Alternating Plucking Technique Question

[yakmastermax]

Hey TB

I'm having some difficulties with a particular home brewed technique exercise. Right now I'm working on my eighth note plucking. I use my middle and index fingers and I try to rigorously follow an alternating plucking pattern. Essentially neither the middle nor index digit plucks twice in a row.

The exercise is smoothly move up and down the minor pentatonic scale playing eighth notes. I'm playing two eighth notes per scale note and playing two scale notes per string. Lets say I'm playing E minor pentatonic starting on the 7th fret of the A string. I'll play up to the root and then immediately turn around and play the minor 7th. There is no "reset". Once the exercise is going this results in 3 beats on the A string, 2 on the D string and 3 on the G. The 3 beats on the A and G are for the smooth turnaround.

The trouble I'm having with is high speed transition from the G back to the D after the turnaround. My plucking hand seems to get confused and stumbles. I think this is because I've got to conflicting methods at work. First I'm trying to maintain constant alternating plucking. Second I'm trying to maintain my string jumping technique where the most recent plucked finger simply rolls off of the lower string to make the transition. I think a lot of people call it raking? The first method tells me to alternate fingers and the second method is telling me to break alternation in order to transition strings as fast as possible.

I was wondering what is the proper technique to apply in this situation. What will result in the most speed and flexibility in the long run? My guess is that during the string transition I'm supposed to put the alternating plucking on hold and double pluck with one finger for the fastest transition? If that is the case could you guys elaborate further on the correct mechanics or the technique?

Thanks guys

 

[basslust]

You basically described it. One technique is strict alternating, the other is raking. Strict alternating wouldn't involve any raking, while raking would involve alternating fingers except when moving down a string. Both are acceptable techniques, just pick one and stick with it. FWIW, I play with mostly a pick nowadays but I use strict alternating except in very specific situations where I want a sound I can only get from raking. I find strict alternating, once you get it down, makes it easier to keep pace. YMMV.

 

[yakmastermax]

Check out what I found:



I think I'm gonna go with mixing raking and alternating in hopes that it will help with top speed!

 

[AMp'D.2play]

Funny you should start this thread as I've been spending the past week or so perusing the many threads on this topic, some of which have gotten pretty heated over the years. For the most part, when ascending strings, both techniques are the same - alternating fingers. It's when descending strings (from higher pitched strings to lower) where the difference occurs. The strict alternation camp continues to, well, alternate. The raking camp moves to a rake on the descent.

The proponents of SA will cite examples of their heroes who strictly alternate. Same for the rakers. JimmyM makes a strong argument for SA. I "get" his golf analogy where initially your playing may suffer as you try to transition to a pure SA technique, but in the long run it will improve. Some have gone along with it & also found success. But I think if you focused on whichever technique you ultimately choose, you'll see improvement.

The reason I was even searching this topic is I just started taking lessons from a prominent instructor who comes down on the raking side of the fence. I was looking for add'l exercises to improve this technique when I stumbled across the gazillions of threads on the "vs." topic. Since I trust his judgement, I'm sticking with raking for now. (although Jimmy is pretty convincing! )

 

[yakmastermax]

I'm almost positive in terms of simple body mechanics raking is the fastest for descending. If you can strictly alternate except when raking is faster then you'really good to go!

 

[enricogaletta]

Ascending is always little bit complicated, need just to be patient and keep practcing. A usuful help can be playing a sequence of scales and arpeggio alternating the ascending and descending way. Strings skipping from playing Arpeggios are always good to alternate your crossing on different strings. Let me know if you need any other help . Cheers