Yet another fingerstyle question

[moro]

In Tom Sawyer, there's a part that goes:

--------7-------
0-0---00------0-
----------------
----------------

Each character is a sixteenth so the timing is eighth, quarter, sixteenth, sixteenth, dotted quarter, eighth.

I was having trouble playing the sixteenths then the subsequent D with two fingers so I've been trying it with i, m, a, m, i, i, which seems to flow a little better. Is it a bad habit to get into to use my fingers out of order like this?

Thanks.

[Poop-Loops]

Couldn't you just play the D at the 12th fret on the D string? Different tone maybe, but won't give you any trouble.

[Bassjunior]

While I'm not too sure what the "a" in between your "i" and "m" means, it is really up to you how and why you play with certain fingers. If it's easier to play two indexes in a row, do it, because that's how your hand wants to play it. My advice is to make sure you're not over doing it, such as playing more than 3 notes on a single finger.

Here's one for you, a passage from one of my own songs

------------------------
--9-10--9-10----109----
---------------11---10--
88-8--88-8--88---------

I play that i,i,m,i,m,i,m,m,i,m,i,m,i,m,i,i. Those are all 16th's at 220 bpm, at least in the song . practice at any speed you like. That's my example of non-standard finger motion. PM if you want any more exmaples.

[moro]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Couldn't you just play the D at the 12th fret on the D string? Different tone maybe, but won't give you any trouble.

Ha ha, you're right. Thanks.

I'd still like to be able to switch strings though, because I won't always have the option of staying on the same string.

[moro]

Originally Posted by Bassjunior

While I'm not too sure what the "a" in between your "i" and "m" means, it is really up to you how and why you play with certain fingers. If it's easier to play two indexes in a row, do it, because that's how your hand wants to play it. My advice is to make sure you're not over doing it, such as playing more than 3 notes on a single finger.

The "a" is the ring finger.

It's not the two indexes in a row that I'm worried about. I *think* if you're using three fingers, you're supposed to cycle them, like:

i, m, a, i, m, a

I'm going in one direction, then reversing:

i, m, a, m, i

I wasn't sure if this was "correct."

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by moro

I'm going in one direction, then reversing:

i, m, a, m, i

I wasn't sure if this was "correct."

If you are getting a nice, even tone between the 3 fingers, regardless of the order, then you are playing it "correctly" IMO.

[seanm]

The reason you religiously practice strict alternating fingers is so that you don't have to think about it.

But when playing, let your fingers do what they want. And if this means using the index finger 100 times in a row, so be it. Are you going to tell James Jamerson he was playing wrong?

Hopefully your practice will kick in and you will alternate when you should.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

If you are getting a nice, even tone between the 3 fingers, regardless of the order, then you are playing it "correctly" IMO.

Wrong. Playing i-m-a-m-i-m-a-m-i makes you use your middle finger twice as much as the others. You might as well stick to 2 finger at that point.

If you're gonna play 3 finger, alternate. If it's just for this song, then don't bother. Learning 3 finger takes some time and isn't necessary, just an added bonus. So if you plan on sticking to 2 finger, just play 2 finger on this song and get it to the point where you can do it right. Slow down if you have to.

[Depth_Charge]

What's wrong about achieving even tone?

[Poop-Loops]

My point is there is more to it than getting it "right". You can get even tone both ways, but alternating will be more efficient.

[slackerdefined]

why not just practice those 3 notes over and over again until you can get it?

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

My point is there is more to it than getting it "right". You can get even tone both ways, but alternating will be more efficient.

We're not discussing efficiency in motion we were discussing whether it's wrong to not alternate if thats what is working for you.

And it's not wrong at all.

Ears don't see technique, they hear results...

[moro]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

We're not discussing efficiency in motion we were discussing whether it's wrong to not alternate if thats what is working for you.

Well, it's a little of both. I don't want to get into any bad habits even if it means not doing something that works in the short term.

It's true that in my example, I'm not doing i, m, a, m, i, m, a, m for an extended period. But because I'm just starting out, every little thing I do has the potential to become a habit. (Since alternating isn't totally automatic for me yet.)

Anyway, I think I'm going to stick to two fingers for now. Sounds safer.

[PrimusNut]

2 fingers IS safer.. I tried 3 fingers and it felt very uncomfortable. Stick with 2 if it is what feels right.