How to Pluck Bass Guitar Strings

Various techniques can be used to successfully achieve a plucking sound with a bass guitar. Manually plucking the strings is a basic way of getting sound from this instrument. It is one of the first things beginners do directly after picking up the guitar. Plucking needs to be mastered with all three large fingers and the thumb, in addition to using a pick.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Bass guitar

1. Begin with the first finger, or forefinger. Find a comfortable place to rest the thumb above the strings so that the hand is anchored. The forefinger, or any other finger that is being used for plucking should reach all the strings comfortably without the thumb moving.
2. Use the second finger, also known as the middle finger, next. Pull the string, beginning with the meaty part of the finger. Then quickly tug on the string, and allow it to scrape your fingertip and over the fingernail.
3. Pluck using your thumb. In this case, anchor your hand below the strings with a fingertip.
4. Try out a pick. A pick crafts a much clearer sound. The sound is less soft than a sound from a finger pluck, and has a sort of click to it.
5. Practice these different plucking techniques often on your bass guitar. The frets should not buzz. Plucking the strings so that they vibrate up and down instead of side to side creates the right sound.
6. Recite each note with a finger and then with a pick to compare the different sounds.