Alternate Fingering

[Womber]

I had an instructor tell me to always use alternate fingering with my right hand when playing my bass. I have also heard other people say it doesn't matter. In general I try to do the alternate thing but sometimes when working from the G string toward the E string I may not alternate. Is this a bad habit that I should nip in the bud or is it no big deal and should I spend my practice time working on other things? Any insight is welcome.

[theHORSEwhisperer]

 

I had an instructor tell me to always use alternate fingering with my right hand when playing my bass. I have also heard other people say it doesn't matter. In general I try to do the alternate thing but sometimes when working from the G string toward the E string I may not alternate. Is this a bad habit that I should nip in the bud or is it no big deal and should I spend my practice time working on other things? Any insight is welcome.

 

I play Bass with my thumb so I really don't know.

 

But alternating fingers seems to only effect speed.

[Optimus Prime]

I alternate 2 fingers on my right hand. It's faster and it looks better. But if I'm just riding the same note over and over I just use my middle finger, it's not as fast but it's more pulsating and sounds alot better. And if I need to skip from the E string to the D or G I usually use my middle finger becasue it's longer and lot quicker.

[Goofball Jones]

Depends on the song and what chords I'm playing etc etc. I usually use the alternate fingering deal...but sometimes I'll switch to using just my index finger.

[Hunter6]

Use whatever feels most comfortable and sounds best.

There's no set technique, so it's up to you really.

 

I switch between one finger, two fingers, and three fingers depending on what I'm playing and how I want it to sound.

[Poltergeist]

you should thump and play alternate fingerpicking... you should go through all the techiques you can, cose they will all allow you to sound/play better in different occasions...

 

i use my thumb, fingerpicking with 2 and 3 fingers... sometimes i even use my pinky, but that's less normal for me use then the others...

[BlueEcho811]

I had an instructor tell me to always use alternate fingering with my right hand when playing my bass. I have also heard other people say it doesn't matter. In general I try to do the alternate thing but sometimes when working from the G string toward the E string I may not alternate. Is this a bad habit that I should nip in the bud or is it no big deal and should I spend my practice time working on other things? Any insight is welcome.

 

Well man all I can say is that I play with 3 fingers and some of the stuff I play just requires that quick of a transition for me. Maybe it's all in how you play it but I feel I use my 3 finger style a good damn bit.

[Pyralus]

I alternate two when I'm playing quarters, eighths and triplets, switch to 3 fingers for 16th at about 120bpm. I play chords with 2 or three fingers depending on the chord and I play with 4/5 fingers + palm muting when slapping.

 

Knowing lots of different techniques is good, just don't be lame and use either your index or middle finger all the time =P

[tylytle]

Waits for parody.....

[Super Bass]

*Contemplates making parody but thinks it may just be going too far*

[mrcrow]

alternate gives phrasing and smooth articulation

do it!

[jonathan_matos5]

[insert innnuendo here]

 

it will greatly improve your speed if you learn to alternate what finger you strike the string with. on the other hand many people use picks and that can be pretty fast too.

 

just do what feels right to you