Squire uses a plectrum. I think Geddy uses his thumb as well or something strange, but it should be possible to play with just two fingers given plenty of practice. If not you could try using three or four fingers - it helps sometimes but not others and I spent a year trying to do everything with four fingers (and thumb, sometimes) but now I pretty much just use two.

Soulman wrote: So I was wondering if any of you experienced bassists can give some advice on playing those fast notes while finger picking. Thanks.

Definitely use your fingers and try your damnest to hit all 7 strings with them.  Ideally, try to do this very quickly without missing a note and do this to a happy, nice, pretty rhythm.  That's about it for Fingerbass 101.  You'll be an expert in no time.

I like to alternate between the two, but I mainly use the pick for Squire lines. I recommend to get faster, you just play something at a slower tempo, and then get progressively faster.

With YYZ, for instance, which is an incredibly difficult bassline, I played the song very slowly until I memorized the entire thing, then kept playing faster every time I played it.

On electric bass I use four fingers..I don't use my thumb much except for slapping..

I use sort of the classical guitarist's method for the right hand...

On upright if you do that..you'll kill yourself..really.

You can't play that fast with a pick. :-P

seabre wrote: You can't play that fast with a pick. :-P

Watch me now.......here I go!!!!!!! \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Check out that wave form!

Looking at the Rush In Rio DVD, Geddy Lee seems to do a lot of hammering on with his left hand and not so much with his right.

Anyway, can anyone play the fast diddly bit from the middle of Perpetual Change properly?

Progbear wrote: Soulman wrote: now I've developed this ethic that I shall never play with a bass pick, but it just seems bloody impossible to play those triplet notes with just your fingers. Classical/flamenco guitarists use what is called a “tremolo” technique, which involves using your ring, middle and index fingers in quick succession to create quickly repeating sequences of notes (usually sixteenth notes). It’s not an easy technique to master—indeed, it’s one of the reasons I never made much of a guitarist—but it is possible with lots of practice. Of course, “slap” bass style (think Mark King or Flea) involves using the thumb as well. I don’t know particularly what that entails, though. Even with some of Chris Squires basslines, it makes me wonder if they have used bass picks, like ever. I thought Squire always used a pick? It seems I saw him using picks on stage when I saw Yes live. ------------- MIKE (a.k.a. "Progbear")  "Is mayonnaise an instrument?"  --Patrick Star N.P.:"Crystal Blue"-Music Magic

Developing that ethic of never using a pick is rubbish.  I was like that, but only when i first started playing.  Lately, brass picks have been my big thing.  The tone is very clean and defined.  I think it's sad that so many bassists shun picks. (i can play just as well with my fingers)

Squire did always use a pick.  I have an old like "93 issue of bass player where he gets into some detail about why.  He actually dosen't use a pick in a conventional fashion.  He has the side of his thumb work as a ghost note "stroke" whenever he picks a note.

I don't use a pick as it's simply so difficult to me, and I don't currently have the patience nor will to rehearse doing it! I could try it sometimes, but now I just hit all four strings with all my fingers so hard that 'ey bleed! (fingers, not strings)  

About triplets, they might be easier to play when learning to do them with three fingers.

i play pick. it helps me throw in alot of notes and makes anything sound faster. but the real advantage is the sound of picking. it gives you that loud treblely ripping. like squire. he picked.