Four finger technique / M. Garrison / Gary Willis Technique ?

[OysterBoy]

I've been trying to improve my right hand technique lately, and I started reading about four finger technique, and just recently, Garry Willis' approach. The thing is, I'm not very comfortable with my current technique at all. I started out with a very bad, plucky / poppy technique (the result of having no formal training, and not actually researching in depth the way most people played bass). Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7FbdmzkF9g

I've improved a lot since then, but it's still not up to what I'm happy with. To make things worse, my sister accidentally broke my bass earlier this month when I was teaching her some scales, and I haven't had the money or time to fix it (wiring problem, shouldnt be a difficult fix). So while I have been practicing my technique, it's difficult with no amplification. I could record a soundless video if that'd help. Anyways, I'm considering learning one of the above mentioned techniques. It looks like a much more natural, tension-less way of playing and just overall more efficient, even if I'm not pumping out 16ths and triplets every single bar. I already have a thick blister on my ring finger, which further limits my ability to practice .

And I have used my ring finger a fair bit already, but mostly for triplets and the like. Nothing as extensive as this.


I think that about covers it. Video of my current technique will be up in a minute.


Thanks

[Poop-Loops]

Wow, that's a unique technique.

Check out the "Alternating Fingers" thread. Eric Lam posted a Gary Willis clip on how he uses his fingers. He can probably help you even more if you ask him.

I myself just use regular 3 finger plucking with floating thumb. Actually, Gary Willis uses floating thumb too, if I can see it correctly.

Todd Johnson posted an instructional on the floating thumb. Very useful to learn.

EDIT: By the way, what was it that you were playing? That sounded real interesting. I'd like to learn that.

[OysterBoy]

That's actually a solo I wrote, and demoed on here a few times during various stages of its creation. I started writing it a few weeks after I got the bass, and after having learned and listened to a decent amount of classical music. Strangely, the "fast / slick" stuff near the end came after watching Prince live on SNL, haha. The tab is in the video description.

http://www.activebass.com/cgi-bin/pa...=19960&p=1&a=0

[Poop-Loops]

Ugh, I could never come up with something like that. =/

[OysterBoy]

I'm definately not an expert on the subject of writing music, but I think the more you work at it the easier it becomes. It's not about your personal talent, or lack of talent, it's just the creative art of concept and "thought". Once you have an idea or musical thought, you just smack away at your instrument until what you hear from your amp sounds like what you hear in your head / heart.

/soapbox

[Erick Lam]

Nice lick Oyster. Put your bass a bit higher, it'll be easier on your left hand. When plucking, try following thru to the next string instead of leaving then in the air. That will get rid of the poppy sound.

[OysterBoy]

haha, yea. Like I said, I've been improving it a lot since that video, it's much more "classical" and proper then that carnage, lol. You'll be happy to know my strap height now makes all the metal heads and scenesters in my town confused.

And actually, I just finished practicing some playing, and I think it's getting "there". Still some fluidity problems, but overall, I'm happier with it then the time this thread was made :P. My strap was actually a bit TOO high, and as a result my right hand was being angled too far.


Hooray. Practice and determinated conquers! I'm still interested in learning the Willis approach though.. damn this infernal blister. Is it a better idea to pop it, or let it "run its course"? Cause I've hade it for a few days, and decided to not pop it.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Are you asking if you should try one of those techniques? I didn't see a clear question in there Willis uses a technique that's mostly two-finger; his ring finger only comes into play when ascending strings. His technique is all about muting and efficiency. The Garrison four-finger dealie is done with freestrokes for the most part- you don't have your fingers follow through to the next string. I have a large sticky on the Garrison technique in this forum going over most everything about it.

Both take lots of work, particularly the Willis technique. The benefits of both can be great though.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

If you felt like your strap was too high in that video, then you're probably not bending your right elbow enough. You'll have a real hard time trying the Willis technique if you can't naturally have your hand at a bit of an angle that wearing a strap higher up can provide.

Oh, and go on and pop the blister with a sterilized needle- no need to wait around when nature's gonna do the same thing in a couple days.

[OysterBoy]

Yea, sorry for the convoluted opening, I myself lost where I was going.

My question was going to be; would it be wise to learn one of the new techniques, even though I haven't exactly mastered the standard / two finger technique, or should I just build up my skills for now.

And also, thanks a ton, Brian. Like in general; I've been to your site quite a few times, have read all the articles and use the chord charts almost daily. Really useful resource, I appreciate what you do and can only hope you continue with it; for my benefit, haha .

As for the strap debacle; I really need to emphasise, that video does not at all reflect my current technique or playing posture. Really! Believe me please! haha. A few months ago I started learning proper playing technique and posture, and have not looked back. My strap was too high, meaning, the neck was about 7 or 8 inches from my face, haha

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I'm continuing with it alright- I've been recording new stuff (and better versions of the old stuff) for a few days now and hopefully will have a new batch of mp3s/videos by the end of the month.

As far as plucking goes, there's no need to "master" a two-finger plucking technique if you want to play a three or four-finger one. You'll just develop comfort zones and habits that will be harder to break later on. If you're lucky enough to know what you want to do in the end, then start directly on that. That goes with everything- playing fretless, playing six or seven-string basses, technique, etc. If you know what you want to end up doing, don't waste your valuable practice time working on what you don't want to end up doing. Also, a benefit of learning a three or four-finger technique is that you are automatically working on one and two-finger playing at the same time.

[OysterBoy]

Makes total sense. Thank you .

It was weird, I've been a little lazy lately with practicing and improving, just due to lack of ambition, but as soon as I saw some of the videos on your site (Brian), something snapped in my head, and I actually said alloud "I'm going to learn how to do that". I've never been big into slap at all, and actually haven't a clue how to do it effectively, because it never interested me. But the technique you use is really intruiging. Made me really anxious / motivated to learn.

[Erick Lam]

would it be wise to learn one of the new techniques, even though I haven't exactly mastered the standard / two finger technique, or should I just build up my skills for now.

Sure, why not?

Check the Willis videos, listen to what he says and take it slow. Do the exercices and then apply to real music. Take your lick and make concious choice about what finger to use to pluck a string and which one will mute that string, and so on. It's slow and tedious at first but people do that for the left hand. There are no reason to not do the same with the right hand. Soon enough you won't have to think about it so much. The key is discipline. Don't try to push up the tempo too quickly.

In case you haven't seen them, here are the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89k93ekbsMQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HesBYzrR9e8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfz0bPi_vgM

When you play live, don't think about technique so much or you'll forget about the music.