finger exercises

first off i'm a newbie bassist, and i have been learning a few songs and such forth and what not. however, i have no control in my fingers, i only play with two fingers on the neck (normally) and pick with two fingers. do i need to have more fingers picking, and wht excercises can i do to control my fingers on the neck. any help appreciated. thanks. also, i find it very difficult to use a pick, any hints on tht would also recieve thanks.

To use your four left hand finger, just play some chromatic exercices, or a tune that wil make you play with your pinky...
As for a pick, just check out some tricks with alternate picking, and transpose it on your neck...

if u can use your fingers to pulck with, lucky you!! i have been playing bass about a year now (guitar for 7!) and cant for the life of me do finger plucking. i use a pick and as a result have a very fast, stacato sound but love that fingerstye sound. keep working at at!

theres nothing wrong with the pick, phil lesh, one of the greatest bass players ever ( in my opinion ) used a pick.

i just think fingerstyle sounds better, but thats all. 2 be honest i haven't heard of phil lesh! oh hang on...... i do reqegnize the name. what band is he associated with?

Grateful Dead!

yeah, finger plucking in most cases in my experience sounds better, but you could probibly make it sound good if you have enough practice with it too.