Question about 3 fingers

[Low_End_Theory]

I've been playing a lot of Entwistle lines recently, as well as watching videos. I noticed that he used his first three fingers all the time, and I decided to try it out.

It's freakin' tough, at least for me. Anyone have any pointers about using 3 fingers? Thanks!

[PBass101]

Practice and patience will get you where you want to go. Take your time and start slow.

[amroach]

yeah you just got to practice and practice and not give in to using less fingers, i went whole band practices only using 4 fingers and i picked it up pretty quickly. i used to play with 4 fingers but then i relised actully i was only doing it to show off and get complments, so i moved back to 2 but i make sure i've still got it every so often.

[Mikio]

the only advise I can give you is to play "3-2-1" or "1-3-2-1" [almost the same], instead of "1-2-3" xP

[bggeezer]

entwistle used to play trumpet and french horn before bass (he played all the horns on the who albums cause it was cheaper than session men!) that helped him with his right hand no end.

as has been stated, just practice a lot.

try some maiden tunes. that should help develop the gallop. although steve harris does it with only 2 fingers as i learnt today!

[nysbob]

If you look through the past few pages of technique threads, you'll find a lot of good advice on playing with three fingers. .

[adube810]

practice doing these moves:
Ring, Middle, Index, Ring
middle, index, ring, middle
index, ring, middle, index
repeat

play scales with these patterns and never break it (allthough raking is generally accepted)
for instance on Cmaj scale:
id start off by practicing 1/4 notes or 1/2 notes so youd do something like C,C,C,C,D,D,D,D,E,E,E,E,etc while keeping that 3 finger pattern
thenplay the scales regularly like C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C,etc

then its also important to practice chromatic scales with this technique. also get used to doing disco octaves with the 3 fingers so you can get used to alternating fingers while sting crossing

it takes a fair amount of time to become as proficent with 3 as it is with 2 but once you get it its much easier to play faster lines and tripplets.

also dont forget to practice playing on the up-beat and get synchopation DOWN..its really important to be able to know how to swing notes

[akaTRENT]

Originally Posted by Mikio

the only advise I can give you is to play "3-2-1" or "1-3-2-1" [almost the same], instead of "1-2-3" xP

OMG never thought of it like that +1

[Mikio]

Originally Posted by akaTRENT

OMG never thought of it like that +1

thanks, but I noticed that my post might not be clear for some people, probably

so, in "words" it goes "Ring, Middle, Index" or "Index, Ring, Middle, Index", Like what adube said, but I don't find it necessary to go in all the combinations possible when practicing, that will come natural when you adapt the 3 finger style into your playing

another thing that I think is very important is to repeat the same finger when going down [to lower strings] and go "alternate" (go ALWAYS 3-2-1 [1-3-2-1]) when going up

so, if you are hitting your A string and want to go to the E string and you just used your index, use it again

but, if you're hitting your A string and wanna go to the D string and just used your Index, you should go to D with your Ring finger


I hope I made myself clear, have a happy practice (?)

[Erick Lam]

My advice not to think about patterns at all and watch this, this and this. Don't be fooled by finger pattern in the exercices. He just "happens" to play IMRM because that is what is needed to play those particular exercices. Once you're confortable. pick a tune and think about every single movement of your fingers. Make concious decisions about which finger pluck which string and which finger will mute that string in regard to what follows and so on. Write it down if possible. Double-bass players do this for arco playing. Do a whole tune like this, then another one, etc. Soon, you'll have covered every situation possible and be a master at three finger plucking.

In the last video, check what his middle finger at 4:05. It stays on the string like a good boy, ready to play. THAT's what you want to achieve.

[jschwalls]

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

maybe this will spawn some ideas for you...

like one of the other guys said.. basically do what is comfortable to YOU...

enjoy
JON

[fettbass]

Make sure to start slow,ensuring you achieve consistent attack, tone, and volume from each finger.

[Ampeg SVT]

Start out slow doing RMI or Ring-Middle-Index.
It is the easiest way to play with three fingers.

[phektus]

Found it hard the first time too. I followed Steve Bailey's practice suggestion.

Do 5 plucks on each string, from highest to lowest, raking on each end. That should make you end up on a different finger for each string.

[Mikio]

Originally Posted by phektus

Found it hard the first time too. I followed Steve Bailey's practice suggestion.

Do 5 plucks on each string, from highest to lowest, raking on each end. That should make you end up on a different finger for each string.

that's ok, but with 4 plucks it does the same thing, and it's more "rythmic" and easy to get, so I'd go with that

[machine gewehr]

When I decided to go for 3 fingers I did as if I was a beginner.3 and 2 finger style is very different techniques.I used to pluck open strings for HOURS to get the 2 finger moving smoothly.I did the same with 3,hours and hours of plucking just to get used to it.Slow and even attacks.

I want to share a big mistake I do that I realized recently.Since I've gone 3 fingers I realized I never used 2 finger style.And sometimes 2 fingers is much more efficent.Remember that and use which technique is suitable to the tune you play.

[seniorgomez]

work on learning the bass line to what is hip, i recommend you tubing jason long's version slowed down is awesome!

i'm slowly getting proficient at that song, but it will vastly improve your 3 finger playing.

start slow and i go up every fret i can on every string at a comfortable speed then try again a little faster and work your way up.

also i've learned by playing
index, middle, ring, middle, index
it feels like it just flows better to me

cheers!

[vin*tone]

Originally Posted by jschwalls

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

maybe this will spawn some ideas for you...

like one of the other guys said.. basically do what is comfortable to YOU...

enjoy
JON

I respectfully disagree.
Sometimes you need to go outside your comfort zone to push your boundaries.

[Miesside]

Originally Posted by vin*tone

I respectfully disagree.
Sometimes you need to go outside your comfort zone to push your boundaries.

AGREED! this makes you a better/versatile player!

[Shooter McGavin]

When I was a kid, I taped my index and middle fingers together to force me to implement the ring finger. Crazy, but it worked.