okay to just use one finger? Is there any limitation other than speed?
2. Is this normal and just needs practice to develop, or do some peoples' anatomy just result in this type of problem?
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.

Thanks!

James Jamerson used one finger.A lot of guys just use their thumb.Anything is OK even using your toes. The more versatile you are the better (sometimes)
If this is a goal then you need to practice slower than slow with a metronome.Try to put the same amount of weight on the string with each finger. Record yourself playing,listen back and adjust until you get it right.An hour a day of 1/8 notes practice will eventually get you there. Everything is about habit.How much you practice and how much you really want to do something.What is normal is that you have to learn technique. Even Victor Wooten does.No one just arrives. Hard work =Good player.

 

[sethlow3]

After years of trying to conform my technique to "the norm" or what was considered correct, I recalled some sage words I heard once......whatever you can do to get the sound, technique be damned, get it however you can get it.

I stopped trying to use two fingers and settled into being quite content with mostly using just the index finger. I'm a happier player by not feeling that I have to do it a certain way.

Exactly what I was saying. So many players play with two fingers. Blah.... boring. Whatever... everyone is doing it.

Be you and do what comes natural and quick to you to get your musical ideas out period. Tone can easily be changed. Sometimes with or without worrying about technique too much.

Paul McCartney had some of the coolest bass tones with, flats, pick, and a mute! If you are amazing with a pick, own it. Same with only one finger.

 

[Spidey2112]

Take a look at flamenco guitarists for this technique, or for bass, Geddy Lee does it on occasion, albeit with a much heavier tone.

'Animate' is a great song to practice this technique... pretty much continuous 16ths, all throughout the song... Good luck, BG!

 

[organworthyplayer337]

Cool thank you. That's what I was looking for -- something specific to try to correct this. I'm not even sure why I want to use two fingers because I don't play super fast. I think it makes me look more "legit" It's a stupid reason. It's also nice to set goals and challenges so playing doesn't become stale. Those are the only reasons really.

One other problem I notice is that I anchor my thumb on the pickup or sometimes the end of the neck, and when I try to reach for the high G string I can barely make it. But it causes me to hit it too hard because I'm reaching so far. I like the anchor on bass, though. I play finger style guitar and don't like to anchor with that, but on bass it feels right.

Yes, as what other people have stated; use the moving anchor method.

For example.

When you play the E string, place your thumb on the pickup.

When you play the A string, place your thumb on the E string.

When you play the D string, place your thumb on the A string.

So on and so forth

And yeah I cut my nails short cause mama's got work to do.

 

[rodv66]

Why not try learning to use three, should not be any harder than two.

 

[bherman]

I used to play alot of upright bass (not as much any more) and its common to approach your right hand three different ways - one finger only, two fingers right next to each other, and first two fingers alternating (when playing fast). The hardest thing to master is getting each of your two fingers to sound the same. On electric bass (which is mostly what I play now), I found that what works for me is to always - and I mean always - alternate fingers when I'm practicing - whether scales, etc or reading music. The more you do the two-finger thing, the better you'll get at getting consistent sounds from each finger.

The other thing that would help is an exercise book called "Bass Fitness" by Josquin Des Pres. Great exercises for building strength and dexterity in your left hand, but he also emphasizes alternating fingers with each note and focusing on consistent sound. I've been using this book as part of my practice routine for 3-4 years now. Start slow - a page or two per week, maybe 15 minutes a day. It takes time but will get you there.

Hope this helps!

 

[oldcatfish]

Hey guys. I currently play fingerstyle using only 1 finger (index). I can use 2, but when I use the 2nd (middle finger), the tone is so much different (it has much more attack and sounds brighter). I like the more mellow tone of the index finger and want the 2nd to sound that way, but I can't seem to get it to.

1. Is it okay to just use one finger? Is there any limitation other than speed?
2. Is this normal and just needs practice to develop, or do some peoples' anatomy just result in this type of problem?
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.

Thanks!

I agree with the suggestion to practice slowly to focus on getting the tone as even as possible; however, don't get too hung up on it. As someone else stated, it will probably only be noticeable when playing solo. And there will always be some difference, even if not easily distinguishable to the casual listener. Same as when you use a pick, things sound a little different when all downstrokes are used as opposed to when the same thing is played using alternating picking.

As you work on evening up the tone, there is nothing wrong with using a single finger to play parts of a song, unless it's too fast to keep the rhythm even. I do it myself with songs that have bursts of really fast parts alternating with slower parts....the slow parts get played with just my index finger, faster parts get index and ring fingers, and really fast parts get index + middle + ring finger. It actually helps my timing on the slower parts.

 

[Hand slap]

Hey guys. I currently play fingerstyle using only 1 finger (index). I can use 2, but when I use the 2nd (middle finger), the tone is so much different (it has much more attack and sounds brighter). I like the more mellow tone of the index finger and want the 2nd to sound that way, but I can't seem to get it to.

