three finger playing technique

[xxddemonxx]

ok, let me start by saying that ive been playing for 2 years now and my absolute favorite bassists are steve digiorgio from death and alex webster from cannibal corpse. lately ive been trying to employ some faster techniques like the three finger style, but i dont know any good techniques to practice it, and im not sure how to get the most effective sound out of it. i try to pluck in a ring-middle-index-middle order because im used to starting off plucking with my middle finger, but i dont get a good sound out of the notes i play. another thing is in this video steve does something with his index and middle finger towards the end of the song, and im not quite sure what it is, if you know how to do that, could u tell me? thanks.

[Poop-Loops]

I've only played for about 6 or so months, but I started off with 3 fingers so it's all I know.

I just go I-M-R-I-M-R. You will NOT go faster than two-finger style if you go I-M-R-M-I-M-R-M because you are using your middle finger twice as much as your other fingers, so it's pointless.

Just practice scales and songs using 3 fingers. You can go M-R-I-M-R-I or M-I-R-M-I-R. As long as you go in a pattern, it will work fine. USE A METRONOME.

[Alec W. Conway]

Just wanna say DiGiorgio is one of my 4 main influences for my bass playing.

I use two versions of the 3 finger technique

index-middle-index-ring-index-middle-index-ring
and
index-middle-index-pinky-index-middle-index-pinky

I mainly use the one with the ring, I switch to the pinky here and then to give a rest to my ring during some pure-speed-no-string-change riffs

a for what digiorgio is doing with his index and middle near the end of the song, he's simply using 2 fingers at the same time to bash the string harder.

[fryBASS]

i like to go ring-middle-index... it just feels more natural than index-middle-ring. i guess my fingers like to go right to left more than left to right.

[chaosMK]

Start with triplets and figure out your own style for the rest. I dont think there is one ultimate three finger technique for fast metal.

[Nairb]

One day after about 1 year of playing I randomly started using 3 fingers. One practice I finaly noticed it. So really just try to find your style. I use Ring-Middle-Index order and then use my thumb as well.

[DistortedBass]

Originally Posted by xxddemonxx

ok, let me start by saying that ive been playing for 2 years now and my absolute favorite bassists are steve digiorgio from death and alex webster from cannibal corpse. lately ive been trying to employ some faster techniques like the three finger style, but i dont know any good techniques to practice it, and im not sure how to get the most effective sound out of it. i try to pluck in a ring-middle-index-middle order because im used to starting off plucking with my middle finger, but i dont get a good sound out of the notes i play. another thing is in this video steve does something with his index and middle finger towards the end of the song, and im not quite sure what it is, if you know how to do that, could u tell me? thanks.

I've seen Steve do that technique a few times. He's actually only using his middle finger if you look close. He's using it to pluck down and up like a pick. I use it once and a while as well.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by Alec W. Conway

I use two versions of the 3 finger technique

index-middle-index-ring-index-middle-index-ring
and
index-middle-index-pinky-index-middle-index-pinky

Why?

Originally Posted by fryBASS

i like to go ring-middle-index... it just feels more natural than index-middle-ring. i guess my fingers like to go right to left more than left to right.

Yeah. I think Sheehan plays like that. I think it's better, actually. I just started 1-2-3, but thinking back I should have probably gone 3-2-1.

Originally Posted by chaosMK

Start with triplets and figure out your own style for the rest. I dont think there is one ultimate three finger technique for fast metal.

No. 1-2-3 or 3-2-1 is superior to anything. Just think about it. 3 strongest fingers and in order. Each finger gets the same amount of use. As efficient as you can get.

Also, use a metronome.

[Lokire]

3-2-1 works great for 3-note patterns, but as soon as you start getting into more irregular patterns, or straight 16th note stuff, it doesn't work nearly as well, since you'll be starting each grouping with a different finger. And unless you can really keep track and put emphasis on a different finger for each beat, it doesn't sound as good. That's my experience anyways.

I use a pretty weird way (I think) but it's worked well for me so far. I go R-M-I-M-I and then repeat that. So for an 8-note pattern, it would be R-M-I-M-I-R-M-I and then you could repeat that pattern. Either that, or I'll got RMI and then bring my index finger back up from under the string to hit the 4th note, and repeat that. Takes some work to get down, but for me it's really easy and fluid now.

I've never been able to really use the 'standard' RMIMRMI pattern. It makes sense to me, because it's a group of 4 that always starts on the ring finger, but I've never been comfortable going from middle to ring, only the other way around.

That's just my experience though. Works for me, might not work for you

[Alec W. Conway]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Why?

As I said, I can use both, so I alternate someitmes to give a rest to a finger.

And I know the technique looks weird like that, I've never met any bass player that uses it, except my bass teacher. I'm just comfortable that way. That would be the best reason, I guess.

[fryBASS]

well i pretty much just use 2 fingers, and if i need to do like tripletes or something then i'll use 3 fingers.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by Lokire

3-2-1 works great for 3-note patterns, but as soon as you start getting into more irregular patterns, or straight 16th note stuff, it doesn't work nearly as well, since you'll be starting each grouping with a different finger. And unless you can really keep track and put emphasis on a different finger for each beat, it doesn't sound as good. That's my experience anyways.

