Alternating 3 fingers on RH

[cjac9]

I'd like to practice the finger permutations that Adam Nitti has on his site for exercising RH alternation. I'm getting it down pretty good with my two fingers on my RH. I figure I should try adding my ring into the mix.

How would you alternate using three fingers?

Index= 1; Middle=2; Ring= 3

Would it be:
1 2 3 2 1 etc.
OR
1 2 3 1 2 etc.

Thanks!

[wazzel]

When I need to use three fingers I go 1-2-3-1-2-3-etc.

[cjac9]

cool, anyone consistently using 3 have other thoughts?

[nysbob]

I've been playing with 3 fingers for 30+ years and I'm pretty much a 3-2-1 guy. There are passages where one would naturally vary it up, but when the going gets fast, 321 feels the most natural to me.

[jaebee]

agreed, learn to lead with your 3rd finger, it will be much easier to go fast later, its the way your fingers want to move.

now if only i could grow my pinky out...

[cjac9]

so if you were playing 8 16ths, for example, would you do 3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2 or 3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2?

Thanks

[jschwalls]

I learned to play 3 fingers in 4 note sequences....

which means that every 4 notes another finger will take the lead role..

example...

3213
2132
1321
3213

etc..

I have a simple youtube video.. that I made for a student a while back.

maybe it will give you a new idea or something. There is nothing flashy in the video it was made for instruction only...

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

Have fun

[nsmar4211]

If I'm going high to low, I use 321 321 321 321.
If I'm playing straight 8s on the same string for a while, my fingers pretty much do whatever they feel like....seriously, I found that if I tried not to think about it and just concentrate on keeping an even tone out of all three fingers it works. Usually ends up being 1232123 etc...
I practice 16th note scales using 123 123 to get my r hand used to having a different finger leading

+1 to the growing out the pinky....I've tried 4.....just doesn't work LOL

[nysbob]

Originally Posted by jschwalls

I learned to play 3 fingers in 4 note sequences....

which means that every 4 notes another finger will take the lead role..

example...

3213
2132
1321
3213

Yes, that's what I do too. It seems complicated, but once you're comfortable with playing all three evenly, you can stop thinking about what you're doing and just play to meter.

[Nick Kay]

Don't stick to one set pattern. Some licks will feel more comfortable as 3-2-1, others will want to be played 3-2-1-2. Hell, you might find you want to use 2-3-1 for some things. Be flexible - you don't constantly alternate 1-2-1-2 when you're playing two-finger, do you?

[wazzel]

Correction I go 3-2-1. I guess I just do it and not really pay attention to what I am doing.

[cjac9]

Be flexible - you don't constantly alternate 1-2-1-2 when you're playing two-finger, do you?

No but when I practice RH alternation I keep the alternation strict to gain independence. That's what I'm trying to figure out. I thinking I'm getting that there are alot of different ways and I'll have to try/practice them all.

[onlyclave]

There is no hard and fast rule. You should practice all of the permutation listed here, SLOWLY, so that you can program your brain to make your right hand to work on autopilot.

When I play double bass with a bow, I practice 2 octave scales in 8th notes, up up up up up up up bow, down down down down down down down bow, up up down, down down up, down up down, up down up, on the string, off the string, etc. and the reason for that is there is a time in my playing when I will need one of those combinations of up and down bows. If I practiced everything up down up down up down I would be pretty limited. See what I'm saying?

Edit: The only hard and fast rule is that any technique you work on should be clean, accurate and consistent.

[cjac9]

right on