Help with... Doubles?

[spencer]

Ok I always thought I was pretty good.. BUT now im finding little things I really have a hard time with.... Listening to some chili peppers I haven't heard in a while. I noticed I can't play Right On Time's chorus.. And then thinking about it I have time keeping up with C'mon Girl either..

If you guys know these songs are very simple left hand wise but right hand ahh it kills me.. I have never had a problem with my right hand.. If your not fimilar with the song heres some of the tabs.. Youll see the pattern..


G|----------------------9-9----9-9------------------11-11----11-11--|
D|-----11-11---11-11------------------9-9----9-9--------------------|
A|-------------------7-7----7-7------------------9-9------9-9-------|
E|--9-9-----9-9--------------------7-7----7-7-----------------------|

Now if I don't play the d or g string twice I can keep up just fine no problem what so ever.. I really only have a problem with my Pointer finger just seems its short when I stretch to hit the high strings and the timing of the 2nd double always sounds off.. Now Im getting better, only 15mins into it but is there any advice?

Same thing with C'mon Girl
G|-----7799----9977-|
D|---99------99-----|
A|-77------77-------|
E|------------------|

I have tried a metrenome starting slow and speeding up and it has helped quite a bit..

[spencer]

Ok I got Right On Time now... That took a whole 2 mins.. But I was worried for a minute..

Just needed a little practice but C'mon Girl gives me a hard time.. Just seems like its so fast I don't always hit it twice..

Anyways I have never cared much about technique I have never had problems.. Is there somewhere I can start? Let me go check the stickies..

[kr0n]

Are you using floating thumb? Seems this is exactly the type of line I'd use it in. Switch thumb to the A string when playing the octaves up high. I assume they're quite high tempo. Slow down and watch your right hand

[Bocete]

You could solve your index-finger-too-short problem by playing with a floating anchor, or even no anchor at all. If you've never heard the term "floating anchor" or "floating thumb", look it up here. There's a ton of threads about it. Basically, instead of sticking your thumb on the pickup or the lowest string you've got, make the thumb follow your plucking.

In the first example you've given tempo is important. I'm guessing those are eights on ~120 bps, in which case floating anchor is the way to go. It's not too fast. If it were 16ths on 160 bps, moving the thumb every time you change strings might only slow you down. But in most applications, floating thumb will give you consistent attack for every string.

EDIT:

There's a floating thumb sticky thread, the first one actually.

[spencer]

I will check it out.. Its funny how I never cared about technique at all. Just did what was comfortable..

Anyways I notice my thumb stays on pickup for Right On Time

As for C'mon Girl My thumb stays on top string and ring finger is also on top string but on the bottom side facing up.. Crazy I never noticed I did that. I believe my thumb anchors its self on whatever string is lowest that Im not using or pickup, which is why I anchor on pickup for right on time but E string for C'mon Girl..

Tell me what you guys think about the ring finger thing and if its normal/ever seen before?

[spencer]

HAHA This is some crazy stuff actually paying attention to what my fingers do.

My ring finger goes on the E string facing up if Im not playing it.. Example..

Right on time for the first octive on E and D My thumb is on the Pickup and Ring finger floats with pointer and ring, but when I go to play A and G my ring finger rests on the E string I guess to help mute it...

Please Im dying to hear your oppinions on this..

[Bocete]

Originally Posted by spencer

I will check it out.. Its funny how I never cared about technique at all. Just did what was comfortable..

Anyways I notice my thumb stays on pickup for Right On Time

As for C'mon Girl My thumb stays on top string and ring finger is also on top string but on the bottom side facing up.. Crazy I never noticed I did that. I believe my thumb anchors its self on whatever string is lowest that Im not using or pickup, which is why I anchor on pickup for right on time but E string for C'mon Girl..

Tell me what you guys think about the ring finger thing and if its normal/ever seen before?

(Btw, top string in tab is the G, and when you look at someone else playing it's the E string. Do not say top string, the highest string is G, the lowest E, as in higest/lowest pitch)

Most people anchor their thumb on the lowest string, unless they're using it, when they move the anchor to the pickup. Don't be surprised about that. The floating thumb is an extension of that natural motion: move it to the A or D string when playing higher, move it lower when playing lower. Once you stop thinking about moving the thumb, you're good to go.

So you basically grip the E string with your thumb and your ring finger? Very not good, the ring finger is holding you back when you go higher. On a fiver or more strings you wouldn't manage. And it will prove to be a huge burden once you try the floating thumb: unanchoring one finger is hard enough. Just stop doing that thing with the ring finger. Shouldn't be too hard.

[spencer]

Originally Posted by Bocete

(Btw, top string in tab is the G, and when you look at someone else playing it's the E string. Do not say top string, the highest string is G, the lowest E, as in higest/lowest pitch)

Yea I figured, sorry but I always saw it the other way, I just cant thing of the E string as the bottom though I know where your coming from..

Just stop doing that thing with the ring finger. Shouldn't be too hard.

lol Thats funny,

I didn't think it limited me and I was in the middle of defending it when I decided to give it a try..

your right.. It made a pretty big difference, its crazy though because it makes a difference in my timing, this is the only song it has every limited me on.. But without it I feel a little less incontrol. Yes I can play it faster and more correct now, BUT I feel as though im going to miss a string, though I don't....


Im ditching the self learned ring finger mute at least for songs like this, I will try playing some normal stuff without it and see how it goes but I think for most stuff it works great. I will post a video probably later today on my weird technique..

Thanks for the help, I never really thought a post was going to help but all it took was a little practice and to stop and notice the actual technique I developed..

[JimmyM]

When you do string skipping, especially with parts that have a lot of 16th notes, always use strict alternation and don't rake. And practice slowly and gradually bring speed up as you master it at the slower tempo.