Fingernails and Bass Playing?

[Billsbro]

As a multi-instrumentalist wannabee, I sometimes find that one instrument affects another in a negative way. One such conflict is fingerpicking a guitar and playing a bass without a pick. So far I generally keep my right hand nails long in an attempt to learn fingerpicking-style guitar but that seems in conflict with playing bass with fingers. The nails seem to get in the way of the traditional finger technique. Because of that (and because I like a number of bassists that play with a pick) I have leaned towards playing my Ric with a pick only. (I also have the nails for playing other instruments like my Gu-Zheng and my Kalimba so I don't want to get rid of the nails...)

So, what say you? Can nails and "finger-style" bass playing coexist? Or should I focus on the pick when it comes to the bass? THANKS!

[cjj]

Umm, I use my nails when playing bass finger style. If I don't want a real sharp sound, like when the nails hit the strings directly, I kind of tilt my fingers, pointing them a bit towards the bridge and use the pads/sides trying to not hit the strings with the nails.

But, that's just something I came up with, never learned it anywhere, so maybe I'm the only one...

[BobHyde]

I read an interview with Geddy Lee years ago, if my memory serves me, where he said that he sometimes uses the nail on his middle finger to pick. I may be mis-remembering though...

[badeggs]

Been playing bass (and guitar) for 25 years now, just last year learned to use a pick...out of necessity.

I play fingerstyle on bass, but when I played guitar I would back my index finger up with my thumb (almost like holding an "invisible" pick) and strike the strings with my fingernail. Worked great, tremolo picking in particular was insanely easy with this method, but eventually the nail got all messed-up/dented and hurt like hell. I had to bite the bullet and learn to use a pick without dropping it every two seconds!

[Billsbro]

Thanks for all of the responses so far!
I am starting to think that there are many, many viable ways to play the bass! And after all, each approach has a unique sound...that is good! Chris Squire's technique comes to mind of course. I guess he slightly damps the sound with his finger immediately after striking it with the pick.

Please keep it coming!

[weemac]

Ah yes! That old problem, what works well on guitar does not sound so good on bass.. Sometimes it works well but it does not take long to eat off your nails. Multistring basses are like playing a cheese grater...
I'm not sure what the solution is but in the end I mostly play bass with a plectrum and mostly play guitar without one.

Playing a double bass with nails sounds diabolical, so you have to tilt your fingers at a funny angle to get the pad on the side of your finger, not the easiest way to play...

So sorry, no help....

Eden.

[crawlspacestefan]

Because I began my career as a guitarist, I played bass primarily with a pick. I found myself more adept rthymically with a pick because of my practice with a six string guitar, and it worked so I just kept at it.

Although, fairly recently I began playing with a new group, and the music just generally sounded better with the fatter, depper tone that one gets when playing with the fingers rather than a pick. Since then I've been developing my finger picking technique.

Anyways, the point is mostly this: I agree with you about nail length. If I let my nails grow out almost at all, the tone of my picking changes from the warm, deep sound to a shriller, sharper picking sound. So, I keep my nails incredible short to keep the tone I like. You know?

[hieronymous]

I am starting to think that there are many, many viable ways to play the bass! And after all, each approach has a unique sound...that is good!

This. There is nothing wrong with playing bass with a pick (despite what some people say). I'm about 50/50 between bass and fingers, sometimes I palm-mute and play with my thumb on slower songs. I'd be interested to hear what kind of technique(s) you develop!

[cjj]

I suppose I should clarify what I said a bit. I don't use my nails exclusively, its more of a hit the strings with the finger pad and as I roll across, catch the end of the stroke with the nail. Kind of hard to describe, I suppose...

[Billsbro]

I suppose I should clarify what I said a bit. I don't use my nails exclusively, its more of a hit the strings with the finger pad and as I roll across, catch the end of the stroke with the nail. Kind of hard to describe, I suppose...

So how do you think that nail across the string affects the sound?

[cjj]

It makes it just a bit brighter and less thumpy, a bit more "zing" I suppose. It's not really the same as using a pick though...

[cassius987]

But, that's just something I came up with, never learned it anywhere, so maybe I'm the only one...

No, me too. I use it to produce a plectrum sound, but I vastly prefer the fingernail sound to an actual plectrum... a lot richer in character.

[woodyng]

i play finger style most of the time,and keep my nails rather short,but will sometimes use them to add a little brightness here and there. i just curl the tips of my fingers in to "catch" the string,it really sounds nice on flatwounds. i love the sound of a picked bass, but i invariably seem to get a better sound with my fingers.

[cjj]

But, that's just something I came up with, never learned it anywhere, so maybe I'm the only one...

No, me too. I use it to produce a plectrum sound, but I vastly prefer the fingernail sound to an actual plectrum... a lot richer in character.

i play finger style most of the time,and keep my nails rather short,but will sometimes use them to add a little brightness here and there. i just curl the tips of my fingers in to "catch" the string,it really sounds nice on flatwounds.

Hmm, OK, so I guess I didn't come up with anything all that unique...


That sounds pretty similar to what I do, but perhaps my nails are a bit longer, hence having to use the sides a bit more to avoid the nail sound. I like it on roundwounds though, but agree, it's nice (well, almost essential IMHO) on flats. I generally don't like a real thumpy sound..

[colin]

I like to keep the nails on my plucking fingers a little long, around 1/16", just enough that they will drag a bit over a surface. I like the attack this can give, and when i need to soften things out I can roll my fingers back a bit as others have mentioned here, and/or play up towards (or over) the neck.

To each his own, of course. When I told Morrow about this, he yelled at me, punched me in the throat, set my car on fire, and finally drowned me in a lake. Apparently he prefers to keep his nails short.