Which one out of your index and ring fingers is smaller?

[champbassist]

I play 2 fingered and am practising playing 3 fingered, but finding it to be a bit difficult.

I see that some players who play really well 3 fingered (John Myung and Billy Sheehan being prime examples) the index finger is the smallest on their plucking hands. But, for me, the ring finger is the smallest, which is the probably the cause for the problems I'm facing in practising playing 3 fingered.

I know that it's a matter of practice, etc. but still, wanted to know from you guys as to which out of index, middle and ring fingers is the smallest in your case?


Thanks

[somegeezer]

My index is smallest too. My ring finger is exactly between index and middle. I don't see how it makes 3 finger plucking harder or easier though. Practise allows you to do anything.

[Michael Campbel]

Index is smallest for me but only by a very small amount.

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by somegeezer

My index is smallest too. My ring finger is exactly between index and middle. I don't see how it makes 3 finger plucking harder or easier though. Practise allows you to do anything.

For me, I started off playing with my index and middle, because it felt natural. Now, with my ring being considerably smaller than the other two, trying to progress and include it in my playing is difficult as it has limited reach when it comes to plucking strings: I always feel like I have to position my hand in an unnatural position to allow the ring to pluck the strings easily.

Anyways, my question was meant as just a general question, mainly. Just an appraisal of which fingers are longer. I just provided a background to my question.

[Jason P Bass]

My index is smallest.

There is a video on youtube of Sheehan discussing the 3 finger technique where he points out that when you bend your fingers at the 2nd joint, all 3 fingers are approximately the same length. Next he shows how he hinges his fingers at that joint with his technique.

I keep my palm higher than Sheehan and hinge my fingers more at the 1st joint (base of the finger). I'm not nearly as fast or famous as Billy... Maybe this is why.

Just try to find a position where you can pluck with a consistent, heavy, powerful note with each finger at a very slow tempo. Break out the metronome, and bump up the tempo every 45 seconds. Do this twice a day for two weeks and you'll be super fast... on one note

[SurferJoe46]

An interesting reading on DIGIT RATIOS in Male-Female finger lengths.

Remember that medically, the fingers are counted from the thumb (#1) to the pinkie (#5) here, so it might be confusing.

The digit ratio is the ratio of the lengths of different digits or fingers typically measured from the bottom crease where the finger joins the hand to the tip of the finger. It has been suggested by some scientists that the ratio of two digits in particular, the 2nd (index finger) and 4th (ring finger), is affected by exposure to androgens e.g. testosterone while in the uterus and that this 2D:4D ratio can be considered a crude measure for prenatal androgen exposure, with lower 2D:4D ratios pointing to higher androgen exposure. The 2D:4D ratio is calculated by measuring the index finger of the right hand, then the ring finger, and dividing the former by the latter. A longer ring finger will result in a ratio of less than 1, a longer index finger will result in a ratio higher than 1.

2D:4D is sexually dimorphic: in males, the second digit tends to be shorter than the fourth, and in females the second tends to be the same size or slightly longer than the fourth.

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by Jason P Bass

My index is smallest.

There is a video on youtube of Sheehan discussing the 3 finger technique where he points out that when you bend your fingers at the 2nd joint, all 3 fingers are approximately the same length. Next he shows how he hinges his fingers at that joint with his technique.

I keep my palm higher than Sheehan and hinge my fingers more at the 1st joint (base of the finger). I'm not nearly as fast or famous as Billy... Maybe this is why.

Seen those lesson vids a million times now Even I work off the base of my finger. Thus, the lack of equity between the fingers as they pluck.

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

An interesting reading on DIGIT RATIOS in Male-Female finger lengths.

Remember that medically, the fingers are counted from the thumb (#1) to the pinkie (#5) here, so it might be confusing.

Read all about that too: another research claims that, more than prenatal exposure to certain hormones, 2D:4D depends on one's parents, which would be understandable since both my mom and dad have smaller ring fingers than index fingers.

Guess I'll just have to hack away

[PJSShearer]

My ring finger is longer than my index finger and I've always (as far as I can remember) picked with 3 fingers.

[Rune Bivrin]

None of the options apply to me, as the ring finger and index finger are of equal length. And you left out the carrots option.

[plangentmusic]

I don't think it matters.

I also never saw the advantage of using 3 fingers. The only 3 finger technique I use is the thumb/index/middle. That allows for fingerpicking style and also octave jumping ala' Bennard Edwards.

Occasionaly, I do the "gallop" with 3 fingers, (one buda two buda three...) but it's not something you need a whole lot. Even Steve Harris who OWNS that rhythm uses 2 fingers to do it!

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

I don't think it matters.

I don't think too many people have faced my situation. Believe me: my ring finger has problems with reaching far enough (relative to the other two fingers).

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

Occasionaly, I do the "gallop" with 3 fingers, (one buda two buda three...) but it's not something you need a whole lot. Even Steve Harris who OWNS that rhythm uses 2 fingers to do it!

OMG is that the case? I saw a live vid of RTTH and thought I saw him use three. But, you're right; on a youtube vid, he says he uses just two. I just use 3 fingers for triplets and gallops right now but I was thinking of developing it, thus my original question.

What I do know is you can go as fast as you want with two fingers (until you break them ) by personal experience. If I warm up well, I can do straight 16ths @160 with 2 fingers, maybe more, but it'd need practice. So gallops @170 bpm with 2 fingers are surely possible.