Raking back to the next string in aggressive fingerstyle?

[Tupac]

What is your opinion on it? I've noticed that Flea does this all the time when he plays. I even started doing it myself when I play, I hope it's not considered a bad habit. If you're climbing down strings, it's excellent because your finger is already primed and ready to rake down. I've noticed it produces an excellent sound too. It has KILLED my speed playing though.


Here's a good video showcasing the technique. Notice how his finger bounces back against the E string every time he plucks, that's what I'm talking about.

[cewillm]

Perfectly fine. It's what you should be doing even if you are not playing aggressively.

[Jay2U]

Quite impressive! I found more of this guy. RHCP - Johnny, Kick A Hole In The Sky [Bass Cover with TABS] - YouTube He's pretty quick. I guess the technique is ok. It's just more efficient sometimes.

[Tupac]

Originally Posted by cewillm

Perfectly fine. It's what you should be doing even if you are not playing aggressively.

Really? I presume you mean to mute the string? That's interesting. I just used the floating thumb instead. I'll have to experiment more if that's the case...

[Clef_de_fa]

It is how it should go no matter what you play !!! even when you use floating thumb ( which you should keep doing instead of muting with your thumb like the guy in the video )

[Tupac]

Originally Posted by Clef_de_fa

It is how it should go no matter what you play !!! even when you use floating thumb ( which you should keep doing instead of muting with your thumb like the guy in the video )

Huh? He kept his thumb on the pickup throughout the video. You mean that's bad to do?


Also, does anyone have a good lesson video showcasing this technique maybe?

[FretlessMainly]

The only bad things to do as a bass player are to:

1. Injure yourself; and
2. Sound like crap.

Technique-wise, you don't have to use a floating thumb (I hate it and will never even try it again, but who cares?). OTOH, use it if it works for you.

Personally, I find resting my thumb on a pickup to be a generally desireable thing. I need at least an inch or an inch and a half between my anchored thumb and the E string. The more distance the better. Floating thumb makes me feel like my right hand is in a straight jacket.

But you may feel exactly the opposite, so find what works for you.

[Clef_de_fa]

Originally Posted by Tupac

Huh? He kept his thumb on the pickup throughout the video. You mean that's bad to do?


Also, does anyone have a good lesson video showcasing this technique maybe?

Oups sorry I forgot to say his fretting hand's thumb. Putting it around the neck isn't a very good technic.

[FretlessMainly]

There are probably a few hundred professional bassists who would disagree.

Now, it's not typically a normal fingering/fretting hand position, but I've done it off and on over 31+ years of playing.

[Tupac]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

There are probably a few hundred professional bassists who would disagree.

Now, it's not typically a normal fingering/fretting hand position, but I've done it off and on over 31+ years of playing.

Yeah. I see the pros do it ALL the time. It's mostly situation, depending on where the notes I'm playing are located. It's impossible to keep my form when doing neck spanning slides for example.

[JimmyM]

When you're playing something fast with a lot of notes in a row, you'll be glad you practiced strict alternation if you did. Raking is OK on slower stuff with more space in between notes, but it can slow you way down when trying to play fast.

[FretlessMainly]

Once again I'm going to have to disagree with the broad application of that statement, Jimmy. I do just fine with a mixture of raking and alternating.

One of the reasons I play this way is that strict alternating strikes me as leading to a rather sterile da da da da da da....feel to the music (it doesn't have to). For me raking naturally compliments my style which is heavily peppered with hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides, all of which add to the texture of the line.

Sure, I can play a straight sixteen when the music calls for it, but I generally prefer a bit of lope in my stride, and less John Phillips Sousa in my line.

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

When you're playing something fast with a lot of notes in a row, you'll be glad you practiced strict alternation if you did. Raking is OK on slower stuff with more space in between notes, but it can slow you way down when trying to play fast.

i've been raking sinse i started playing bass ....it just came naturally ....too naturally .....it messes me up on certain 16th note lines where i want my 1st finger to be on the down beat or start of a phrase ....

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

Quite impressive! I found more of this guy. RHCP - Johnny, Kick A Hole In The Sky [Bass Cover with TABS] - YouTube He's pretty quick. I guess the technique is ok. It's just more efficient sometimes.

that's that Swiss lad ....he's only been playing for 5-6 years ....impressive indeed!

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by sammyp

i've been raking sinse i started playing bass ....it just came naturally ....too naturally .....it messes me up on certain 16th note lines where i want my 1st finger to be on the down beat or start of a phrase ....

Another good reason to get on a strict alternation program!

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Once again I'm going to have to disagree with the broad application of that statement, Jimmy. I do just fine with a mixture of raking and alternating.

One of the reasons I play this way is that strict alternating strikes me as leading to a rather sterile da da da da da da....feel to the music (it doesn't have to). For me raking naturally compliments my style which is heavily peppered with hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides, all of which add to the texture of the line.

Sure, I can play a straight sixteen when the music calls for it, but I generally prefer a bit of lope in my stride, and less John Phillips Sousa in my line.

LOL! Yeah, and knowing how to read music results in bad playing, too Seriously, now!