Felicita, or octave triplets I was not able to master

I would play this with three fingers on my right hand. The piece isn't fast per se, but all the skipping around may be tiring, thus my advice would be to incorporate your thumb. For the measure shown: thumb on the low C, and index and middle finger on the octave (alternating between them). Maybe just the index finger if you're comfortable.

 

Why not tap it with two hands?
Alternating the notes.
Left index lower octave.
Right index upper octave.

 

You are aware that this bass part was played by synthesizer ?

I would played simply with octaves .

 

Not saying I could do it any better, but skipping strings is something I've been working on, as well as floating thumb for keeping my muting under control.

If I were going to attempt something like this, I'd approach it Index Middle Middle, Index Index Middle, Middle Index Index, Middle Middle Index keeping the strings between octaves and higher than what I'm playing muted with the left hand and keeping my lower strings muted with the thumb of my plucking hand.

Kind of a raking technique, where I use the same finger when descending, and alternate when ascending. I'd have to spend some time practicing it slowly, but after a few days of doing that and bumping up speed I wouldn't really have to think about it.

With a pick I'd use alternating strokes and likely palm mute with some left hand muting as well.

 

Thumb on the low C, alternating the index and middle on the high C, muting with the low E string with the base of your thumb as you play the higher C. Flatten your fretting hand a bit if the G string starts to resonate (it’s the fifth of C, so very possible).

 

Try it!
I just did.
Actually it's easier if you use just your middle fingers when tapping it.
Alternate R,L,R - L,R,L -etc....

 

@Nashrakh and @Koshchei are on the right track, IMHO. I might deviate from strict alternating 'i' and 'm' in favour of p-i-p-m-p-i-p-i-p-m-p-i, so that 'm' is used when there is a high note on the beat and i is always used when the high note is off the beat, which I think will make shaping of the line easier. YMMV

 

Would you try this ?!

 

The problem is - speed You play it. You should start it learn slower and then go up, that will do.

 

With the fingers...
As there are two notes (low and high of octave) I use two fingers... index for the low and medius for the high. I alternate triplets starting one with index the next with medius and again ad libitum...
Tempo is quite slow, that's not so difficult, just trick to get your fingers automatically do...

 

I play three finger, so am used to the downbeat moving around (a pro and con of this approach is having to learn each pattern with a different starting finger so that I build in enough wiggle room for on-stage shagups.)

That said, if you’re stronger at accenting notes with one finger, then definitely build a pattern that places it on the downbeat.

 

Wow...
All this seems such a complicated thing for a two notes pattern!!!
Just alternate index and medius!

 

Made this real quickly, sorry for bad quality, but you should be able to get my point...

 

Actually, having tried it, I think that this is the correct approach, if you want to maintain the same timbre as in the recording. You can mute unwanted resonance by playing it like this:
1) Barre your fretting-hand index finger across all four strings as a mute (around the 6th fret so that you don't sound the 7th fret harmonic).
2) ring finger of fretting hand taps the low C on the E string (8th fret).
3) index finger of plucking hand taps the high C on the D string (10th fret).

 

Yes, the line is very simple and the alternating i+m approach will work adequately. Alternating i+m is a fundamental method that can be used for most things. But it's a bit like the beginner violinist that always plays alternating up and down bows, regardless of the accents, time signature, rhythm, phrasing, shaping and so on. There are times when something else might be more suitable, and IMHO, this might be one of them. YMMV.

 

With a metronome! Well, that's how I'd practice it. Slower, then up to speed as coordination and endurance improves.

Left index and ring fingers fretting, right thumb plucking low C, index (and maybe some middle) finger plucking high C.

If you practice with a slow, even very slow, tempo, you'll figure out a way to mute the extra strings. Then gradually work up to tempo. This advice is valid for pretty much every challenging part in my experience.

 

Your band has been playing it for two years. If you had spent a little time each day practicing it, you’d probably be able to play it by now. There are no secrets, just hard work and perseverance.