string crossing

[corpsegrinder]

I've been playing for about 2 years, and despite my constant practice, my 3 finger right-hand technique is lacking. I can run 16th notes at 180 bpm on one string, but on riffs where i need to switch strings, my technique gets sloppy. any suggestions, besides slowing down?

[IAmTheDood]

one trick i've found is to try to get ahead of the beat when jumping strings. when you do that, you'll land on the beat.

[crazyguy832]

Try angling your wrist so that your ring finger has less of a jump to the next string.

[onlyclave]

Practice your string crossing much slower and as cleanly as possible.

Always, if you are having trouble with any technique, play is as slowly and as cleanly as possible. You will get better much faster that way.

[cheesemonkey]

Originally Posted by IAmTheDood

one trick i've found is to try to get ahead of the beat when jumping strings. when you do that, you'll land on the beat.

that would work but i can see where that could cause some problems later on.

[corpsegrinder]

Originally Posted by cheesemonkey

that would work but i can see where that could cause some problems later on.

It's pretty hard to get ahead of the beat if you're playing at 180 BPM.

[JimmyM]

There is nothing else you can do but slow down and practice it until you get it. Well, there is one other thing, but every time I mention it, it starts a flurry of BS. But I'm going to say it anyway...if you are raking, stop doing it and use strict alternation.

[knarleybass]

How about don't skip strings? I am only kidding...

[knarleybass]

16th notes at 180 BPM is pretty fast.

[corpsegrinder]

Originally Posted by knarleybass

16th notes at 180 BPM is pretty fast.

that it is. on one string it's not so hard, though.

[HaVIC5]

This is one of the things that I have found about people who brag about their 3-finger technique; they can play ridiculously fast 16th notes on one string, but when it comes to translate that into crossing strings, they can't even do it cleanly and evenly at 100. Most of the time I spend with developing 3-finger technique isn't with playing single notes on one string, but playing ascending and descending arpegios, scalar passages and otherwise. Ignoring speed, try playing a two-octave major scale and play VERY careful attention to your fingering, SLOWLY at first. If you're going to rake (Billy Sheehan, NHOP style), make sure you practice your raking and STICK TO THAT FINGERING. When you're playing a descending passage, fingering choice becomes a lot more important when you throw in a third finger. Practicing scales and such focuses on finger control and precision rather than speed, and this is essential to a complete 3 finger approach.

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

There is nothing else you can do but slow down and practice it until you get it. Well, there is one other thing, but every time I mention it, it starts a flurry of BS. But I'm going to say it anyway...if you are raking, stop doing it and use strict alternation.

NHOP raked, and used 3 fingers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npy3DlV98yM

[Wootsticks]

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

NHOP raked, and used 3 fingers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npy3DlV98yM

Jaco only needed four.
Jaco didn't need frets.
Jimi Hendrix didn't learn theory.
That dude from Queen.

[HaVIC5]

Just saying, the undisputed master of three finger technique raked, so it wasn't the raking that is the problem.

[corpsegrinder]

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

This is one of the things that I have found about people who brag about their 3-finger technique; they can play ridiculously fast 16th notes on one string, but when it comes to translate that into crossing strings, they can't even do it cleanly and evenly at 100. Most of the time I spend with developing 3-finger technique isn't with playing single notes on one string, but playing ascending and descending arpegios, scalar passages and otherwise. Ignoring speed, try playing a two-octave major scale and play VERY careful attention to your fingering, SLOWLY at first. If you're going to rake (Billy Sheehan, NHOP style), make sure you practice your raking and STICK TO THAT FINGERING. When you're playing a descending passage, fingering choice becomes a lot more important when you throw in a third finger. Practicing scales and such focuses on finger control and precision rather than speed, and this is essential to a complete 3 finger approach.

It seems you understand my plight. I'm not a raker, so the independence of my fingers is very important. Do you have any examples of some of these arpeggios you speak of? In tab form? Something with a little stretch for the left hand as well?

[dystopiate]

Don't know if this is an issue for you, but when I was first attempting string skips with three fingers, I would inadvertently tense up (actually, I do that a lot when trying a new technique).

Remaining as relaxed as when on one string made the single biggest difference for me.

[agfrag]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is raking?

[crazyguy832]

Instead of alternating, you pluck with only one finger. Like...

G 5 - -
D - 3 -
A - - 4
E - - -


You could play that IMI, or you could just bring your index finger down one string at a time. Sort of like strumming.

[Nyarlathotep]

I raked all the time when I used fingers. Its funny, but I find it easier to go up (higher pitch) strings with a pick, but I found it hard with fingers. I'm hoping that if I can work on alternate up/down picking that I will be able to skip down as easy as I did fingerstyle.