Fingerstyle technique

[doctormoose87]

Hi all

Looking for some advice on switching from playing with a pick to starting fingerstyle. Anyone have any advice on tips and exercises to start with?

Cheers

[BrianVengeance]

Start two fingers and add a third.

Work on straight 8/16th notes using both for 4/4, then three for 3/4, 6/8 and anything using a triplet.

[Chef FourString]

Be prepared for some blisters. Speed is not a big factor, at first. Practice accuracy. Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. Once you've got that down than you can build up your speed.

[erock0138]

+1, people often first just try to be lightening fast with fingerstyle, accuracy is most important. and speed will come with lots of practice, I eventually developed it without having to practice it alot.

[Chef FourString]

Oh, and triplets are difficult to learn. But a lot of that is how comfortable you are with your bass, that, and dexterity.

[Skitch it!]

Alternating while string crossing, raking will come naturally, alternating won't.

[Chef FourString]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

Alternating while string crossing, raking will come naturally, alternating won't.

+1 rake it.

[HeadyVan Halen]

Put fingers on string(s).
Move fingers, make sounds.


It's really not that difficult.

[trayner1]

Look at some of Francis Rocco Prestia's stuff...it helped me a lot with my fingerstyle technique.

[FromTheBassMent]

Originally Posted by Chef FourString

Be prepared for some blisters. Speed is not a big factor, at first. Practice accuracy. Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. Once you've got that down than you can build up your speed.

I don't agree with this. If you're popping very aggressively and using roundwound strings, you might get some finger soreness. But I've been playing fingerstyle exclusively for over 30 years and I have never had any blisters or soreness on my plucking fingers. There's no need to attack the strings so hard that you're hurting your fingers.

Alternating index and middle fingers is critical to playing smoothly and building speed over time. I know some players are absolutely religious about alternating even when crossing strings, and consider a double pluck by a single finger to be some sort of cardinal sin. I try to avoid it, bus sometimes it happens, and sometimes it actually WORKS BETTER. The important thing is that you're getting a nice even sound (you should be able to make the intensity of the attack consistent from finger to finger).

Have fun!

[sammyp]

i was in the same boat one year ago ....guitar player getting into bass ....take it slow, learn some easy lines like Stand By Me with fingers ..work your fingers while watching tv or a movie, gather many exercises for the right hand ....work with a metronome!

i never got blisters either, my fingers just gradually toughened up and calloused, some mild soreness after long playing sessions ..my middle finger had a head start cause i play hybrid picking on guitar...

[Papa Dangerous]

Hmm. Just wondering how others handle triplets. People say always alternate fingers.. but doing this while playing triplets you end up going 1,2,1 2,1,2. Is that preferred for some by, and utilized for keeping time? Like each set would be 2 beats, so repeat set and you have your 4/4 timing.. or is 1,2,1 1,2,1 a good method for you? Maybe 1,2,2 1,2,2? (one and two obviously being pointer and middle finger respectively) BTW.. I am not asking for tips on how to do it.. I'm just curious about others approach I know its all a matter of comfort :thumbsup:

[BrianVengeance]

I typically roll triplets 3-2-1 or 1-2-1, but it really depends on what my fret hand is doing and how I was picking the previous notes. Sometimes it makes sense to run 2-1-2... I'm not picky, just whatever gets the notes out on time!

[doctormoose87]

Thanks for the advice all

Been playing for 9 years with a pick and got a bit annoyed with to much high end attack. Never truly been happy with it, more of a case of convenience for playing 3 hour sets.

[Art Araya]

had to make the transition years ago. you can do it. if you go back and forth between the pick and your fingers it'll take you longer. if you put the pick away and force yourself to play with only fingers, it'll come faster.

Alternate fingers on one string while watching TV. Practice accenting different beats so that you can control where you place the accents and with which finger.

Then move on to two strings.

Then run all of your scales and arpeggios and favorite riffs.

Do it slowly and intentionally at first being very mindful of alternating the fingering. Later on you'll find that you don't have to be so rigorous about this but for right now force your right hand fingers to do what they don't want to do.