ilovefuzz.com

Well I like to hold my right hand in a loose fist with the thumb kinda sticking out, a loose thumbs up shape. Then I use my thumb on the three bass strings and rest my three strongest fingers on the the trebly strings. Don't get into just using your index and thumb because it will seriously limit you later. I don't recommend using your pinky as a post either, tots of players do it, but it actually tenses up your hand... just keep it loose and floaty. Your fingers and thumb should move as little as possible so you really have to practice picking patterns with as little movement as possible. Just google picking patterns and practice (with a metronome if possible) getting a couple pattern nailed without even fretting anything. Picking adds a lot of control and style to your playing and can alot of emotive qualities to any song....

Somewhat off topic but i feel weird being a bassist who finger picks with a thumbpick, just wonder if anyone else does it

Fuzz_Pi wrote:Somewhat off topic but i feel weird being a bassist who finger picks with a thumbpick, just wonder if anyone else does it

Doesn't Rockette Morton use a thumbpick?

Rockette Morton runs on beans ...

GardenoftheDead wrote:I took Nine Inch Nails' advice.

(I tried, I gave up)

good advice in here, thanks guys.

Chankgeez wrote:Rockette Morton runs on beans ...

...laser beans

needs more Elliott Smith and Nick Drake.

veteransdaypoppy wrote:needs Nick Drake.

the reason why i started this thread

veteransdaypoppy wrote:needs more Elliott Smith and Nick Drake.

both of them were brilliant.

i'm just not as familiar with elliot smith.

I learned over the course of a year or two, but it's always improving. I just learned some simpler finger rolls, involving one, then two, then three fingers with the thumb.

Just keep at it, and try not to overthink it. t's the kind of thing you don't focus too hard on, just figure out your patterns, drill them into your hand and play.

Adoom & I agree, you should listen to more of this dude:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMhWV1YjeMk[/youtube]

Once you get mo' badass at pingerficking you can attempt this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hugq2HWRt8o[/youtube]

This one's quite advanced as well:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqTLkgImAdU[/youtube]

It always looks more complicated than it is. The last video for example is just a series of repeating patterns, with small variables. Once you start getting that down, you begin to have more individual control of each finger. But it's largely just drilling series of patterns, same as learning scales or anything else I guess. Few little tricks in here and there, but practice is all.

Eric Mongrain is a fantastic example of this

And everyone should listen to Boubacar. Though his playing is not exactly super simple. Salif Keita is another great example.

Also, don't think of it as different fingers at different times or anything. It's all one dancing movement. Try DADGAD or Open C. Have fun. Start simple.