fast STEADY fingerstyle

Fishbrain · #1 10-30-2007, 04:24 AM

theres a new section in one of our songs where for quite a looong time i have to play really quickly. my music theory isnt great so bear with me here... but i'd guess it was either straight 16ths or 32s.

my right hand speed is fast, i can play faster than i need, the problem comesd with playin it solid and all in time. I am practicing with a metronome but if I use three fingers then it send to take more of a triplet feel and if I use two fingers then my forearm gets tired before the end of the section and it starts to drag.

I've tried adopting a different finger pattern for my right hand (three fingers) to try and dodge the triplet feel, it'd be like
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2

does that make sense? is it worth continuing with or does anyone have any other ideas?

Depth_Charge · #2 10-30-2007, 04:58 AM

Mate if that pattern is working for you, then I say there's no reason not to keep doing it...

... save for worrying about some perfectionists saying you should only do it X way.

Cheers.

ga_edwards · #3 10-30-2007, 05:10 AM

There's a few things that can help out here. The first of which as you already know is practice, practice practice...
It's hard work I know, but it pays off.

I had a hard time trying to avoid the triplet feel too, but some time spent with a metronome just playing straight eigths, and gradually building up speed has helped a lot. You've got to turn off the part of your brain that says you're playing groups of 4 notes with 3 finger. Once you stop thinking about it, it does become a lot easier. (BTW, I tend to use the 321321321321321321 method.) I will also sometimes just tap on my desk to trying to keep a steady rythm with 3 fingers.

You might also want to try playing a couple of simple scales on one string and over all 4 strings. This will force the other part of your brain to concentrate on what your fretting hand is doing and forget somewhat about your plucking hand.

Another thing that helped me was Billy Sheehan's advanced bass DVD. He advocates the use of a 'ramp' by raising the pickup really high, and running your fingers over the pickup surface and plucking the strings. This makes you pluck the strings more evenly with the same part of your fingertips, stops fingers getting caught under the string, and really helps you to play faster. This also has the benefit of evening out the dynamics from using different fingers.

You may benefit from some compression too. This will also help even out the dynamics, and allow notes to ring out clearly without digging in as hard, which in turn allow you to play faster.

Hope all this helps. Again, I thoroughly recommend Billy's Advanced Bass DVD, a wealth of techinal information from the master of 3 fingered playing.

Fishbrain · #4 10-30-2007, 06:32 AM

thanks for the response,

depth charge - this method sort of works for me but i dunno if its what i wanna be workin at or if i should concentrate on doing a normal order but straight.

i think metronome might be the only way to go =( *siiiigh*

ga_edwards · #5 10-30-2007, 08:18 AM

I should have mentioned about the metronome thingy.

Whilst I think they're a great tool for practicing technique and rudiments, I'd advise against using them for practicing everything. They can completely kill your inner groove, and make everything sound too clinical and sterile. Techinically perfect but no soul.

Better off getting something that can generate some basic rhthyms, like a software drum machine/loops, or the Korg Pandora or Zoom units, or if you're feeling flush a proper drum machine. You can still practice you scales and progrssions but instill a bit of life into them.

Stumpy · #6 10-30-2007, 08:25 AM

For me...

When I have to learn a passage that is fast and/or difficult I learn it really slowly (with metronome) at first. Then I push it up in tempo until I have it at the right speed. I then move it over that speed just a little bit ... so that I know it really well. Then I slow it down to the right tempo. I seem to be able to play it correctly then.

JMO

Depth_Charge · #7 10-31-2007, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishbrain

thanks for the response,

depth charge - this method sort of works for me but i dunno if its what i wanna be workin at or if i should concentrate on doing a normal order but straight.

i think metronome might be the only way to go =( *siiiigh*

Ah OK. I assumed you were happy doing it that way and was encouraging you not to drop tools from your toolbox.

chaosMK · #8 10-31-2007, 09:02 AM

My fav for playing patterns of 4 is 3212-1232. You can get decent accents this way. It takes a little while to really develop, and it's a good exercise for fingerstyle in general.

jacobm · #9 10-31-2007, 09:08 AM

Im assuming that 123 means index-middle-ring finger respectively. well If so i found that a 321 method works much better for me, sometimes though i still lead with my ring finger and use a 1321,321,321 style.

my best advice though is to turn the volume on your amp up and play with a lighter touch. you can play much faster, your forearm will not wear out and when you really need to go over the top you can still dig in.

Dirtydave · #10 11-01-2007, 10:41 AM

I normally just do the beginning of a Lamb of God song, 231230231230

ga_edwards · #11 11-01-2007, 10:53 AM

What finger is 0?

Fishbrain · #12 11-03-2007, 03:34 AM

yeah?

dougie212 · #13 11-03-2007, 03:51 AM

Hey guys...

First post.. but here goes..

Practice is obviously the key, but also warm up too...

Pre gigs I always spend a while playing 12313123, nice n clean and slow to start then running quicker and even popping some chorus into it as it gets a bit more growly..

Dougie

SLaPiNFuNK · #14 11-04-2007, 01:34 AM

start building the endurance playing the groove slow... work up 1bpm a day... then you will have it no problem with any finger pattern...