RE: Picking Or Plucking For Bass?

[jbarks]

how many fingers do u guys use to pluck? is 2 enough? or its better to use 3?

as i've said -- there is honestly no 'better' technique. it's just what works best for you and your band. you never saw james jamerson using 3 fingers, but damn if he couldn't lay down those lines good.

 

[kdash]

i think as long as you know you are working on some techniques and you are getting somewhere, it doesnt matter if it's picking or plucking, using thumb or 4 fingers, i think that's good enough. all of us have different capacities of learning, different preferences, different styles and ways of playing music. so as long as you know you are not stuck in a rut, that's fine.

in terms of the MMORPG example, if you keep playing, you will eventually level up and invest your skill points in whichever area you think will benefit you and the band.

 

[Resetti]

pick, finger pluck, thumb, slap pop, thumb flick, etc... all can... depending on what you like, as long as it makes the sound you want it to make, it's all cool

 

[amnesiac]

Well, for me, it all depends on the kind of music which I'm playing. But I usually use a pick 95% of the time. If i want a more trebly, fierce, hard rocking bass tone, i'll use a pick. But i'll compromise and put my lows in my eq, in case it becomes too trebly. If I want a more round, fat sound, I'll use my thumb or fingers. Usually I use 3 fingers. My middle, my index and my ring finger (is it called the ring finger? Haha.) But that's just how I play. Just go out and experiment and play around with your tone until you get that 'sweet spot'. Have fun! Cheers.

 

[VinOnBass]

start with 2 fingers If you want to move on to 3 later go ahead (thinking John Myung), if you see the need to that is.

If you need a simple analogy of learning bass it's like a MMORPG. As you level up you realise you only have enough skill points (in reality time and practise) to pump one skill. So there's no right or wrong to learning your lightning zap or fire storm, it's really personal preference, no matter what others say. You may start as a warrior or a mage - a finger plucker or a picker - but where you go after that is really your decision.

There'll be pure mages and pure warriors, but also fusion characters that can do both. Of course once awhile it's good to read a strategy guide, and in this case most of the guides say - start with the fingers

funny but true...+1 to it

 

[CrisisMoment]

Thanks all for sharing your opinion, thoughts and experiences, it really kinda 'make out notes' for me, or may even some other bass players.
Using MMORPG as an example? haha good one!
BTW, is it possible to 'train' pinky finger to pluck bass too? Such that the sound is as good as index finger plucking "power tone attack"?

 

[lordie]

play both finger style and pick, cos i do ;p

 

[KeDraiv]

Thanks all for sharing your opinion, thoughts and experiences, it really kinda 'make out notes' for me, or may even some other bass players.
Using MMORPG as an example? haha good one!
BTW, is it possible to 'train' pinky finger to pluck bass too? Such that the sound is as good as index finger plucking "power tone attack"?

lol, it's possible.
but u'll have to pluck it using free strokes
cause if u use rest stroke ur pinkie too short.
unless ur pinkie is like this long =\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwT7m1ZUeoM


HAHA

 

[FourSling]

I opt for both and more - Although I play fingerstyle, I do cut to a pick attack using my thumbnail (on the upstroke) and index fingernail on the downstroke on hard rock numbers, or to simulate a rhythm guitar on the bass. One thing I like to combine that with is muting the strings I'm fretting at the bridge with the bottom of the palm of my fingering/picking hand. It helps me get a range of sounds, from punk rock to old school Motown thump (like on "My Girl") .

 

[CrisisMoment]

lol, it's possible.
but u'll have to pluck it using free strokes
cause if u use rest stroke ur pinkie too short.
unless ur pinkie is like this long =\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwT7m1ZUeoM


HAHA

It's too late for my pinkie to grow already i guess haha! i afraid my pinkie may even 'fracture' from playing bass heh

 

[shinobi]

some QUADRUPLES and double thumb, wooten style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq5e5-6npi8

"down up pluck pluck PLUCK PLUCK"

i think this thread should go into How To - Bass