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Originally Posted by JimmyM  The problem I have with this explanation for raking is that it automatically assumes that raking is the more economical of motion between the two because you use one finger to play two strings. It isn't always. I find it more economical to keep my two fingers operating in a pattern I'm already familiar with and have been using rather than break that pattern with a rake. It's especially economical when you're playing fast 16th or 32nd notes in a row and skipping strings a lot. Also, it's a lot harder to keep good time with raking. Now and then raking is good for a certain riff, like maybe a Jamerson riff, but SA will make you smoother and faster at skipping strings. |
As I mentioned in my post, there are a huge range of styles and techniques in guitar, and I'm finding the same with bass as well. And with that comes a huge set of opinions on what's 'right' and 'wrong'. In the end, it's wrong if *you* don't like the sound or *you* can't do what you want. Every other time it's on it's way to right (if you're like me nothing is ever quite right and knowledge is a road constantly travelled)
While I was learning guitar (and I bet it is still in debate), there were whole groups who insisted that strict pick alternation was the only way, then Frank Gambale showed that you could have insane chops and do extreme sweep picking where you tried to alternate as little as possible by making the left hand work harder. Then there were those in the middle who said don't change directions unless you have to. That last camp is where I sit.
It IS more efficient to keep the same finger moving in the same direction rather than change it's direction, and bring another finger into play. But you are correct - that doesn't make it 'right'. Skipping strings is easier if you alternate, but raking tends to be used mostly for adjacent strings, or for string skips where you can funk it up by adding ghost notes by bouncing over the middle string.
Like any technique you do get used to it - if you changed to raking now, you would find it uncomfortable and it would throw you out for a bit but you would get it back. The same would apply for me going to rigid alternation. I have never, ever had a problem with my time - I attribute that to always practicing everything with a metronome.
In the end I think it really is a case of no right or wrong - there are monster players out there that do both, and even wierder combinations. Jamerson and Rainey had very unorthodox styles, Graham was a wacko when he started slapping that bass round like a drum kit, Stanley Clarke slaps a double bass, and the list goes on forever.
