Playing styles...

[pope_face]

Or... not quite styles, but I know that there are several different ways of playing. Slap, thumbing, etc. Seeing as I had first had experiance with guitars as opposed to basses, and the fingering can be quite different, I had a question regarding how to go about it. I'm trying to teach myself to use all four fingers on my right hand... I know that most people play with only two or three, but if I teach myself to use all four right away, it may give me more versatility in the future. However, it's not the number of fingers that I'm concerned with. It's the positioning. I can either learn to play with one finger on each string (index on E, middle on A, ring on D, and pinkie on G), or I can let my fingers wander around the strings. Does it really matter? Does anyone have a preferance?

 

Philly

[Fran da Man]

What you're looking to do is play "Classical Guitar" style with your plucking hand, it's a very useful style for bass. Though not for all music/songs you will play. Dedicating one finger per string will be rather hard to do. Best to have your hand kinda floating or hanging there to be versatile and flexable and to mute the strings not being played with your upper forearm the only part resting on the body if needed. There's also a good technique called a moveable anchor.

Can be found explained here. http://www.adamnitti.com/bass_player_02.shtml

 

It's not quite what your talking about, but it's another technique.

[sunburstbasser]

Playing with one finger on each string works for some stuff, but a lot of bass playing ends up going up and down a single string. In those circumstances, the technique may actually prove detrimental. So make sure you spend some time with traditional 2 or 3 finger technique as well.

 

One thing I've learned is that you can use your thumb and first finger on one string, then use your ring and middle on the octave, and do the synth-bass techno 16th note thing on an actual bass. Its actually a classical technique and shouldn't be hard to integrate with the finger-per-string approach.

 

Check out your pinky as well. Mine is a good knuckle and a half shorter than my ring finger, making it too short for just about any musical endeavor. If your fingers are more even you could theoretically develop a 4-finger approach that builds on the standard 2 and 3 finger methods, along with the classical styling.

[zachoff]

I play with two fingers most of the time. Mostly, I alternate fingers on whatever string/note is next.

[FreestyleIntruder]

Originally posted by pope_face Or... not quite styles, but I know that there are several different ways of playing. Slap, thumbing, etc. Seeing as I had first had experiance with guitars as opposed to basses, and the fingering can be quite different, I had a question regarding how to go about it. I'm trying to teach myself to use all four fingers on my right hand... I know that most people play with only two or three, but if I teach myself to use all four right away, it may give me more versatility in the future. However, it's not the number of fingers that I'm concerned with. It's the positioning. I can either learn to play with one finger on each string (index on E, middle on A, ring on D, and pinkie on G), or I can let my fingers wander around the strings. Does it really matter? Does anyone have a preferance? Philly

 

I would advice against this. What if you decide to get a 5-string? What are you going to do then - grow an extra finger?

 

IMVHO you would be well served to learn basic three-finger technique and

 

Steve Bailey's site is probably as good as any place to learn this

[pope_face]

Great, thanks. I'll have to check that out later before I get some practice in. I suppose I'll work on the two or three finger technique first, and try to get a little practice in with my pinkie, but I've got plenty of time to learn.

 

Philly