1. Is it okay to just use one finger? Is there any limitation other than speed?
2. Is this normal and just needs practice to develop, or do some peoples' anatomy just result in this type of problem?
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.

Thanks!

Imho the difference in tone , is due to the attack of the "hit" of your finger on the string, and is directly related to the amount of "meat" on the end of your finger tips. Work slow between the 2 fingers, back and forth, and you can get the tones of each finger to be more similar, over time.

 

[TomB]

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?

Once you're proficient, you can feel free to break the rules. I use 2 fingers (occasionally 3) but often will not alternate, depending on the pattern. After 50 years, it is completely unconscious. ...but I still remember how difficult it seemed at first.

 

[jasonmatthews]

I can't imagine life without two-finger playing. I do so much string skipping and ghost notes and things like that that I imagine would be nearly impossible with only finger!

But that aside. It's absolutely not imperative to *always* use two fingers. Sometimes I'll see a video of myself playing and I notice I'm only using one finger for a particular section. After so many years of playing I trust my fingers to do whatever they think is correct in the moment, so that's fine. If it sounds correct and gives you the right tone... go for it! I think it's good to be able to use two (or three or four), though.

Billy Sheehan said he'd sit for hours just playing various rhythms on muted strings to make sure his sound was even across all three of his fingers. You should do the same with two. Practice eights and sixteenths and triplets. Practice accenting different notes in those groups (first 16th, second 16th, etc.). Do it for hours. Like others have said, eventually it just becomes automatic.

And I cut my fingernails every few days; I can't stand that clangy fingernail sound. I keep clippers everywhere... in my desk drawer, bathroom drawers, in my car, in my bag, in my bass case... everywhere. I have so many clippers.

 

[BaltBass5]

I use a pick, one finger and 2 fingers. Depends on the song. I'm trying to work on 3 fingers now but the 3rd doesn't wanna cooperate!

 

[Beavisplaysbass]

Hey guys. I currently play fingerstyle using only 1 finger (index). I can use 2, but when I use the 2nd (middle finger), the tone is so much different (it has much more attack and sounds brighter). I like the more mellow tone of the index finger and want the 2nd to sound that way, but I can't seem to get it to.

1. Is it okay to just use one finger? Is there any limitation other than speed?
2. Is this normal and just needs practice to develop, or do some peoples' anatomy just result in this type of problem?
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.

Thanks!

1. Yes. Limitations? Yes, It is very convenient to play with 2 or 3 fingers in such a way I would not go back. I can still play with one finger, but I mean seriously once you get it down, its far easier.
2.What? Just freaking practice it, its that simple. If you're not near your bass, practice by tapping your fingers on a counter top. Pinky to Pointer, Pointer to Pinky. Just like when drummers tap their hands and feet all the time. Same percussive practice.
3. ^ See above.

 

[madbass6]

Hey guys. I currently play fingerstyle using only 1 finger (index). I can use 2, but when I use the 2nd (middle finger), the tone is so much different (it has much more attack and sounds brighter). I like the more mellow tone of the index finger and want the 2nd to sound that way, but I can't seem to get it to.

1. Is it okay to just use one finger? Is there any limitation other than speed?
2. Is this normal and just needs practice to develop, or do some peoples' anatomy just result in this type of problem?
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.

Thanks!

Hey if the plucking with one finger thing worked for James jamerson it can work for you !

I sujest practicing a simple scale like (C+) at an even smooth relax Flo! walking with your fingers
(F) is for fingers!
Finger 1- C
F 2-D
F1-E
Finger: 2-F
F- 1-G
F-2-A
F-1-B
F-2-C (octive) practice walking with your fingers at an even pace preferably with no amp to feel the feel not the volume! good luck ! Hope this helps.

 

[Chicory Blue]

Trimming your nails goes a long way in evening out your finger tones. My right hand looks kind of ridiculous, as my nails are all long except for my index and middle fingers, which I keep trimmed down to nothing as much a possible. It's a sacrifice, as my hand is never going to look especially pretty, but it's a musician's hand, and I'm proud of that.

The rest is more or less a muscle memory thing. There will be times where one finger is more appropriate than two, but getting into the habit of using two fingers as much as possible, even if it sounds bad at first, will get you there in the long run. You'll want to master both approaches, ultimately, so if your one-finger game is strong, that's the opposite of a problem.

--^@

 

[GranSportMan]

Watch this guy...

 

[Kahrmine]

I highly recommend the floating thumb technique. It forces you to have clean, excellent technique. It took me two months to master, but it was worth the work.

 

[two fingers]

Are you guys talking about me?

@bassgirls I'm married and we hardly know own each other so you can not move in. Sorry.

Seriously, it takes practice.

First, practice four frets in a row. One fret per finger on the fretting hand. Start on the lowest note string 5th fret. Alternate plucking fingers every note playing four in a row. Then go down to the next string, then the next and back up. Start slow and work up speed. The sound of your two plucking fingers will even out over time.