# Fingerstyle (bass)

Index and middle are the default engine for rock and metal bass. Stronger attack and stricter alternation than ukulele *pima* or casual guitar fingerpicking.

## Right-hand basics

Pluck across the string; motion from finger joints; volume from pluck speed more than squeeze.

## Contact & tone

Bridge = tight/bright; neck = round/fat. Hold one contact point per practice block.

## Alternation

Strict `i m i m`. No same-finger doubles at speed. Say letters out loud, then play.

## Thumb anchor

Anchored (pickup/string) vs floating (mute + reach). Practice both.

## Rest vs free stroke

Rest stroke lands on the next string (punch). Free stroke clears in air (speed/crosses).

## String crossing

Continue the i–m sequence across strings — do not always restart with i.

## Common faults

Uneven fingers, tension, wrist twist, rushing, nail snag.

## TAB seeds

Open-E eighths; root–fifth outline; three-string crawl — original seeds only.

## Practice ladder

60 BPM open strings → all strings → crosses → mute → gallop.

## What good sounds like

Matched i/m, clean crosses, dead neighbors, stamina through the burst.

## Finger stamina
90s bursts at even BPM; three rounds; move across strings. Accent every 4th.

## Dynamics
Same seed soft/medium/loud at one BPM.

## Checklist
Spoken alternation, contact point, mute check, short recording.