2 0r 3 fingers

El Bajo · #1 08-04-2006, 05:27 AM

Ok so I had lessons about 7 years ago ehere the teacher taught methe floating thumb and three fingers method. Since they I have been able to play at lightning speed and pull of some fast riffs. However. I've been giving the nighmare task of learning YYZ and keep tripping over my own plucking fingers, 3 fingers just doesent seem to work, maybe if I practised for ages I might be able to correct this, however when I tried with 2 fingers it was a piece of piss.

Now the thing is even though I live in a different country and iuts 7 years later my old teachers stern voice is shouting at me to use 3 fingers and now I feel Im being bad and I feel as though I need to take a shower to wash the filth of guilt of me.

Is it wrong for me to have had to revert to 2 fingers? This is obviously a chink in my technique that I have a few times including on Damage Control - John Petrucci. Should I be looking to improvethe 3 finger techniique or go with whats easier?

Or am I just whining over nothing and life is to short?

IanStephenson · #2 08-04-2006, 05:32 AM

They're both valid techniques.

Use the one that is appropiate to the piece...

Ian

aesir6 · #3 08-04-2006, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Bajo

Ok so I had lessons about 7 years ago ehere the teacher taught methe floating thumb and three fingers method. Since they I have been able to play at lightning speed and pull of some fast riffs. However. I've been giving the nighmare task of learning YYZ and keep tripping over my own plucking fingers, 3 fingers just doesent seem to work, maybe if I practised for ages I might be able to correct this, however when I tried with 2 fingers it was a piece of piss.

Now the thing is even though I live in a different country and iuts 7 years later my old teachers stern voice is shouting at me to use 3 fingers and now I feel Im being bad and I feel as though I need to take a shower to wash the filth of guilt of me.

Is it wrong for me to have had to revert to 2 fingers? This is obviously a chink in my technique that I have a few times including on Damage Control - John Petrucci. Should I be looking to improvethe 3 finger techniique or go with whats easier?

Or am I just whining over nothing and life is to short?

It doesnt truly matter how you play man its if it sounds good. I use 1-3 fingers constantly changing it and it hasnt affected my playing a bit. I play YYZ w/2 fingers and if its what you have to do to then do it.

El Bajo · #4 08-04-2006, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aesir6

It doesnt truly matter how you play man its if it sounds good. I use 1-3 fingers constantly changing it and it hasnt affected my playing a bit. I play YYZ w/2 fingers and if its what you have to do to then do it.

Ah, thats the response I was looking for. My mind is now at rest, besides Geddy does it with 2, just been studying him on you tube.

Thanks, this matter is closed

aesir6 · #5 08-04-2006, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Bajo

Ah, thats the response I was looking for. My mind is now at rest, besides Geddy does it with 2, just been studying him on you tube.

Thanks, this matter is closed

Your welcome man. Just remember to play what is most comfortable to you at all times.

vashts80 · #6 08-04-2006, 02:51 PM

I rarely use three fingers because I can't get it to sound even (It always ends up sounding like triplets), however use whatever you feel most comfortable with. There is no "completely 100% foolproof right way" to play bass. Play how you feel comfortable.

chaosMK · #7 08-04-2006, 03:29 PM

I use 3 fingers, less if I am playing super simple stuff. But for machine gun rhythms, it's the way to go.

Rebige · #8 08-04-2006, 08:08 PM

2 finger approach will be a lot more effort than three finger once you get the three finger comfortably....

after a few days of doing three finger technique it actually seemed alot more comfortable for me to stride towards

2 finger doesnt cut it for me any more

Tomass · #9 08-04-2006, 08:51 PM

Im was having the same problem with the same song, i started using a raking technique which helped alot

Erick Lam · #10 08-04-2006, 09:06 PM

I usually play with one finger at a time.

jwl · #11 08-05-2006, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Bajo

Ah, thats the response I was looking for. My mind is now at rest, besides Geddy does it with 2, just been studying him on you tube.

Thanks, this matter is closed

most of the time geddy plays with one finger. jamerson played with one finger. go tell your teacher that. play it the way you feel most comfortable with as was said. i play yyz with two fingers and it works just fine for me. peace, jeff

BrandonBass · #12 08-06-2006, 12:56 AM

I dont see whats wrong with using 2 fingers. I started playing not too long ago and have been playin with 3fingers and found no problem so far.

But there're so many 2finger players with lighting speed, john aldrete, jaco, geddy etc.

theres not a song that can only be played with 3fingers but not 2, though the extra finger save me some energy tho

kipsus · #13 08-06-2006, 04:03 AM

3 fingers also give you more time for reaching strings.

Cutty · #14 08-06-2006, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Bajo

Ok so I had lessons about 7 years ago ehere the teacher taught methe floating thumb and three fingers method. Since they I have been able to play at lightning speed and pull of some fast riffs. However. I've been giving the nighmare task of learning YYZ and keep tripping over my own plucking fingers, 3 fingers just doesent seem to work, maybe if I practised for ages I might be able to correct this, however when I tried with 2 fingers it was a piece of piss.

Now the thing is even though I live in a different country and iuts 7 years later my old teachers stern voice is shouting at me to use 3 fingers and now I feel Im being bad and I feel as though I need to take a shower to wash the filth of guilt of me.

Is it wrong for me to have had to revert to 2 fingers? This is obviously a chink in my technique that I have a few times including on Damage Control - John Petrucci. Should I be looking to improvethe 3 finger techniique or go with whats easier?

Or am I just whining over nothing and life is to short?

The one that feels most comfortable is the one to use!remember James Jamerson only used ONE finger ALL of the time!!!and listen to his bass lines!!

ric stave · #15 08-06-2006, 08:10 PM

Who's to say you need to stick to one technique style for a whole song anyways? Some riffs are more comfortable by alternating 2, some 3 - a hybrid of the 2 would be the best bet.