Fingernails and Bass Playing?

[jps]

Too true!

[heinpete]

Back in the day, before my 20 year hiatus, I use to play almost exclusively with a pick. Now it feels totally alien to me! Not to mention spastic!! I guess it's something I need to work ion getting better at.

Sepp

I second that! Exactly the same in my youth!

[hieronymous]

Something that I don't think has been mentioned is this: as someone who uses both fingers and pick equally, I find that I play differently depending on the technique. Of course they sound different too. As an improvisational musician, these different techniques are part of the palate that I work with.

[T.A.R.]

I can't seem to manage with a pick either, if I let my nails get a little longer I can catch the edge on the string. I seem to remember someone talking about an up strike technique for using a pick that helped them. I love to hear about it.

[Brother Firefingers]

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...

Yep. The technique is to group all three fingers (index/middle/ring) together as a unit, and strike into the bass and slightly upward with the tip of the middle finger... then flick all three fingers out again, using the top of your middle nail.

Signature Geddy tone. Plus, all three fingers support one another for some of those lengthy (and finger-tiresome) bass solos! Give the individual fingers a chance to rest up for a moment.

[Brother Firefingers]

...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.

Exactly. Rest your thumb on the edge of the fretboard and play right over the neck pickup, or even further up the neck... nice, soft upright-style tone.

[Funky Chicken]

I keep my index and middle fingernails on my right hand a bit longer than the others. They have really toughened up over time.
I use the index finger to kind of strum the bass up and down.
I also use these nails for fingerpicking acoustic and for grabbing the odd note on electric.