About alternating fingers between plucking...

[Tupac]

Is that what you're always going to do? I'm a very new beginner, and am sort of struggling with this. For example, one piece has me playing two of the same notes, and then moving up a string for another note. I always play the two notes with my index, and for the third I use my middle. Going index, middle, index seems so awkward.

[Matthew_84]

For me, I just worked at it slowly for about a month or so. I realized if I played the songs that I knew before I tried to alternate fingers, I'd go back to my old ways, so I just practiced alternating fingers, and going to higher strings, and raking to lower ones along to a metronome. Didn't do anything else. Once I felt comfortable, I made up my own melodies and patterns until I didn't even think about it. Then I went back to play the songs I loved to play to. Since then it's happened so automatically that I never think about it. In fact, when I do think about it is when I screw up.

[Skitch it!]

Nothing worth doing was easy

Alternating affords far more control, dexterity and speed when you can get with it, take your time it will come, and you will find it far easier to get around more difficult pieces. Saying that, I don't stick with it strictly for some parts or pieces but I'd certainly advise practicing it until it feels more natural.

[JohnMCA72]

Try it the other way: Middle-index-middle. That might work better for that particular sequence. Try it a variety of ways & see what works best for you. Also, don't forget that there are a couple of other fingers, that probably don't see much action!

[Psycho]

Do what feels comfortable. When I play certain lines like the one you described, such as say the intro on Master Of Puppets I play the two notes on the E string with one finger, and the next one on the A string with a different one. It's just how I developed my skills.

Though, some lines you may find the opposite to be true. Just start out slow, and as you speed up what is most efficient for you usually shows itself.

[JimmyM]

If you're doing fairly easy lines, things like raking and doing index index middle isn't so bad, but it will come back to bite you on the ass when doing faster stuff. And that's why I recommend sticking with strict alternation all the time, at least when you practice. On a gig, do what you have to. But strict alternation is the way to go, so work it out.