Fingerstyle Technique for Beginners

[gmtx725]

Hi everyone. I'm a relatively inexperienced bassist and I was wondering if anyone could give any advice on fingerstyle technique? I've been playing about 10 months and I'm entirely self-taught- I started out with a pick because it just felt more natural and I also preferred the tone (I'm a fan of bassists like Peter Hook, Andy Rourke, JJ Burnel who all mainly use a pick). However I figured it's good to have a range of options at your disposal so for the last few weeks I've been trying to diversify and teach myself some fingerstyle technique. So far I've found it incredibly frustrating- it feels like starting all over again! I was wondering if anyone could give me any pointers on how to improve, especially with some of these problems:

*I have major difficulty alternating between my index and my middle finger, particularly on lines that are mainly played on one string but have an occasional skip to another.

*How can I avoid accidently playing the adjacent lower string to the one I mean to play?

*I don't produce a nice smooth warm typical fingerstyle sound, more a kind of sharp snapping sound, especially with my middle finger

*What do I do with my thumb? A lot of places online say rest it on the pickups but on my bass these are not particularly well located to do this.

*It takes so much concentration for me to coordinate my fingers, I get sloppy with my fretting hand.

Cheers!

[chrismuzz]

Hey! Most of these things you mentioned will completely come with practice

You find yourself automatically using whatever finger is easiest to play notes on different strings... Don't worry about doing purely alternate picking, if you're moving from the A to the E string you can use the same finger for both.

I also get the sharp snapping sound when playing, it's become part of my sound/technique now because it feels good, and is fun to play like that, and makes my playing stand out (i hope!). I can get a soft, warm fingerstyle sound if I play carefully, but only if i'm not playing fast! You have to kind of stroke your finger along the string instead of 'hitting' it with your fingers like I do.

Personally I rest my thumb on the neck pickup, or on the string below whichever one i'm playing (which also prevents the lower strings from sounding if i touch them accidentally). Some players will also rest their thumb on the top of the neck, or even use the 'floating thumb technique'. I don't use it myself so you might want to do a bit of research on it.

Coordination is just something that comes with practice. The more you play, the more your fingers get used to the movement and it will just come naturally with no thought whatsoever eventually!


This is mostly just info based on what works/has worked for me, but I hope it helps!

Edited September 20, 2012 by chrismuzz

[Doddy]

Try using your thumb as a 'movable anchor'. Rest it on the pickup when you are playing on the E string and
then drop it onto the E string when you move up to the A string and so on.It puts less stress on the hand as
you don't need to stretch to reach the upper strings. You could try the floating thumb thing,but I prefer to
have my thumb anchored.
To get a warm sound,play through the string with the pad of your finger and come to rest on the string below,don't
pull the string too hard or snap it.
If you are having coordination problems,take some time to concentrate on just you picking hand just alternating
fingers and crossing strings. Then bring in the fretting hand by playing something simple like a C major scale in
quavers. Steadily play 2 beats (in quavers) on C,then 2 beats on D,then E and so on (eg. CCCC,DDDD |EEEE,FFFF| etc).
Try it both ascending and decending. When you're comfortable,try moving to 1 beat each (CC,DD,EE,FF|GG,AA,BB,CC),
it will get your fingers used to crossing the strings,initially.

[Rumple]

I'm not sure why you are getting a clicking sound but one thing that I get is that even when my nails are cut very short they still touch the strings when I play, it been commented on that I sound like I'm playing with a pick! as chrismuss says it's become part of my sound, FWIW I use the side of my thumb if I really need a more old school soft sound.

[Gazza 2905]

[quote name='gmtx725' timestamp='1348176276' post='1810595']
...... I've been trying to diversify and teach myself some fingerstyle technique. So far I've found it incredibly frustrating- it feels like starting all over again! [/quote]

I know what you mean! It's the same everytime you try & learn a new technique.
But, as always, it's just a case of practice, practice, practice (as has been said so many times before on this forum)

Doddy's right, - just practice alternating fingers (middle, index, middle, index etc etc...), then move across one string, & then back again. Then after that, start string skipping (between the E & D string and then the A & G string).
It won't be fun; but do this for 10-15 mins a night for a couple of weeks & you'll soon have it cracked.

[W11ATO]

Hey man, I've got to echo what's been advised above, alternative fingering is a absolute must.

Put the time in now and get that nailed and it'll save you much frustration later.