Noob question

[littleBadWolf]

I'm very new to bass, talking only 2 or 3 weeks.

I'm a software engineer by trade (computer programmer), and I type a LOT using (basically) three fingers on each hand.

When I 'hack' at my bass I tend to use 3 fingers instead of 2.

Don't get me wrong, I practice too. Am trying to learn the 2 fingers, but i tend to eff it up. When I go with the three, it seems easier, more natural.

I don't use them in 'natural order' though. I tend to go 123212321.

Should I forge on with the 2 finger method, or go with the three? Is it a big deal?

[pseudoxh4]

Steve Bailey uses that same pattern and it seems he too finds it more natural; with that said though, I believe he has also mastered two finger technique.

As long as 1232 works for you, stick with it, but it will help to learn two finger technique as well (in fact, with me it seems practicing one helps the other). You might also want to borrow a few things from two finger technique in the way of string skipping notes in groups of two, but that depends on your playing style.

Anyway, since you've only been playing for 2 or 3 weeks, I say it's a little early to tell; stick with both and see how you're doing in about a month or so.

[Lowbeat]

I was in the same position as you LittleBadWolf.

I can play with two now but I feel like I have to concentrate more on it than I do with any combination of 3 fingers (RMI). I feel using computers whilst I grew up + a large majority of the time helped me make it feel natural, I took it as a gift, quite a few other people I know struggle play with three fingers

[gerison]

Hi!
I started with two and I'm right in progress going into the three finger thing. After having read a lot and tried a lot I came to this conlcusion:

You wan't to act every finger independentliy in general, executing the strokes at equeal strenght, and as far as it is possible, they should sound the same.

Therfore I emphasised on the following exercises:

1212, 3,4 rests on the pick or string

2323. 1,4 rests on the pick or string
(if I like to really isolate the muscles, I even tape my pinky finger to the palm, so that it doesn't sick out on playing the 3)

I guess the independency of 2 and 3 is the real issue when going into 3 finger playing.
If you play with three fingers, you'r max speed on grooving ist limited at the speed you can get with 23. If your' faster with 12 and play at this faster speed trying to involve the 3 will result in a gallopping sound - so focus on that.

You can playas well 1111,2222,3333,1111,
to hear the diffrence when striking and work on it.
Maybe you discover on playing just 1111 you groove like hell and as soon as you switch to three all the notes are coming in waves.

after that I play
1321,3213,2132,1321, (Billy Sheehan Style)
and afterwards
1232,1232,1232,1232

I guess if you can deliberatly play all this patterns at the same speed and with the same tone you will develop a nice grooving three finger technic

But let me stress out, that these exercices are pretty demanding according to coordination and felxibility of your fingers. If you put to much effort to it you might hurt yourself and get a severe tendinits. So keep it slow at the beginning and make rests, loosen up your muscels periodically in between your practice...

Especially when it comes to big time string crossing I prefer the three over the two. (Bach Suites for examples)

I hope I'm on the right way myself. If not, I'm looking foward to the follow up postings.


geri

[littleBadWolf]

Thanks for the comments, much appreciated.

Going to work on both for now and revisit down the track.

No matter which fingers I use, in any pattern, currently I sound like mud

[xgator4u]

Don't worry so much about your right hand technique so much for now, play with 3 if that feels "natural", concentrate on LEFT hand technique . remember different strokes for different folks, if we all played exactly the same, how boring of a world would this be ?