how would you finger this riff?

[superphat]

help please!
there may not be a "right" or "wrong" way for fingering certain scales, etc. but here goes...

i have trouble with riffs that go down a fourth (to the next lower string).
ex: (starting on D string 5th fret) G - G# - A - E - ... (E is on A string 7th fret)
i've been playing it Left hand i - m - r - r (just sliding my ring finger down from A to E - both on 7th fret)

is there a better way or a correct way to play this type of run?

thanks very much in advance!

-paul

[JMX]

You could either fret the two last notes simultaneously with the pinky, or even better/easier, fret the A with the pinky and the E with the ring finger at the same time with one motion.
So you can pull the plucking finger that plucks the A over the G and D string in one motion (this is also known as raking), thus playing the last two notes with one pluck motion.

[Oysterman]

Originally posted by JMX
You could either fret the two last notes simultaneously with the pinky,

That's how I'd do it, but using the ring finger.

[Phil Smith]

I use double bass fingering for anything below the 12th fret which means I use the index finger, middle finger, ring and pinky to finger a fret so I use a three fret range. I would play the above riff index, middle, ring+pinky, ring+pinky. I'm already used to playing these type of figures and so have the dexterity to play them. Another tricky pattern is the following:

G(3-e) D(5-a) G(5-d) D(5-a) G(5-d) D(5-a) G(5-d) D(5-a)

Note(fret-string)

I play the above using the index finger for the G and ring+pinky for the D and the G an octave higher.

[Turock]

Originally posted by JMX
fret the A with the pinky and the E with the ring finger

This is how I would do it.

[superphat]

thanks for everyone's suggestions.
i've been experimenting with both techniques but didn't want to get too comfortable with one or the other in case it was "wrong" but i've found that using the pinky and ring both works better for me. it's much cleaner that way ...maybe my ring finger isn't strong enough... just trying to clean up my technique a little bit lately!

[john turner]

gently and with a bit of KY. oh, and make sure your fingernails are clipped.

[JimK]

Heh-heh-heh...
Good one, Mr. Pin Head
(...been dyin' to say that!)

I say it depends what the note is just prior to the "G"...if it's just a 1-bar figure repeated ad nauseum, I'd probably use this LH fingering: 2-3-4-4
(with the index finger stationary/fixed on the 4th fret..."F#").

Using TWO fingers to sound those two notes...IMO, that's "OK" IF...IF you desire a quasi-smooth transitional sound. Sonically, there is a difference; try both(IMO).

[jbandbabyj]

I used left hand fingers 1-2-3-2... but I'm probably wrong.