John Myung's 3 Finger technique

BassOverdrive · #1 06-13-2008, 04:41 PM

I've read articles about 3 finger techniques and the only Ive been able to develop is a very fast galloping feel R-M-I. I was wondering if anyone was sure of John Myung's technique and what his pattern was on 3 fingers. I tried I-M-R-M-I ect. and i just cant get a perfect feel on rhythm on it. Galloping is fun and all but i want to be able to do perfect 32nd notes and such. Its frustrating, kind of like learning sweeping on a 6 string bass with small hands

Thanks

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #2 06-13-2008, 04:46 PM

As far as I understand, JM was a pupil of Billy Sheehan, so his approach must be the same: R-M-I-R-M-I...

wizay · #3 06-13-2008, 04:48 PM

I feel ya.
Just practice way slow, and u will get it!

BassOverdrive · #4 06-13-2008, 04:57 PM

Ahh ill take your word for it and practice it

thanks alot. I just want no time being taken between each note more than others. I can do his Solar Groove song cause its galloping and such, but Dance of Eternity Solo i cant cause its just, well nothing less than amazing

I am Domokun · #5 06-14-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassOverdrive

I've read articles about 3 finger techniques and the only Ive been able to develop is a very fast galloping feel R-M-I. I was wondering if anyone was sure of John Myung's technique and what his pattern was on 3 fingers. I tried I-M-R-M-I ect. and i just cant get a perfect feel on rhythm on it. Galloping is fun and all but i want to be able to do perfect 32nd notes and such. Its frustrating, kind of like learning sweeping on a 6 string bass with small hands

Thanks

I'm kind of the same- I can play 32nds or 16ths in time, but I can't get the accents right, they always have a galloping feel that I can't seem to shake! Only at relatively high speeds though.

crazyguy832 · #6 06-14-2008, 12:30 PM

Actually... I'm not 100% sure what fingering pattern Myung uses. I'm fairly sure it's R M I, though (watching his video lesson... great video, btw). I M R M or R M I M are both rather worthless patterns, as you won't get any faster than just using 2 fingers (as you're using your middle finger every 2nd note anyways).

For getting rid of that gallop... slow the metronome right down and just play quavers.

TOM274 · #7 06-15-2008, 12:16 AM

i've seen his right hand technique(the pentatonic scale one) on you tube many times n when he uses 3 fingers i see him start with the index first. like I-R-M-I-R-M... u can see for yourself

highwattage · #8 06-15-2008, 12:31 AM

For the sake of accuracy his technique is R-M-I. However, do not think of it like that though. When you look through DT's music you will notice he never just plays strings off 8th like punk bassists. Be able to use all three fingers. It is far more important (and more difficult) to be able to have independance and fluidity among you fingers than just be able to do a technique. Play efficiently.

Arpeggiator · #9 06-15-2008, 04:17 AM

I think he uses an alternating pattern RMIMR.... i play with 3 fingers, and the biggest help i find for developing a fluid, alternaing technique is play anything you play with 3 fingers, that way you will be playing diffrent rhythms and speeds. i am still working on my alternatate as i tend to gallop too.

BassOverdrive · #10 06-15-2008, 09:09 AM

I appreciate all the help. As for the metronome suggestion, should i just work my way up the tempo until I reach a point where each note hit is the same as the last so no gallop feel?

Merchant · #11 06-15-2008, 09:19 AM

Just do normal excercises, starting on say 60 bpm, at quarter notes, do that for five minutes (yes it's dull) then move up by like 5-10 bpm depending on your patience, when you start to get a bit sloppy, start moving down, and repeat the excercise.

I really gotta practice what I preach.

bassist 4 life · #12 06-15-2008, 09:29 AM

JMs 3 finger technique is just like Sheehan

it goes like this, it has a 4 finger feel

R-M-I-R M-I-R-M I-R-M-I
1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4

1 starts on a different finger everytime, its much easier and convenient to do than going R-M-I-M-R-I

Sahm · #13 06-15-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyguy832

I M R M or R M I M are both rather worthless patterns, as you won't get any faster than just using 2 fingers (as you're using your middle finger every 2nd note anyways).

R M I M is often suggested as a way of eliminating the gallop. Steve Bailey uses it quite effectively.
Even if you don't fully adopt it as your final three finger approach, I think practicing R M I M does help develop even attacks.

It's not exactly the same as just two fingers, because it eliminates some of the counter movement- one finger going up while the other is going down.

crazyguy832 · #14 06-15-2008, 03:37 PM

Then what about this?

I M I M I M I M
R M I M R M I M

Looks like you're using the middle finger the exact same number of times for the exact same period of time. How would your overall speed change?

You can get rid of the gallop by practicing... that's all you need to do. Slow down, play quavers, pick up the speed until you're used to it.

(I do partially agree with you... yes, it would help getting your ring finger involved and eliminating gallop... however, I still believe it's much more efficient with the metronome approach... took me a matter of minutes using the metronome)

SirCanealot · #15 06-15-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

As far as I understand, JM was a pupil of Billy Sheehan, so his approach must be the same: R-M-I-R-M-I...

Nope, JM has never took any lessons from Sheehan

I'm sure it'd be the other way around if it did happen

I've always thought JM was I.M.R, but I could be wrong. But it's pointless putting JM's right hand technique on such a basic level. It's pretty much INSANE, and his fingering doesn't stick to any one formula. Here's one video showing off his insane right hand technique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj5luoLV2J8

Watch one of their DVDs, and you'll see his right hand fingering is pretty crazy -- not as simple as I.M.R or R.M.I at all...

Sahm · #16 06-15-2008, 07:47 PM

Well, I think you should use a metronome for any approach.

Adding the ring finger gives you three consecutive downward strokes before you have to switch back to the middle, thus picking up speed. Now, R M I can be faster, but I was just comparing R M I M to two finger approach.

Of course, some folks out there can smoke three finger players with just two fingers!

The other thing to consider, which SirCanealot was referring to, is that guys like Myung and Matt Garrison don't just stick to one thing, and they're not just playing on one string as fast as possible. They're hopping all over the place, skipping strings, etc. It's good to have many different right hand approaches in your arsenal, cause sometimes the line you want to play will require some fancy ways of getting there!

bassist 4 life · #17 06-16-2008, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirCanealot

Nope, JM has never took any lessons from Sheehan

I'm sure it'd be the other way around if it did happen

I've always thought JM was I.M.R, but I could be wrong. But it's pointless putting JM's right hand technique on such a basic level. It's pretty much INSANE, and his fingering doesn't stick to any one formula. Here's one video showing off his insane right hand technique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj5luoLV2J8

Watch one of their DVDs, and you'll see his right hand fingering is pretty crazy -- not as simple as I.M.R or R.M.I at all...

i hope you're being sarcastic,
i dont know what to tell you.

spindizzy · #18 06-16-2008, 12:44 PM

A waste of a good thumb if you ask me. There is nothing of particular note in this person technique in my opinion other than that he is using many good right hand techniques. After viewing the video and one or two other ones on that page I noticed imediately his dependency on anchoring and the fact that his fairly smooth use of three fingers could have easily incorporated his thumb (particularly on some of the chordal stuff where he obviously could have put a thumb to better use than simply planting it).

Admire these folks for those techniques and ideas that help you to improve. Idealize them not though as even your idols are maybe less than perfect. I would suggest you seek out both Todd Johnson and Gary Willis to add to Mung for right hand technique. Now between the three you will begin to have most of the elements necessary for solid, efficient and fast (if necessary as both would scoff at speed being the primary objective despite how such techniques can be used to play fast).

Spin