Bassists - How many fingers?

[Dark Master Of Sin]

I prefer to use two.

[LTE]

Whenever my friends and I switch instruments and I play bass, I find myself doing kind of a hybrid with two fingers and occasionally pinky and thumb.

[skydivingninja]

Usually two, though I do some slower stuff with my thumb, and play some Maiden songs with three.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

three. took a long time to get sixteenths even with three, but it's totally worth it

[Jamesman42]

three. took a long time to get sixteenths even with three, but it's totally worth it

Man, I should really get Myung's style down as well. I'm just so used to two fingers now that it would tear me up inside to use the third finger.

I know, TWSS.

[Dark Master Of Sin]

I can play sixteenths with two, it probably comes from all the years of paintball and bass.

[Ultimetalhead]

When I play bass (probably once every month), I either play with two or slap. Slapping is way fun.

[Dark Master Of Sin]

When I play bass (probably once every month), I either play with two or slap. Slapping is way fun.

It's fun, but i've never been good at it.

[Bombardana]

I'm fast enough with just 2, but I throw in the ring for a quick triplet.

[jackbauer114]

Im a guitarist, so my pick speed is really fast, but whenever i use the pick on the bass, i feel like im cheating, so i use three fingers.

[Scard]

3 dominantly, but 2 for random things. Or sometimes I'll just switch it up mid song to have some variety.

[Space Invader]

I'm pretty amateur, so I stick to two, but I'd love to learn how to use 3 and slap.

[cthrubuoy]

Is it blasphemy to say I use a pick?

[PlaysLikeMyung]

Is it blasphemy to say I use a pick?

As far as I'm concerned, yes

[Dark Master Of Sin]

I'm pretty amateur, so I stick to two, but I'd love to learn how to use 3 and slap.

Nothing wrong with only using two, Steve Harris still only uses two.

[skydivingninja]

I'm pretty amateur, so I stick to two, but I'd love to learn how to use 3 and slap.

Nothing wrong with only using two, Steve Harris still only uses two.

And that is what makes him a god.

[Volk9]

I used to solely use a pick, then I started using fingers (2), though I switch to my pick for heavier lines.

[Dark Master Of Sin]

I'm pretty amateur, so I stick to two, but I'd love to learn how to use 3 and slap.

Nothing wrong with only using two, Steve Harris still only uses two.

And that is what makes him a god.

and if I told you I can cover most of his songs with only two fingers?

[Bombardana]

I'm pretty amateur, so I stick to two, but I'd love to learn how to use 3 and slap.

Nothing wrong with only using two, Steve Harris still only uses two.

And that is what makes him a god.

and if I told you I can cover most of his songs with only two fingers?

Idunno, demigod status?

[Dark Master Of Sin]

I'm pretty amateur, so I stick to two, but I'd love to learn how to use 3 and slap.

Nothing wrong with only using two, Steve Harris still only uses two.

And that is what makes him a god.

and if I told you I can cover most of his songs with only two fingers?

Idunno, demigod status?

haha, sweet. I can cover a few Maiden songs (and I do only use two fingers) but I'm no where near as good as Steve Harris.

[Ultimetalhead]

Steve Harris only uses 2? I could have sworn he used 3.

Alex Webster, on the other hand, definitely uses 3. The man is a fucking god.

[Dark Master Of Sin]

Steve Harris only uses 2? I could have sworn he used 3.

Alex Webster, on the other hand, definitely uses 3. The man is a fucking god.

Yeah there is someone youtube video out there where Steve Harris says he only uses two. And I've watched a few videos of him playing, never seen him use more than two.

[Space Invader]

Steve Harris only uses 2? I could have sworn he used 3.

Alex Webster, on the other hand, definitely uses 3. The man is a fucking god.

Yeah there is someone youtube video out there where Steve Harris says he only uses two. And I've watched a few videos of him playing, never seen him use more than two.

That's hella impressive...
 

[Dark Master Of Sin]

Steve Harris only uses 2? I could have sworn he used 3.

Alex Webster, on the other hand, definitely uses 3. The man is a fucking god.

Yeah there is someone youtube video out there where Steve Harris says he only uses two. And I've watched a few videos of him playing, never seen him use more than two.

That's hella impressive...
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYPvVE6f4GU

me trying to be him lol

[Jamesman42]

Steve Harris only uses 2? I could have sworn he used 3.

Alex Webster, on the other hand, definitely uses 3. The man is a fucking god.

Yeah there is someone youtube video out there where Steve Harris says he only uses two. And I've watched a few videos of him playing, never seen him use more than two.

That's hella impressive...
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYPvVE6f4GU

me trying to be him lol

You're pretty good dude. I noticed that your thumb was stretched out, though. Something that has helped me be really fast at plucking is resting my thumb on the pickup. It gives you a constant so you can let your fingers propel themselves, and not have your hand just anywhere.

I dunno, it helps me. Enjoyed the video (love the song  )

[Dark Master Of Sin]

Steve Harris only uses 2? I could have sworn he used 3.

Alex Webster, on the other hand, definitely uses 3. The man is a fucking god.

Yeah there is someone youtube video out there where Steve Harris says he only uses two. And I've watched a few videos of him playing, never seen him use more than two.

That's hella impressive...
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYPvVE6f4GU

me trying to be him lol

You're pretty good dude. I noticed that your thumb was stretched out, though. Something that has helped me be really fast at plucking is resting my thumb on the pickup. It gives you a constant so you can let your fingers propel themselves, and not have your hand just anywhere.

I dunno, it helps me. Enjoyed the video (love the song  )

Thanks haha, my bass doesn't have a place to rest my thumb, my last one did. My biggest problem is my left hand. I'm bad at getting my fingertips down right and i'm bad at resting my wrist. As you can see I had to shake my hands a few times lol.

[Jamesman42]

  Ya know, I don't even know; are you supposed to fret with the very tips, or the more inside part of the fingers? Depending, I switch, and it's probably based more on preference than a set standard.

Also, I try to always stretch my hands before playing. It really helps with my flexibility and not having pain. I don't want carpel tunnel down the road.

[Dark Master Of Sin]

Ya know, I don't even know; are you supposed to fret with the very tips, or the more inside part of the fingers? Depending, I switch, and it's probably based more on preference than a set standard.

Also, I try to always stretch my hands before playing. It really helps with my flexibility and not having pain. I don't want carpel tunnel down the road.

Idk. But I have small hands, my girlfriend always tells me I have 'girl hands' lol. So it's hard for me to get a wide range on the frets. It annoys me

[black_biff_stadler]

I'm fast enough with just 2, but I throw in the ring for a quick triplet.

+1

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

When I do play bass, it's mostly two fingers, but I have no problems bringing the ring finger in to pull off some Billy-style antics if need be.

[brakkum]

where's the option for 3 and thumb and slap....

[Dark Master Of Sin]

where's the option for 3 and thumb and slap....

Slap is on there, and if you use 3 and thumb you would be the first person I ever heard of doing that, which would probably be why it's not on there.

[Zydar]

Is it blasphemy to say I use a pick?

Same here, I can't play any good with just my fingers.

[Dark Master Of Sin]

Is it blasphemy to say I use a pick?

Same here, I can't play any good with just my fingers.

I left pick off on purpose, yes.

[Scard]

Is it blasphemy to say I use a pick?

Same here, I can't play any good with just my fingers.

Get good at it?