Basic Fingerstyle Questions

[Johnny Morales]

Two quick questions - I pluck with two fingers (as opposed to 3). When doing a run up and/or down the scale. Which finger do you start on with the right hand). Also when coming down strings from say the G to the D do you use the same finger for successive notes?

[Deacon_Blues]

I usually start a phrase with the index finger, but not always. When I go down from the G string to the D string or even over more strings, I rake mostly, i.e. use the same finger for all notes. That's how I have always done, I'm mostly self-taught, I've had only four lessons and I had them after having been playing for about 3-4 years...

The bad thing with raking is that the latter notes easily get out of time. I've tried to learn strictly alternating fingering technique but I just can't get that working. So for me it's better to work on the timing issue I guess, It's just the matter of raking with the right speed. James Jamerson could do it so at least it is possible....

[morf]

Heres what I think:

Learn to alternate, when you feel alternating both fingers has become natural to you and you dont think about it, just play in whatever way is more natural to you.

Meaning, once you know how to alternate and thats your common way of playing, if you feel its easier for a certain song to use only 1 finger to repeat a serie of notes then do it.

[Earthday]

Learn to start with both and be comfortable for everything you play. If you always start on one finger you'll end up having a harder time rebounding from mistakes, and will have a hard time with uneven phrases.

[doctorjazz]

When doing exercises and scales, I try to use strict alternation (12321 a la Steve Bailey) just to make sure I'm able to get a consistent attack with all three fingers and that I have equal dexterity with all three, I'm not locked into having to use one finger more than any other. When I'm actually playing, I don't pay attention to what finger I use, I just do whatever comes natural.

[j-bass-kreep]

learn to alternate 1,2. Its awkward at first but in the end its worth it .

[Silversorcerer]

There is an exercise I devised for myself several years ago, and I should preface this with the information that apart from a Sophocles Papas classical guitar technique book I had, I am self-taught on the bass guitar. The technique in that book favors alternating finger work. I am currently getting classical instruction for double bass.

Anyway the exercise is to build some kind of three note pattern of quarter notes which can be anything as long as it has one string crossing in it and practice repeating that 3 note pattern as if it is really 3 bars of 4/4 time so that the one count keeps shifting through the notes. Adhere to strict finger alternating while you play the pattern. Play it real slow at first until it becomes a "feel". What happens is that your right hand is in good old comfy 4/4 in the double alternation while the left hand had to do some thinking. Essentially your hands will at first feel like they are playing in different time signatures. It's a bitchin' exercise with a lot of possible variations that I used to do as well, like 3 fingers with 4 note pattern, thumb and index instead of index and middle, thumb and third, etc.

I only play strict like that when I exercise. When I play, I just go with the vibe and flow. I don't have time to think about what the fingers are up to. If I exercise enough, it will be automatic and if it isn't always alternating, too bad......