Hit a wall playing 3 fingers

[tennisgod53]

I've been practicing 3 finger plucking like billy sheehan or alex webster for a few months now. I've been playing through ride the lightning and master of puppets albums to improve my technique, but I've found my two fingers are more consistent and stronger in every circumstance. Funky stuff with lots of octaves is some of the hardest. Playing an octave with the ring finger then returning with my middle to play the root is something I have barely improved on despite practicing the movement almost daily for months.

It's especially difficult only using my ring and middle fingers to pluck, they can't move independently of each other very easily. I've been practicing Orion lots and the main riff is so much more consistent when I'm using two fingers.

The main issue is consistency between plucks. I've watched every instructional video made by billy and alex as well as seen all kinds of advice about how to even them out more. The dexterity between the ring and middle fingers just isn't improving.

I've been practicing my technique a crazy amount recently. I'm starting to feel like it might be more beneficial practice time to focus on other aspects of my playing since I'm stressing about it, but I wanted to hear if anyone on here has experienced something similar and what kind of advice you may have. Thanks in advance!

edit: I use the floating thumb technique primarily, but rest my thumb on the neck pickup when playing on the E string. Thought it would be useful to mention

 

[StevieMac]

I would suggest you spend a week of practice using just your ring and middle fingers to pluck. It will feel really weird/wrong but when you go back to using 3 fingers you should feel more comfortable.

I would also recommend looking up lessons on the subject from RodneyMcG on youtube. He's a monster player and teacher.

 

[Tom Bomb]

The smarter one works, the luckier one gets. Try some exercises where the only goal is be the same, produce the same outcome, with each of the fingers. Drill it. At this point, you'll be doing some noggin re-wiring, and strengthening, so make it as uncomplicated as possible, at first, and really concentrate. Be gentle. What's unnatural needs to become natural. Shouldn't take too long
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[tennisgod53]

I would suggest you spend a week of practice using just your ring and middle fingers to pluck. It will feel really weird/wrong but when you go back to using 3 fingers you should feel more comfortable.

I would also recommend looking up lessons on the subject from RodneyMcG on youtube. He's a monster player and teacher.

Thanks for the comment this has actually helped me a lot so far. Rodney is a great teacher and I've been applying lots of his advice the past week including playing with ring and middle

 

[StevieMac]

Thanks for the comment this has actually helped me a lot so far. Rodney is a great teacher and I've been applying lots of his advice the past week including playing with ring and middle

Awesome, glad it helped