When fretting the first fret through the fourth, I find it very tough to stretch all that way. I have been playing for four months and have been playing roughly an hour per day for the past few weeks. Will my fingers begin to stretch more to make this more comrfortable, or is it something im stuck with? Would it be bad practice to change my first finger position from the first fret to the fourth?

My bass teacher had told me that there was no need for thought when plucking, "I dont even know which fingers are moving when I play" was his reasoning. I began playing with three fingers not concentrating on alternation. About a week ago I began playing all of my hour a day practicing while concentrating on finger alternation. My alternaton is 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1 etc. When I think about which fingers im plucking with, it happens. When I take my mind off of which fingers are plucking, I lose it. I understand this is practice, but should this be happening? Is my finger alternation pattern slowing me down? I have read many people who use a 1, 2, 3, 1, 2 ,3 alternation. It feels comfortable for me to alternate like I do, but I cant seem to get it down. Am I not giving it enough time?

Also, what type of finger alternation do you use? Do you ALWAYS alternate, even when walking bass lines?

:bassist: Thanks! :bassist:

I read another thread above mine that had the same question :hiding:

However, the second question I could use some feedback on. :bassist:

just give it time, when i first started i played only with 1 finger most of the time, my teacher/friend, who is a wicked bass player told me to alternate, i have to concentrate on that for about a month and a half before i could do it in every song, and now i dont even think about it. im trying to work up to 3 fingers now.

Ive been thinking this over a lot recently.

I dont want to slow down the learning process by using a technique that takes longer to master. Using 1, 2, 3, 2, 1 etc. string skipping becomes tough with my ring finger wanting to pluck the higher strings, when it should be another finger in the "rotation". Ive heard of 2 finger pluckers being just as fast as 3 finger pluckers, but using 3 fingers is more for not getting tired as fast as you would using 2.

I am so confused on whether its more effective to stay with the 3 finger plucking and hope I get it together, or just switch to 2 fingers.

For the "one finger per fret" technique take a look at the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXkxu_7Tn48



As for the plucking technique : What's the hurry ? :confused:
If you want to master the three finger method, it will take as long as it takes, with lots of practice. Be patient. ;)

However, if you can play whatever you want comfortably with two fingers (lots of great bassists can and do ! ) then why not stick with that ?

Billy Sheehan said it the best."When you think, You Stink"

Everyone stresses alternation, but does that same alternation need to continue when moving from string to string, say im playing a major scale? Am I thinking too much into this?

I play two fingers. The third finger wil come in when needed, but I never think about it for a set. I only think about it during practice for the muscle memory. When the show starts i just let the fingers do the walking.

Everyone stresses alternation, but does that same alternation need to continue when moving from string to string, say im playing a major scale? Am I thinking too much into this?

As I'm a two finger plucker I can only speak for this technique. There are no "written in stone" rules, but it's generally accepted that always alternating the two plucking fingers is the best and most economical way to go. So when you are playing a major scale you would do this. My teacher taught me to alternately pluck open strings for a start. He said even when watching T.V. ect, to have the bass on your knee, and keep plucking open strings, starting with the "E" and so on to the "G". After a while it will come naturally, and you wont even think about it. Then start playing the scales S-L-O-W-L-Y, concentrating on alternating the fingers.

My advice is to master the two fingers first, then if you like, go for the three.

Everyone stresses alternation, but does that same alternation need to continue when moving from string to string, say im playing a major scale? Am I thinking too much into this?
No, you are correct. Alternation is much easier to play faster stuff. I don't do the 3-finger thing, but with any technique, it takes lots of practice before it becomes automatic. Do not make the mistake of getting impatient. It's always darkest before the dawn, as they say. And yes, I always alternate and I never do any raking since I consider raking imprecise and a good way to ruin the momentum of the alternation you've got going, especially when playing fast and doing a lot of string skipping.

As for the stretch, I have the smallest hands of any adult male I know of and I can easily do a 5-fret stretch. It's all about technique. However, if you're a kid and your hands aren't very big yet, it might be difficult until they grow a little more. But if I can do a 5-fret stretch, I think any adult can do at least a 4 fret stretch with one finger per fret. Just make sure your thumb is behind the neck and you have a good curve to your fingers.