how to get better with two finger plucking technique

[Supernaute]

As a noob bassist, I've been trying to graduate away from the single right hand finger to using two. I think I'm getting better, but it's still frustrating at times. Often times my brain gets confused about which finger to use and they trip over each other. Especially if I try to go too fast. Or else I inadvertently mute a string with one finger while trying to pluck it with the other. That's fun.

So what's a good way to get proficient? How can I train myself to use two fingers effectively?

 

[ADHD librarian]

a metronome (or drum machine app on your phone)
and something really simple for your left hand (like a major scale or even a little 1, 3, 5)
repeat ad nauseam
(then repeat some more)

 

[lowplaces]

So what's a good way to get proficient? How can I train myself to use two fingers effectively?

Just keep practicing. It'll come.

 

[walking_line]

You know, it’s just like the old joke: how do you get to Carnegie Hall?

 

[Yonni]

There are plenty of online tutorials available. Scott’s Bass Lessons (SBL) has a few practice routines on this. They help build strength and go through patterns of alternating the accented finger/note. They also cover string crossing and raking, all with a metronome. If you got to SBL you can sign up for a free 14 day trial (cancel anytime with a couple of clicks) and a search for beginner technique course should find it. He probably also has it free on youtube.

I think Ed Friedland (aka The Bass Whisperer on YouTube) also has some exercises on his channel.

 

[Auer]

Just alternate fingers going up and down the strings without fretting
Index-Middle-Index-Middle etc.
EADG
GDAE

Once you got that down, slowly start playing scales, again alternating fingers.

Take your time.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Use simple patterns so you don't have to think about your other hand (i.e. scales). Start slow. Next simple songs (again, so you are only worrying about your right hand. It gets easier the more you do it.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

As a noob bassist, I've been trying to graduate away from the single right hand finger to using two. I think I'm getting better, but it's still frustrating at times. Often times my brain gets confused about which finger to use and they trip over each other. Especially if I try to go too fast. Or else I inadvertently mute a string with one finger while trying to pluck it with the other. That's fun.

So what's a good way to get proficient? How can I train myself to use two fingers effectively?

You're thinking about it too much. Do what works comfortably. If you use the same finger twice, do it. If it sounds good, do it. If it's comfortable, do it.

When I switch strings downward, I usually use the non active finger. But, when I switch strings upward, it's usually my nature to use the active finger again. It works for me. Whatever

Plucking a single string multiple times in rythym, one then the other then back

 

[eriky4003]

Like everyone said, practice is key. Maybe set up a 1 hr playlist of material you can play and like and go for it!

 

[Hawk256]

Once you get used to alternating fingers and want to build speed with those fingers there is technique that worked well for me. I borrowed it from boxing training called punch out, where you punch as hard and fast as you can until your arms stop responding. Do the same with your picking fingers. Go as fast and hard as you can until you slow down or lose sync. At first is won't be long but the more you practice the longer and faster you can go. Got me over the hump many years ago for pracicing Iron Maiden and Billy Sheehan. Hang in there, you will get it.

 

[FirewalZ]

The way I learned strong right hand technique in my early days was playing along with old Iron Maiden tunes It will be a struggle at first, maybe painful, but slowly you'll build up the muscle and coordination needed.

 

[smtp4me]

As a noob bassist, I've been trying to graduate away from the single right hand finger to using two. I think I'm getting better, but it's still frustrating at times. Often times my brain gets confused about which finger to use and they trip over each other. Especially if I try to go too fast. Or else I inadvertently mute a string with one finger while trying to pluck it with the other. That's fun.

So what's a good way to get proficient? How can I train myself to use two fingers effectively?

The following is something I started years ago, and still do today because it is very effective:

• If you have a smart phone, there are several free metronome apps. I use MetroTimer (no affiliation) because it has a countdown timer (1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 minutes)
• Pick a starting BPM that you can easily play 16th notes over. For example 60 BPM = 4 notes for each beat
• Start the metronome and peddle on each string for a certain number of minutes, for example:
  • Play the 16th notes continuously on the lowest (E?) string for 30 seconds, 1 minute etc. at 60 BPM. Then do the same for the other strings
  • Increase the BPM by 5 or 10, and repeat the above until you get to your upper limit, where you can still alternate your fingers accurately and consistently

I do this as a warm up: 1 minute at 100 BPM (15 seconds per string). Then I increase by 5 BPM (105, 110, 115 for one minute) until I get to 120. Then I play 120 for 4 minutes (1 minute per string). Repeat this with 130 and 140 BPM.

I would also work on "raking". Especially when you play bass parts that descend down the strings. Instead of using an alternate finger when you drop to a lower string, use the SAME finger on the next note/next string and then start alternating again.

 

[HardNHeavy]

steve harris taught me alot and how to "gallop" with 3 fingers..keep practicing its like 2nd nature now....When i was learning to play in the 80's (still am) haha...but i would tap both fingers to the rhythm of songs, trying to count out how many strokes needed for a part. Im strictly an "ear trained" player, but nowadays there are so many tech aids to help.

 

[brianrost]

So what's a good way to get proficient? How can I train myself to use two fingers effectively?

— Start with the open strings.

— Then move to scales and arpeggios.

— Then move to patterns with string jumps (i.e. from E to D, E to G, A to G, G to E, etc.)