That's why you count "1-2-1-2-1-2" even when doing 4 notes per beat or anything where you pump out notes. Otherwise, you just learn and adapt. I've never had a problem with 1-2-3. I use this thing called a "metronome" and it helps me get rid of my mistakes.

I use a pretty weird way (I think) but it's worked well for me so far. I go R-M-I-M-I and then repeat that. So for an 8-note pattern, it would be R-M-I-M-I-R-M-I and then you could repeat that pattern. Either that, or I'll got RMI and then bring my index finger back up from under the string to hit the 4th note, and repeat that. Takes some work to get down, but for me it's really easy and fluid now.

Just like 3-2-1 would have been if you had stuck with it.

I've never been able to really use the 'standard' RMIMRMI pattern. It makes sense to me, because it's a group of 4 that always starts on the ring finger, but I've never been comfortable going from middle to ring, only the other way around.

That's just my experience though. Works for me, might not work for you

RMIMRMIMR is inefficient because you use your middle finger twice compared to the others.

[Lokire]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Just like 3-2-1 would have been if you had stuck with it.

That's great if it works for you. I use 3-2-1 a lot, just not for 4 notes patterns. Even if you count evenly, you're starting the downbeats on a different finger each time. 3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1

I'm sure that with enough practice it works great. I just found a way that I like better, so I use it instead.

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

RMIMRMIMR is inefficient because you use your middle finger twice compared to the others.

True, but for me, 3-finger technique isn't just about playing faster. Generally, it isn't the speed of a passage that determines what fingers I use, it's how the notes are broken up or grouped. How many notes on each string with what rhythms. For me it's more about choosing the (right hand) fingering pattern that works best with that line. I can usually play as fast as I need to just alternating MIMIMIMI so using those 2 fingers more often than the ring in a 3-finger technique works just as well for me.

Kinda hard to explain, but I've tried all the possibilities and found what works best for me. It'll be different for everyone.

[Angus]

Lokire- your comment that with a RMI pattern you start each downbeat with a different finger is true, but you are doing the same with your RMIMIRMI pattern. Yours repeats every two bars of quarter notes, RMI repeats every 3. Not a big deal.

I don't really understand why it needs to be the same finger that lands on the downbeat, though. With proper practice, the attack (and tone) should be even between the fingers, so it shouldn't matter. It's not like only the index can attack a dowbeat. I made a point of practicing such that all my fingers, IMR&T can be completely interchangeable so it's not an issue.

Unless, I guess, if you count beats with your fingers, which I've seen before.

Admittedly these days I'm all about the PIMA.

[Lokire]

Yeah, you're right. I guess I use 3-finger techniques for more irregular patterns, or for lines that switch strings a lot, more than for straight 16th note patterns on one string. That's just me though

[TheInsane]

Originally Posted by Lokire

3-2-1 works great for 3-note patterns, but as soon as you start getting into more irregular patterns, or straight 16th note stuff, it doesn't work nearly as well, since you'll be starting each grouping with a different finger. And unless you can really keep track and put emphasis on a different finger for each beat, it doesn't sound as good. That's my experience anyways.

I learned the 3 finger technique (R-M-I) a few years ago. IN the beginning I had the same problem as you describe above. Soon enough it was something I learned to deal with and it isnt a problem anymore. I think its a matter of adjusting the brain to the fingers and be comfortable with the pattern.

However I still find two fingers to be more exakt and precise in sound and even more exakt is the sound of a pick (which I rarely use but am thinking of incorporating more).

Different techniques are good for different things.

I also use this 3-finger technique where I play with the ring and index finger on the B-sting and then I pluck the occational note on the E or A string with my middle finger. This only works well with a certain kind of riff for me though. Most often it will have to be something pretty straight with just occational movement down to the other strings.

[ALiP BoB]

Another question would be how to develop the stamina for doing fast Metal 3-finger fingering.

My fingers get tired just watching Steve Harris play.
How does he do it?

[Grueber]

I use

i-r-m

It's the same motion as r-m-i, but i was never really comfortable starting with my ring finger. I feel like I have more power starting with the index. I talked to Troy Tipton at a Zero Hour concert once, and it turns out he does this too.

often times I will use it for a quick four note cluster
i-r-m-i

The only clip I have using 3 finger technique is at 1:16 in "Quasi-Funk"
http://www.myspace.com/penguinbass

[TheInsane]

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

Another question would be how to develop the stamina for doing fast Metal 3-finger fingering.

My fingers get tired just watching Steve Harris play.
How does he do it?

This is actually an easy answer...


Play, play, play. Train, train, train. You will get the stamina if you dedicate yourself to do it. Its just like anything else. You get better at it if you train to get better. Start slow and when you have mastered that raise the speed etc. A metronome is your friend.

[Devils Epic]

Ive been playing about 3 years, and to speed up my right hand i just did that finger tap that people do on tables. as a consequence of this, i play RMIRMIRMI over and over, switching to IM on weird parts. it really works for me well. also, i started snapping with those three fingers, that can also help improve the speed of your fingers (i think). haha.