Would it be possible to play Tech Death with 2 fingers?

FolkLordovFolk · #1 12-02-2011, 06:25 AM

Playing Technical Death Metal with 2 finger picking, possible?

Any examples of Tech Death bassists who do this?

Hamlet7768 · #2 12-02-2011, 10:47 AM

I think that Steve DiGiorgio is the fellow you're looking for. He's an extremely fast and technically skilled player.

Munchlax · #3 12-02-2011, 10:53 AM

Yeh it's possible there's a lot of fast 2 finger players. It would be a lot less work though if you learned three fingers and really isn't that hard to learn.

FolkLordovFolk · #4 12-02-2011, 11:04 AM

I'm pretty certain Steve uses three fingers. I just don't want to start over again. i've been playing with 2 fingers for a year now. What will be easier about using 3 fingers, will there be much difference?

InfidelicBass · #5 12-02-2011, 11:09 AM

It's possible alright. Juan Alderete of Racer X uses two fingers, they arn't Tech Death but he can play fast as hell! and the song Scarified is pretty technical if you ask me.

Mayers · #6 12-02-2011, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfidelicBass

It's possible alright. Juan Alderete of Racer X uses two fingers, they arn't Tech Death but he can play fast as hell! and the song Scarified is pretty technical if you ask me.

when I hear tech death metal I think :

Viraemia - Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation on bass guitar - YouTube

and it will be hard but possible I think

EggplantofDoom · #7 12-02-2011, 11:30 AM

Viraemia is fantastic haha.
You can play it anyway you please if you practice and use your own style to translate the notes.
3 fingers makes it much easier to keep from cramping up during faster sections though, I've heard of a few bassists using 4 fingers. Thought I'm restricted to 3, broke my right hand pinky and it didnt heal back right.
it takes some practice considering that most fast passages are in an even number of notes and you dont want to miscalculate or run into a gallop instead of a constant note flow.
It's not very hard to get it down though.

FolkLordovFolk · #8 12-02-2011, 11:30 AM

Perhaps not that technical haha. More like Suffocation and Cryptopsy (before they went Deathcore)

InfidelicBass · #9 12-02-2011, 12:04 PM

You can do it, it'll take a while seeings as you've only been playing for a year. But it is possible.

chaosMK · #10 12-02-2011, 03:19 PM

I guess anything is possible. You can probably find a way to play with 1 finger too. I vote 3+ thumb.

chanson · #11 12-02-2011, 03:26 PM

Is it possible? Sure. Would it be easier to learn with three? Yeah. It will be harder in the long run for you to limit yourself to two fingers, than to take the time to learn how to use three. There are several benefits to using three fingers as opposed to two. Back when I used to play death metal and the like, I changed my fingering pattern after reading about how Digiorgio played with a different 3 finger pattern than mine. It was hard to make the transition and took a lot of practice to get myself used to it and up to speed, but it made things a lot easier and more comfortable in the end. Moral of the story: don't be too afraid/lazy to learn something new. Do what is best for yourself as a musician, not what is easiest.

Sorry if I sound harsh, just speaking from experience.

Herrick · #12 12-02-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayers

when I hear tech death metal I think :

Viraemia - Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation on bass guitar - YouTube

That was insane. And I mean that in a good way!

Hellbastard · #13 12-02-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet7768

I think that Steve DiGiorgio is the fellow you're looking for. He's an extremely fast and technically skilled player.

wrong, steve di giorgio plays with 3 fingers.
http://www.stevedigiorgio.com/bin/column.pdf

FolkLordovFolk · #14 12-02-2011, 05:02 PM

Chanson i think its just i feel quite comfortable with 2 and when i do attempt to play with 3 it just feels awkward, but if you say it will pay off i don't see why not. Thank you for the advice. How long do you think mastering the 3 finger technique will take? and what pattern is best 123, 321 or 132? As i know Steve DiGiorgio uses the 123 technique but many others use the 321, personal choice i'm guessing?

Also, how difficult would it be to learn to play with 4 fingers?

Hellbastard · #15 12-02-2011, 05:13 PM

mastering 3 finger technique is not really that hard. Increasing speed on the other hand might take a while, if what you're after is playing fast but accurately.

Four finger technique is quite rare, the only death metal player I know who uses the 4 finger technique is alex webster.

FolkLordovFolk · #16 12-02-2011, 05:23 PM

Ok great, so which technique do you recommend 123, 321, 132 or other?

FolkLordovFolk · #17 12-02-2011, 06:19 PM

Any good techniques i can start off with?

bolophonic · #18 12-02-2011, 06:24 PM

Geez, dude. Just start practicing and figure out which feels the best.

chanson · #19 12-03-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FolkLordovFolk

Chanson i think its just i feel quite comfortable with 2 and when i do attempt to play with 3 it just feels awkward, but if you say it will pay off i don't see why not. Thank you for the advice. How long do you think mastering the 3 finger technique will take? and what pattern is best 123, 321 or 132? As i know Steve DiGiorgio uses the 123 technique but many others use the 321, personal choice i'm guessing?

Also, how difficult would it be to learn to play with 4 fingers?

I can't say how long it will take to master it, as there are many personal factors as each player is different. The important thing is not just speed, but having a consistent attack with each finger, so that each finger sounds the same. Practice with a metronome, starting as slow as possible to get an even string volume. Slowly increase the tempo only once you can play the notes evenly. Playing fast means nothing if you sound inconsistent and sloppy. Increasing the duration of these exercises will build up your endurance. I'll explain the finger patterns below. R=ring M=middle= I=index. I break apart groups of four notes to show where the beat lands (assuming we are playing 16th notes.)

When I first started using the 3 finger technique, I would go RMIR MIRM IRMI RMIR (repeat). Using this technique, a different finger starts the pattern on different beats. If we expand the pattern further you will see how this continues to go on and eventually "resets" itself to where you started. This is what I used to use, until I adopted the Digiorgio style, as described in a Bass Player June 2007. I should not that this pattern works perfectly fine, and any pattern can work for any player. Some guys start with the index as opposed to the ring.

Anyway, Steve goes RMIM RMIM RMIM RMIM (repeat). This pattern made more sense to me, because it takes groups of four notes and translates perfectly to three fingers, giving you the same pattern for every beat. It took me a few weeks to switch over to this style, but I never looked back, it worked for me.

I hope I did a good job at explaining, PM me if you have any questions. It has been a long time since I played like this, but I spent several years trying to become a death metal machine. Just remember to make sure your attacks are even, and practice good technique. Make sure your wrist isn't bent to avoid injury. Alex Webster recently wrote a book about death metal bass, I am fairly sure he covers his 3 finger technique. I have not read it but have heard good things. May want to check that out.

ShredderMaximus · #20 12-03-2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellbastard

mastering 3 finger technique is not really that hard. Increasing speed on the other hand might take a while, if what you're after is playing fast but accurately.

Four finger technique is quite rare, the only death metal player I know who uses the 4 finger technique is alex webster.

Alex uses 3 also.

Alex Webster Interview/Lesson in Sick Sounds Issue 1 - The Inarticulate Inception: - YouTube