Using a metronome to measure your progress is important. For instance start at a very slow tempo (40-60bpm) and listen carefully for evenness of tone. This is one of the hardest things to achieve, each finger will sound a little different because they don't strike the string at the exact same spot and the amount of “meat” on the string may vary. Practice plucking at various spots on the string, since the tension is highest plucking near the bridge and lowest when plucking over the end of the neck.

When you can play for 5 minutes with no mistakes, then move up to 80-100Bpm, then 120-140bpm, etc. Keep a log about your progress and record yourself (simple recording with your phone is fine).

Look at your plucking fingers at first, after a while STOP looking at them. Work on strict alternation, even when crossing to a higher string. When descending, use strict alternation until it’s time to shift to a lower string then use the same finger for the next note (a rake) and resume alternation.

A good exercise for practicing alternation is to play patterns with an odd number of notes, for example, play the first five notes of a scale, ascending only (i.e. C D E F G C D E F G, etc,). If you play the root with your index finger the first time, the second time you will use the middle finger. Practice starting phrases on a different finger, don’t always lead with the index. Practice patterns that use open strings.

The goal is to have total independence where it doesn’t matter which finger you start with and you don’t think about it any more. When I play, I only look at my left hand (if I need to, for learning a figure or for position shifts), never my right…my right hand just runs on auto-pilot. I shift from one finger (good for pumping roots or slow tempos) to two fingers (playing faster) without even thinking about it.

 

[BassFalcon]

2 things

1. set metronome slow. Start with 60BPM, play a whole note, two halves, 4 quarters, 8 eighths, 16 sixteenths and then back down. Do this all on one string. Switch strings and vary the tempo.
2. Once this is feeling good, start incorporating string crossings. So one half note on E one half note on A one on E one on D, etc etc

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

steve harris taught me alot and how to "gallop" with 3 fingers..keep practicing its like 2nd nature now....When i was learning to play in the 80's (still am) haha...but i would tap both fingers to the rhythm of songs, trying to count out how many strokes needed for a part. Im strictly an "ear trained" player, but nowadays there are so many tech aids to help.

Harris only uses two

Sheehan uses 3

 

[lermgalieu]

So I am lefty but play right-handed, so it took me a good long while to get speed and proficiency with my right hand. In addition to the good ideas above, I suggest working on it whenever you can (while driving, etc). You don't need a bass in your hand to practice this; any surface will do.

 

[mrcbass]

This is an issue I've been struggling with as well - wish I'd learned it right to start. It's getting easier for me, but it just takes lots of reps.

Start with something simple, like just a one note pedal. Start slow. When you can keep a nice steady pattern at the slow speed, up the tempo a little. Continue to do this until you can do this as fast as you'd possibly want to.

Next find a simple pattern that requires you to use two strings, and again start slow and build up speed.

Continue to add strings and repeat slow to fast repetition.

I highly advise that you don't try to play songs you know until the two finger approach becomes more natural - it's very easy to slip back to what's comfortable when playing something familiar.

Even after a couple of years of working on this, I still will use my trusty one finger approach most of the time - but I am surprised to find myself using a two finger approach - automatically - during certain phrases. If you want to make it your full time engine, expect it to take a long time; if you're OK with it being something that just eventually happens when you need it, it won't take as long.

The moral of the story in the big picture is that it really doesn't matter how you get it done - one finger, two finger, 8 fingers, pick, thumb - just that you can get it done.

 

[Grinderman]

As a noob bassist, I've been trying to graduate away from the single right hand finger to using two. I think I'm getting better, but it's still frustrating at times. Often times my brain gets confused about which finger to use and they trip over each other. Especially if I try to go too fast. Or else I inadvertently mute a string with one finger while trying to pluck it with the other. That's fun.

So what's a good way to get proficient? How can I train myself to use two fingers effectively?

Stop going too fast. Warm up progressing from slow to medium then focus on the fastest speed you can do properly. Eventually, that speed will be faster than it is now.

 

[srosenthal13]

I come to bass as a drummer, so when I'm not criming https://www.talkbass.com/threads/drums-are-not-a-crime.1621794/, or getting fired, I'm hunched over a practice pad with a metronome and a copy of Stick Control. So when I dove into the bass deep-end, I figured the right hand is like sticking patterns, but with alternating fingers instead of alternating hands. So, in the beginning, I would warm up on a single open string (A was comfortable) at a slow tempo and cycled through "The First 13 Excercises" (All hail George Stone) of Strick Control, just subbing Index-Middle for Right-Left:

1. R-L-R-L
2. L-R-L-R
3. R-R-L-L
4. L-L-R-R
5. R-L-R-R L-R-L-L
6. R-L-L-R L-R-R-L
7. R-R-L-R L-L-R-L
8. R-L-R-L L-R-L-R
9. R-R-R-L
10. L-L-L-R
11. L-L-L-R
12. R-R-R-L
13. R-R-R-R L-L-L-L

Keeping in mind Stone's admonision: "Practice at all times with relaxed muscles, stopping at the slightest feeling of tension."

It definitely helped me to focus on getting my plucking more even and relaxed. The paradiddle patterns (5, 6, 7, 8) can be practically applied if you need to reverse your lead finger (after a rake, for example).