| There 3 are main ways to play 3 finger plucking style.
1/ Following, which can be ring middle index or index middle ring. As the name suggests the finger follows from left to right or right to left. This will move the 1 about
2/ Alternate, which is ring, middle, index, middle, ring, or index, middle, ring, middle, index which leaves the 1 on the starting finger.
3/ Occasional, which is a basic two finger technique in which the 3rd finger joins in when ever required, again this leaves you free from worrying about the one and threrfore where the two falls and is the technique I mainly use as it is easy adaptable.
There are of course styles that use the thumb but any good book on guitar/banjo finger picking will give you relevent information to develop that point, as well as 4 and 5 finger styles. I see it as not trying to force any sort of finger sequence as such, which is why i play 3 finger occasional, this allows me to use whatever fingers in what ever order to suit what i want to play. I know that some players want a sequenced style so the information here explains some of the ideas of it and how best to achieve it. Fingering is about playing, not sequence, to much focus on sequence really is missing the point.
So which one is best suited to a player, just tap your iners out on a table like a horse galloping and see what works best. If starting on the little finger/ring finger side is fast and easy the that is you starting on the ring finger and vica versa. Go with what is natural, develop and enhance it.
Anyone of the three is good so long as you get past thinking about them, and that is the problem....thinking to much on the technique.
Key to fingers;
I = index finger
M= middle finger
R= ring finger
When using the fingers for 3 finger alternating do not call them index middle or ring. As you will be counting to let your brain understand what you want to control, call them 1 and 2.
That is "1" for the first finger, "and" for the second finger usually the middle, "2" for the third finger used. Regardless of whether you start on the index finger or the ring finger the "and will always link the two via the middle finger. So it becomes 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 etc. You will find you brain recognises and relates this method better than trying to name or watch fingers, as counting them off is part of the exercises that come. So as you play regardless of what finger you start on the constant round of 1 and 2 and 1 and 2....works forwards and backwards because the brain accepts one and two and one and two as a forward motion only because take out the "and" and all you count is 1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2, which is far more readily to use than 1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1....etc.
Some player have a problem in their fretting hand as they will develop the habit of following the fretting fingers and can't separate the two for a while. Tap it out on the table for 10 mins. a day or as a warm up and you will notice a difference in whatever one you choose. The visual reference of seeing both hands work is a good one to keep track of what is actually happening.
Try developing the occasional and just blend in more 3rd finger as you progress.
As for me I was trained in brass instruments as a kid, so the use of my three fingers in valve work stood me in good test, I had no problems when I started to play bass, my fingers just done it, I was my fretting hand that was the problem.
Its about sorting out your brain rather than the fingers, as said practise makes perfect
In three finger techniques you will find it easier to find the two or the "and" in all the different styles of play, so it follows that the even numbers will always show you a relation to where you are.
E.G.
if i play a three alternating finger style of I-M-R-M-I-M-R etc. if i count one two though it all, the two will always fall on the middle finger. If i count one two three four, the two will always fall on the even numbers. This is true regardless of whether i start on the forefinger or the ringfinger...the two (therefore the middle finger) will always be on the even numbers. That is why the reality of counting 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 works for the fingers. If you understand the relationship then you can apply technique, the technique is to count 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and so on to achieve I-M-R-M-I-M-R-M- or the 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4 to show the odd numbers and even numbers.
In a following three finger stye of I-M-R-I-M-R-I-M-R etc see the two appear in every other one of three on the middle finger and threfore on the even number every other one in the group of three.
In both of these examples tap out on a table and count out the beats and relate them to the fingers. You will soon see the relationship to the examples above.
This is harder than it seems beause the brain and the hand must co-ordinate their actions. if you cannot work it out on the table where you can see both hands it will be so much harder to do this on a bass where you cannot.
I apply it to scales i play them using a three finger alternating technique. I start at the 12th fret on the E sring and run a major and a minor patten scale up and down counting as i go to ensure the two stays on the even numbers. After you get this it becomes part of the sub-concious, it needs little more in developing but practice to maintain it, as do all these techniques.
As said its all about where the 2 goes but it is the 1 that we need to start. As you can appreciate 3 into 4 does not go, 3 in to 8 does not go, but 3 in 12 does. As stated about the 2, you will see that a 2 goes in to the 6 and 12 the same as a 3 does.
In following 3 finger style the 1 is on the move because of this.
I will show the 1 using the lower case letter in a following finger style uses.
r- M- I- R- m- I- R- M- i- R- M- I- and back to 1 then repeat.
As you can see the one will now returned to the ring finger on the next beat. Following finger style just means the fingers follow left to right or right to left, it does not matter it is what the player feels comfortable with. In this situation you need to practice slow simple scales and follow the progress of the 1. Now this will entail getting your brain involved and it will get in the way and it will take time. Tapping out on the table is a good exercise but with two hands.
Use the 3 fingers of the plucking hand against the 4 fingers of the fretting hand always.
Start right to left so it is
ring with index finger
middle with middle finger
index with ring finger
ring with little finger
middle with index finger
index with middle finger
ring with ring finger
middle with little finger
index with index finger
ring with middle finger
middle with ring finger
index with little finger
and now you back at the start to repeat.
3 finger alternate has you playing
R-M-I-M-R-M-I-M-R-M-I-M-R etc so the 1 will not move this time as it did in the following 3 finger technique, in this one the one stays where it starts.
r- M- I- M- r- M- I- M- r- M- I- M- etc
So the 1 stays where it started.
Use the 3 fingers of the plucking hand against the 4 fingers of the fretting hand.
Start right to left so it is
ring with index finger
middle with middle finger
index with ring finger
middle with little finger
ring with index finger
middle with middle finger
index with ring finger
middle with little finger
ring with index finger
middle with middle finger
index with ring finger
middle with little finger
and now you back at the start to repeat.
In both the following and alternate techniques it is up to the individual as to which side of the hand they start. If they prefer starting on the index finger then that is fine, if they start on the ring finger that is fine, if they wish to mix them between hands that is also fine. When using both hands go with what is natural between the two hands. You have to divide 3 into 4 is both habd are used correctly. is you use 3 fingers on each hand this will not be so much of a problem.
The best way to make this decision on which side of the plucking hand to start on is to tap the fingers on the table and see which way is the best. It Is usually from the ring finger side of the hand for most but not always. Look for power and speed in the dexterity of the movements as you compare. Also look at which one will be the easiest to develop.
Obviously time sigs. that divide by 3 and triplets are easy because of the way the are constructed to build in 3s.
Time and patience is the key and getting the brain around it, not the fingers but the brain.
In occasional 3 finger, as the name suggests it just joins in when needed, this is the style I use. It is just an alternating 2 finger technique or Index and Middle and the 3rd comes in for triplets or reaches across the strings, syncopation, or I go 3 finger for a dedicated time or when I change my fingerings.
I will change fingerings to Index and Ring for some things, or use my Index and Middle together for an upright bass feel, and use the Ring finger in that style when needed.
For me my two finger style starts on the index, but my 3 finger, if I use it dedicated for a song, will start on the ring finger, so don’t worry about things and force them, go with what’s natural and enhance what is already there, rather than learn a completely new direction, your brain might not agree.
I do not agree that strict alternation pattern is desirable in playing, all the above info will help those that wish to develop it, but i do not use it as such. I use my index middle or ring finger in any order to suit what i am playing, i can strictly alternate if i want that effect or just go with what comes natural to the music, normally it is what is natural to the music.
Last edited by Fergie Fulton : 01-31-2011 at 12:41 PM.
|
Three finger technique personal problems 
