Bass finger strength?

This is a question to bassists primarily, but guitarists, upright bassists, cello players, banjo players, and all stringed instruments alike can answer.

I recently got sick of the picking sound as i started wanting to play more jazz and funk rock. I usually play a lot of metal, so it wasn't a problem then, but I really want to expand my style. I can get through a song... but its a struggle. I need a way to develop picking hand strength, stamina, dexterity, and speed.

All about practise,
imo fingers are so better than picks, the warm soft sound,

your fingers might hurt for a while when you first start, but once they are conditioned and hard, finger style is the best.

There are 3 solutions to your problem:
1. practice
2. practice
3. practice

Seriously, just keep at it and your fingers will respond. You will build up calluses and your muscles will increase in strength and stamina. If you find your fingers hurting or the skin blistering or bleeding, take a day or two off and play metal with a pick.

A really easy exercise to help your picking hand is to set a metronome at a fairly slow tempo and just play a major or minor scale up and down, one note to a beat. Concentrate on your picking hand, making smooth transitions from string to string. Once you are solid at that tempo, turn it up a notch or two. Do that for 10 or 15 minutes a day (or more), and you will be flying along in less time than you think! Change up the scales, learn some new ones, play through the modes, whatever you want - just focus on your picking hand.

It's 90% mental - if you WANT to do it, your body will respond in time. Just remember, if it starts to hurt a lot, stop. Take a break. Don't injure yourself - that can set you back weeks, months, or even years. Good luck!

I've been playing for 42 years.. (guitar). My son asked me recently why I can play so fluid and fast lines.. Said he wants to quit(he's 14). I told him practice using your fingers daily.. I have excellent dexterity but it took a few years to develop.. Many people can do it faster. My best friend was amazing but gave it up in his teens. I play jazz and funk and my son plays metal.. I can't play like a metal guitarist. I have a different approach. Some metal guitarists are incredible .Pratice exercises to develop hand strength.. buy the grips they use in a gym.. Eventually it will come. but.. don't overwhelm yourself with practicing.. you will get discouraged.. spend 15 minutes a day doing exercises..

one thing that i have been doing for dexterity and finger strength is a lesson i learned from bill dickens....while your at home.take a piece of thick rope (i use velvet rope) and slide it underneath your last fret,this way your muting all your strings....and then while watching TV just sit there and work all your fingers, use your right hand to strum at a steady rhythm using all three fingers and use your left to work up and down your fretboard...its a really easy way to build strength and while your watching tv your subconsciencely forgewtting your playing,thus making it easier to play longer without your ahnds getting tired.....another thing you can do is on your right hand....try taping your fingers together do build each one up individually....change it up every week so each one gets practice...for example, start off taping you middle and ring together so you can get them moving at the same pace it builds up muscle memory and after awhile you'll be able to zoom around on your bass.....its a little weird at first.....but a great exercise to do.....hope i have been a help,and keep it deep!