I always see a selected few bass players using their pinky while playing pass, is that nessesary, is it a bad technique or is it ment to be used? Reminds me of one someone uses their thumb to press on the fret.. curious..
When is it ok to use your pinky while playing bass?
- Thread starter VEHEMENCE
- Start date
I always use the pinky on my fretting hand. Index and pinky are my main fingers.
It's there, so I don't see any reason NOT to use it.
It's there, so I don't see any reason NOT to use it.
Higon
No Blest´s Bassist
It´s a lot easier to play if you can use your pinky. You don´t need to keep "walking" through the neck to play, just stand still in one position and play. Actually, if you know the neck good enough, and depending on what you are playing, you just need to move your hand 1 or 2 frets back/foward to play.
This helps you a lot when you need to play and sing at the same time.
This helps you a lot when you need to play and sing at the same time.
/Z/
Always Importing
Not using your pinky is like using your thumb to fret, not the other way around. It makes playing a lot easier and more fluid if you can use the pinky.
SanderThomas
Member
it's ten million times easier playing scales with your pinky than without. I don't see why you wouldn't use it, it's strong enough usually to fret. Unless you're talking about your plucking hand, in which case, I have only seen Les Claypool use all his four fingers. That seems hard, since the notes played with your pinky finger might sound less evident
HippieOfDoom
The 13th Monkey
I'm guessing that he meant the picking hand and not the fretting hand. In which case I say, if you can, do it...I can't, so I don't try.
SDG
SDG
Yeah I meant the playing hand not the fretting hand, i thought that was a logical question, that i didnt have to explain that. But yeah I have seen Les Claypool, Alex Webster, use pinkys.. I would like to see if anyone can name somemore.
baroz
The hun
VEHEMENCE said:
Alex Webster doesn't use pinky...
John entwistle uses pinky (I know he is dead, but I don't know the past of use
)
SanderThomas
Member
Higon
No Blest´s Bassist
Hmmmmm... I´m almost sure he uses. At least when he is playing he moves his pinky in a way that seems he is using it. Well, Hippie knows him. Does he uses the pinky Hippie?
Seems like Roger Paterson used to play with 4 fingers, but I´m not sure too.
HippieOfDoom
The 13th Monkey
Now, Roger might have had use of all five on the right hand. But I think Alex sticks to three.
SDG
SDG
I think it always looks like the pinky is part of the action even if the player only uses three fingers. It just kinda goes with the flow of the other fingers.Higon said:
Higon
No Blest´s Bassist
Nah. I play using 3 fingers and my pinky stays "static" (some movement, but not that much). Some friends say it's the "British Drinking Tea" style.
Higon
No Blest´s Bassist
You are frikkin´ nuts on the stage.
Maybe It´s related with the brazilian sun working against the calcification of the pinky, or some genetic anomaly derived from prolonged exposition to "samba" or "pagode" or even "Xuxa".
Maybe It´s related with the brazilian sun working against the calcification of the pinky, or some genetic anomaly derived from prolonged exposition to "samba" or "pagode" or even "Xuxa".
Etter
Member
Eric Langlois from Cryptosy also uses 4 fingers.... i'm still a beginner on bass but i think everybody can learn it with a alot of practice
I have a bootleg of Alex using it. could have been a slip up or somthing cause he didnt do it again.
thewendy
the webmistress
From the CC forum:
I've actually never used four finger plucking techniques, ever. My pinky has never been as long or as strong as my other fingers. All the fast parts I play are done with three fingers. Many people mistakenly believe that I play with four fingers because they see my pinky moving while I'm doing the three finger technique. It's very difficult to move the other three fingers without also moving your pinky. Human fingers tend to work together like this, like when you throw a football or baseball, for example. Anyway, my pinky moves, but never touches the strings, only the first three fingers do. As for the slower sections, using two fingers generally works better, it seems stronger and more consistent that way. I hope this info helps! Thanks,
Alex
I've actually never used four finger plucking techniques, ever. My pinky has never been as long or as strong as my other fingers. All the fast parts I play are done with three fingers. Many people mistakenly believe that I play with four fingers because they see my pinky moving while I'm doing the three finger technique. It's very difficult to move the other three fingers without also moving your pinky. Human fingers tend to work together like this, like when you throw a football or baseball, for example. Anyway, my pinky moves, but never touches the strings, only the first three fingers do. As for the slower sections, using two fingers generally works better, it seems stronger and more consistent that way. I hope this info helps! Thanks,
Alex
