3 Fingers 4 Notes?

[stringslinger95]

Ok so I've been trying this whole 3 finger technique, but I'm having a couple problems along the way. I pretty much play in standard 4/4 time, therefore most of my licks and grooves are in four note groupings, which means if I'm strictly alternating between fingers I'm starting each group of four with a different finger. I guess that's the whole point and just practicing more and more will make it feel natural and easier but I just need some ideas for practicing and what kinds of exercises do you guys use?

[nysbob]

Originally Posted by stringslinger95

Ok so I've been trying this whole 3 finger technique, but I'm having a couple problems along the way. I pretty much play in standard 4/4 time, therefore most of my licks and grooves are in four note groupings, which means if I'm strictly alternating between fingers I'm starting each group of four with a different finger. I guess that's the whole point and just practicing more and more will make it feel natural and easier but I just need some ideas for practicing and what kinds of exercises do you guys use?

Try doing something with 16th's -you can do it on 1 note 1 string, but play ghost notes at random time intervals - that will stop you from relying on just one finger for a strong entry. Just keep the three fingers rolling at tempo. You will get to a point where they are all equally strong, and then you can start to play hotter tempos for longer periods of time.

[punkrocko]

Alternate index-middle-ring-middle. You'll always start the down beat with your first finger.

[jschwalls]

watch this and see if it helps or spawns a new idea....

I made this video for a student a while back, he said it helped him.. maybe it will help you..


JON

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

[WarriorJoe7]

This totally negates the advantage of using 3 fingers because your middle finger is still doing half the work.

I always thought 3 fingers would be best for quick triplets or 3/4 or 6/8 timing.

I could see only using it for 4/4 if there was some syncopation or ghost notes in there.

Originally Posted by punkrocko

Alternate index-middle-ring-middle. You'll always start the down beat with your first finger.

[nysbob]

Originally Posted by WarriorJoe7

This totally negates the advantage of using 3 fingers because your middle finger is still doing half the work.

Agreed.

It's really not impossible to get a good 4/4 feel out of three fingers though. You need to get to the point where you stop thinking so much about how you're doing it and just execute. It takes a while to get real comfortable with it.

[punkrocko]

Whatever works for ya.
The OP was asking how to approach 4 note groupings, not triplets. I was suggesting a technique that he might not thought of.

Originally Posted by WarriorJoe7

This totally negates the advantage of using 3 fingers because your middle finger is still doing half the work.

I always thought 3 fingers would be best for quick triplets or 3/4 or 6/8 timing.

I could see only using it for 4/4 if there was some syncopation or ghost notes in there.

[JustOpenYourMind]

As said, the I-M-R-M is pointless and not faster than two fingers, plus it won't sound as consistent as two fingers.

The key is to practise, always use I-M-R-I, M-R-I-M, R-I-M-R
or the opposite if you are doing R-M-I.

How I did it is bassicly by doing 4 notes run across all strings

G ----------------------------1-2-3-4--
D --------------------1-2-3-4----------
A -----------1-2-3-4-------------------
E --1-2-3-4----------------------------

____I M R I__M R I M__R I M R__I M R I (starting with index)

____R M I R__M I R M__I R M I__R M I R (starting with ring)

You do it back and forth ascending and descending, do not practice speed, practise accuracy and consistency in tone speed will come ase your stamina increases, it takes time, I can assure you that you won't be doing blazing fast metal riffs in two weeks, just stick with it, it's the only way.

[Erick Lam]

My advice is to follow no pattern at all and practice whatever fingering is suited for a given situation. Soon enough, you'll cover every situation possible and not be locked in some pattern.

[gnarlyopossum]

I've always felt that 3 fingers are great for fills and little ditties here and there, but I have a hard time with them just playing in 4/4. If you want to do it, you don't have to play straight rhythms. Try playing an 8th and 2 16ths or varying the rhythmic structure. I'm a fan of a 16th-8th-16th. It accents the off beat and can really make a piece groove. Otherwise, I've also see people, and have practiced myself, with using the thumb, index, and middle fingers. The thumb is always the downbeat and the index and middle fingers are the extra stuff overtop. It's basically slapping, but it is a 3-finger technique.