Steve Harris 2 finger Technique

[SabreATK]

Maiden is my all time favorite band, but I later got into shreddy stuff like vai and satriani (while playing guitar). Also love jazz and clasical, but this is about bass. . .

Now that I am on bass, maiden is much more interesting. I am working on the bassline for Invaders.

The song starts with really fast lick, which has got me trying out 2 vs 3 finger technique.

I read the great sticky post about fast fingerstyle for metal, which is basically about the technique and bass setup to get 3-finger 32nds to sound good. I can go much faster and more even with 3 fingers... BUT the thing I noticed about 3 fingers, is that the outer fingers are farther away from each other and have a more different tonality. Maybe this doesnt matter if you are bouncing the strings off the board, hiding behind compression and distortion, but it seems like the best result, for the most part, would be to learn to go fast with 2 fingers.

It also seems much easier to skip strings and do arpeggios, with strict alternating two fingers.

When ever people talk about Steve Harris, there seems to be some surprise that he is using only two fingers. Is this because it is wrong, or just more difficult (beyond the mortal realm?)

So far, I am doing most playing with 2 fingers, but if I need to play straight 32nds, develp 3 fingers just for this. Is that a good approach or should I try to do everything with 2 (or 3)?

[DaveLutz]

Originally Posted by SabreATK

When ever people talk about Steve Harris, there seems to be some surprise that he is using only two fingers. Is this because it is wrong, or just more difficult (beyond the mortal realm?)

Steve to the best of my knowledge always used just the two fingers.

Here's a link to a video interview where he mentions a lot of the confusion comes from the way his hand moves makes it look like his third finger is moving, but he's really sticking to just two fingers:

Steve Harris plays with two fingers - YouTube

[antwon deserter]

Playing Maiden's stuff with 2 fingers is obviously possible (Steve Harris does it), but actually doing it is a whole different ballgame, he's been doing it his whole life. I personally had to switch to 3 fingers, which I recommend it to anyone. If you play with 3 fingers all the time it doesn't take that long to build up your finger strength and versatility. String skipping takes a frustratingly long time to get natural with it.

[paulygonemad]

I grew up listening to Maiden and thus I grew up playing with 2 fingers. I played speed metal for quite a few years with no problems. I am telling you though, you have to go faaaaasssst to pull off 2 with that style of music. I found it hard to transition over to 3 as I aged and my hand started hurting. If I knew then what I know now, 3 it would be.
2 is tough as nails though!!!
Up the Irons!

[SabreATK]

Thanks guys, 3 it is!

[maxgrant]

I have used 2 fingers for a long time. I lead with the middle, as is evidenced by the callus that reaches halfway down to my first knuckle. Yes, I can do pretty much any Maiden. I enjoy Harris' style because it's very logical.

There's no real preference to using 2 vs. 3 for me. I use all my fingers including the thumb and pinky playing classical guitar. But when I'm on the bass, 2 is all I seem to need.

[DaveLutz]

I've been struggling with the portion of "Phantom of the Opera" where Steve is soloing in the middle of the song.

Using two fingers, it sounds more authentic and my playing is more accurate, but I can't play that part at the speed Steve plays it at. Using three finger technique makes it easier, but quickly throws me off the beat. There's just something about playing those 3 notes on the D & G strings in that specific position and speed that's really tough for me. The part seems so simple on paper.

The entire rest of the song, and the other maiden stuff I've learned I can fluidly switch between 2 and 3 finger style without a problem.

p.s. I hope this isn't considered thread hijacking, this is such a huge forum and I'm still learning my way around here.

[maxgrant]

Originally Posted by DaveLutz

Using two fingers, it sounds more authentic and my playing is more accurate, but I can't play that part at the speed Steve plays it at.

Practice it slowly. That is the only way. Make sure you pick a consistent fingering on both hands and stick to it. Any complicated part requires precision if you're going to pull it off live (where excitement can up both the tempo and dynamics if you aren't careful). I had to do this with YYZ and it was a bear, but I finally did get it sorted out. I don't mean the solos of YYZ -- just the main riff presents some interesting challenges for a person playing with 2 plucking fingers (which is what Ged does as far as I can tell).

p.s. I hope this isn't considered thread hijacking, this is such a huge forum and I'm still learning my way around here.

LOL, no. It's about Steve Harris' 2-finger technique, is it not?

[DaveLutz]

Originally Posted by maxgrant

Practice it slowly. That is the only way. Make sure you pick a consistent fingering on both hands and stick to it...

That's what I've been doing, starting slowly with a metronome, gradually building speed. I guess I should have mentioned that I've been having trouble with that specific part for years. It still boggles me that more complex and/or faster parts I can nail within a few days of practice, but that 3-note pattern just kills me as I approach the tempo it was recorded at.

Originally Posted by maxgrant

LOL, no. It's about Steve Harris' 2-finger technique, is it not?

Thanks!

[amcginn4]

Use whatever makes you comftorble if it's 3 fingers just practice with that. But I do recommend practicing both because it does make you more versatile and some bass lines require different techniques.