Need advice on technique

[butterfingers9]

I need some input from you guys. I've been playing for a year or so and have used two fingers almost exclusively. Recently I've been trying to decide if I should switch over to 3 finger plucking. But I'm wondering if it’s worth the risk of sacrificing all that playing time. I can make fast string crossings easily and play constant eight notes at 250 bpm with two fingers alone. I ask again, is the three finger technique worth it?

[user101]

well, I've been playing for only about 6 years and lately i find myself switching constantly between 2 and 3 finger plucking. I use 3 fingers when doing vigorous string skipping, because i can't make it with 2. Nor can i do really fast triplets with just my 2 fingers. So for me it is useful to be able to play with 3 when the need arises. But if you think you don't seem to have a problem with 2 and can play whatever it is you are playing with 2, then why all the hassle. Getting 3 consistent fingers requires some time and effort. And if you're not going to need it, then you could do some other things with that time and energy.

So my logic is, if it can be done with 2 then why bother using 3?

[fcleff]

I would stay with two. Until you start playing chords pretty much anything you do can be covered with two fingers. Chords will require a more 'classical guitar' technique that involves the thumb.

[Dr. Feelgood]

It is much easier to play fast triplet figures with three fingers, and training your fingers to do this is very easy. What IS hard is having consistent volume in all three fingers when playing straight 8ths or 16ths.

I never used to play with three fingers, but a very deep cut on my middle finger (from which I have fully recovered) meant that I could only play with my index and ring fingers. This allowed me to build up the ring finger's strength.

So, if you are serious about it, cut your finger!!!

[chaosMK]

I use 3 often, but I use 2 too.

Mainly I use three for machine gun rhythms, better muting, certain accents, and fast ghost notes.

[tplyons]

If you've made it this far with two, no reason to change over, IMO. Six years with two fingers, the occasional ring finger thrown in, and I've never felt a need to make the switch because it's the flavor of the month.,

[Alec W. Conway]

Try to be able to use everything effectively. You never know when it might come in handy.

In other words, practice as many different techniques as you can. Learn to produce them in a controled context. Then as time passes, you'll be able to actually use them productively.

And good luck, brother bassman.

[Winemule]

"It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice."

In other words: Don't worry about it. I use two fingers, three fingers, hard picks, soft picks...don't feel you have to subscribe to a particular discipline. The idea is to do whatever is necessary to sound good.

[Dr. Feelgood]

Originally Posted by Winemule

"It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice."

In other words: Don't worry about it. I use two fingers, three fingers, hard picks, soft picks...don't feel you have to subscribe to a particular discipline. The idea is to do whatever is necessary to sound good.

+1.