RH finger alternation during string skipping

[suicas]

I've read quite a bit about alternating right hand fingers while plucking the strings, and most of what I've read deals with playing notes on the same string.

I was wondering if anyone could give advice or tips on good practice in situations such as playing the following:
G--------------------
D-----5-5-----5-5
A--------------------
E--3--------3--------

Playing with 2 fingers, would you play:
Strictly alternating:
i m i m i m

Alternating then repeating:
i m i i m i

1 finger per string:
i m m i m m

Similarly, how would you play the following with 3 fingers:
G----------------------------
D-------5----5-5-5-5-5-5
A----------5------------------
E----3------------------------

One finger per string to start with, followed by alternating? I.e.:
i a m i m a i m a etc.

Just started playing, so I'm trying to avoid getting into any bad habits early on

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

interesting to analyse my own playing to see how I play things like this-

Originally Posted by suicas

I was wondering if anyone could give advice or tips on good practice in situations such as playing the following:
G--------------------
D-----5-5-----5-5
A--------------------
E--3--------3--------

don't know if it's the right way, but I find it most comfortable to play this, with 2 fingers,

i m i i m i

which means breaking from strict alternation to use the index twice in succession to cross to the E string.

I was thinking of how Steve Harris plays the fast alternating octave phrases in "Flash of the blade" (Powerslave album)

eighth notes at 220bpm-plus;

G-----7-7-7----7-7-7------
D-------------------------
A--5---------5------------
E-------------------------

-and finding it easiest to play it with three fingers,

i r m i i r m i

or with two fingers,

i m i m i m i m

[jellybassbeans]

"I was wondering if anyone could give advice or tips on good practice in situations such as playing the following:
G--------------------
D-----5-5-----5-5
A--------------------
E--3--------3--------"

Hi there - I've done quite a bit of work on string crossing exercises, and I also found that strict alternation in this case to be too cumbersome. I also found that using i m m was a more workable solution.

I would practice this by playing the RH pattern for a minute or so, then up the metronome a notch or 2 and play the reverse, which would be:

G--------------------
D--5------5---------
A--------------------
E----3-3-----3-3---- using m i i

Then, notch the metronome up a bit again and play the 1st pattern, and so on a bit faster each time and switching patterns each set.

To keep the left hand amused, and so's to keep from using the same fingers during this whole process, I would use the following notes for one set:

G------------------
D----0-0----0-0---
A------------------
E---3-----3-------- (2nd finger)

and for the other set:

G----------4-----(3rd or 4th finger)
D--2-------------(1st finger)
A----------------
E-----0-0----0-0

always using RH i on the low string, and m on the higher strings.

I hope I wrote the tab right and it's not too confusing. I'm not really familiar with tab...anyway, I hope that's of use to you.
Peace - jbb

[Funkateer]

I've pondered this exact same lick too. Since I used to play classical guitar, this is one of the rare occasions when I break out the RH ring finger, so I can go i-m-a. My ex bass teacher had an interesting alternate suggestion which was to play it i m i and then rake across a killed A string to the E string using i. The combo killed A/note on E has a nice thick sound.

[BassGod]

I would play that i-m-m, I find that to be the easiest way... it's probably just a bad habit.

~Graeme

[JMX]

Originally Posted by suicas

I've read quite a bit about alternating right hand fingers while plucking the strings, and most of what I've read deals with playing notes on the same string.

I was wondering if anyone could give advice or tips on good practice in situations such as playing the following:
G--------------------
D-----5-5-----5-5
A--------------------
E--3--------3--------

[..]
Alternating then repeating:
i m i i m i

I would not repeat that, but invert it first and then repeat:

i m i i m i / m i m m i

Now you don't have to skip strings with one and the same finger.
Also, practice this by beginning on the m too.

[JMX]

Originally Posted by suicas

Similarly, how would you play the following with 3 fingers:
G----------------------------
D-------5----5-5-5-5-5-5
A----------5------------------
E----3------------------------

One finger per string to start with, followed by alternating? I.e.:
i a m i m a i m a etc.

Just started playing, so I'm trying to avoid getting into any bad habits early on

I recommend playing the Billy Sheehan system.

r m i, because the natural movement is to drum your fingers rolling from pinky to index, not the other way around. I do raking though when moving down to the next string.


So it's r m m i r m i r m i etc.

[suicas]

Thanks everyone, I've found the tips given very useful.

I'm still trying out variations in technique listed to see which feels the most natural/comfortable.

I'm finding that my fingers tire out faster if I don't alternate them so much, so I'm currently practicing i m i / m i m mostly.

[Matthew Bryson]

If you can get a hold of the current bass guitar magazine (I think it says 'display until 4/16') I think it's the one put out by guitar world, it has Nikki Sixx on the cover - anyway, there is a column by John Paul Jones and it's about this very topic. He basically says what the guys in this thread have said - playing what feels natural is more important than strict alternation. He gives some tips and exercises to practice it with (sections of old Zep tunes) Might be worth a look.

[clef360]

you could also use your thumb. When i picked up my bass and tried to play this strictly alternating mimimi is what I did naturally

[maxy]

I was sim. stuck. I am tring to get to strict alteration but i was wondering doesnt non-strict alternating slow down speed. For ex. related to raking...i do ...
e arp f arp
---------------------
------------------------
-----2----------0--3----
-0-4---0-----1-------1----
i m i i i m i i
Now we are using i very much and for similar to pattern to follow like the f maj arpegio(from e) we would be slowing down big time right??? Help.

[RicPlaya]

For speed wouldn't you try to alternate everything you could? imimimimimimimim everything possible? Reason being if I wanted to play fast how fast could I play i m i m m m i i i m i i RH technique compared to playing the same lick imimimimimim I fell I do that much faster. I think of my fingers as drum sticks playing a fast roll rlrlrlrlrlrl. How fast could I play something with one hand rrrrrrrrr compared to both playing hands rlrlrlrlrlrl? Much faster with both hands, do I play everything like this imimimim, heck no? My question is should we try to alternate imimimim 100% of the time thoeretically speaking?