3 fingerstyle

[Exophysical]

Since I absolutely hate the way my bass sounds when I use a pick I've been playing around with using 3 fingers to try to eliminate my need to use it on the odd riff that I cant play fast enough fingerstyle. To properly use my three fingers should I cycle them from ring, middle, index with no exceptions? This is what I have been striving for but I find myself cheating this sequence to start certain riffs on my ring finger in conveniant places. As well for playing steady 1/4 or 1/8th notes to a 4/4 It feels realy weird starting each bar on a different finger. I want to get this right the first time rather than incorperate a bunch of cheats and bad habbits that I'll have to break later like I usualy do.

[Fergie Fulton]

The use is up to you and your brain to suss out. The 1st problem most have with 3 finger is dealing with the 1 moving about.
There are many ways to pluck with the fingers, its all about where the 1 is for many. As you can appreciate 3 into 4 does not go, 3 in to 8 does not go, but 3 in 12 does.
In following 3 finger style the 1 is on the move because of this.

I will show the 1 using inverted comas in a following finger style use.

'R' M I R 'M' I R M 'I' R M I

As you can see the one will now returned to the ring finger on the next beat. Following finger style just means the fingers follow left to right or right to left, it does not matter it is what the plyer feels comfortable with. In this situation you need to practice slow simple scales and follow the progress of the 1. Now this will entail getting your brain involved and it will get in the way and it will take time. Tapping out on the tableis a good exercise but with two hands. Use the 3 fingers of the plucking hand against the 4 fingers of the freting hand always.
Start right to left so it is
ring with index finger
middle with middle finger
index with ring finger
ring with little finger
middle with index finger
index with middle finger
ring with ring finger
middle with little finger
index with index finger
ring with middle finger
middle with ring finger
index with little finger
and now you back at the start to repeat.

Obviously time sigs. that divide by 3 and triplets are easy because of the way the are constructed to buld in 3s.
Time and patience is the key and getting the brain around it, not the fingers, but the brain.


there are a few great threads already about it and you will find so great info on them to help. if it is something specific drop me a line and i will help the best i can.