how to get better with two finger plucking technique

[Killing Floor]

My thingy is use all 4 fingers. But if you want to chug eighth notes use a metronome or even a free app and play slow, in time. Then build up speed.

 

[mambo4]

Especially if I try to go too fast.

train correctly at a slow speed
then use a metronome to slowly increase you accurate speed.
Accuracy must come before speed, always.

 

[fretlessman71]

Are you using the Rest Stroke technique? You ought to learn it if you aren't already. That means your finger lands on the next string closer to your head on the "follow-through" after plucking a note. The 1st joint should be loose and supple when you pluck, like you're checking a tabletop for dust.

Beyond that, there's an exercise on the attachment here that might help you a lot.

 

[Topkat13]

Practice more.

 

[HardNHeavy]

Harris only uses two

Sheehan uses 3

harris taught me i cant do it with two fingers

 

[djmay]

Good advice right here.

— 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.

 

[micguy]

Are you using the Rest Stroke technique? You ought to learn it if you aren't already. That means your finger lands on the next string closer to your head on the "follow-through" after plucking a note.

That can help, but if/when you start playing double (or triple, or quadruple) stops, you often want to NOT hit that string, as it's already ringing. Being able to pluck well without hitting the next string is useful.

I played with one plucking finger for decades, then had wrist issues, and my index finger isn't as fast as it used to be, so I had to learn to use 2. It's tough, but it isn't conceptually hard - you just need to keep practicing with it. The bonus of being able to use two is it unlocks other things, like simultaneous plugin of multiple strings.

 

[Wasnex]

Especially if I try to go too fast.

If you can't do it fast, then slow down and work it up. Even after decades as a pro, this is the approach I use for working up difficult musical passages.

It takes time to learn. So the biggest problem is probably your expectations.

Another problem is fast technical passages don't always start on the same finger, and they don't always use strict alternation.

It can be beneficial to work with a skilled bass player who can quickly recognize and correct inefficient plucking patterns.

If you don't have access to an instructor or mentor, then when things seem overly difficult, you stop and try to figure out why you are having a problem and what you can do to overcome the problem. Maybe you need to slow down and practice, or maybe you need to take a different approach.

For example, let's assume you are playing a bass line that starts on the open E and then jumps up an octave to E on the 2nd fret of the D string. These notes continuously alternate at a relatively fast rate...E,e,E,e,E,e..... Do you start with Index or Middle? You can do it either way, but I think you will find one way works better than the other.

Now do the opposite....e,E,e,E,e,E.....Do you start on the same finger?

 

[BarfanyShart]

The main way to get better at it is to force yourself to use two fingers, strictly alternating, all the time, even when it doesn't make sense. After a while it becomes second nature, and then you can start making informed musical choices as to when you want to use two fingers or other right hand fingerings.

 

[fretlessman71]

That can help, but if/when you start playing double (or triple, or quadruple) stops, you often want to NOT hit that string, as it's already ringing. Being able to pluck well without hitting the next string is useful.

Absolutely. There are times when you don't want to mute the string below the note you just played. But Rest Stroke is a great place for a beginner to start, and a great tactile way to be sure that you're learning to alternate, which was the OP's initial concern.

 

[Egg250]

It just takes practice. Get out your metronome and work at it. One note at first, then 1 string runs, then transition to multiple strings. I have trouble playing 1/8th notes with 2 fingers. I can't keep an even tempo. I use a mix of 1 and 2 fingers.

 

[Major Seven]

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?

Look at and focus on your right hand. Most people look at the left.
Also I found that if my plucking fingers were perpendicular to the string, my fingers tended to "stumble".
Angled away from the perpendicular (towards the body) seemed to work better in this way.

 

[Slevage]

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?

Start simply: Play open G G G G G G G G G G G alternating fingers
then play open D D D D D D D D alternating fingers
then play open A A A A A A A A alternating fingers
then play open E E E E E E E E alternating fingers
Do this 100x every day in addition to your other lessons

 

[smoothbrain]

Practice. Practice, practice, practice. Practice. Practice, practice, practice. Practice. Practice, practice, practice. And then practice some more.

There is no 'royal road.'

The only gate there is is opened via practice. Some day, if you are lucky, you may look back and marvel at how you no longer need to think about this somewhat mechanical issue.

If you get through that gate, you may decide to alter some fundamental relationships. Or not.

 

[DaveParker39]

You'll be surprised how quickly you improve and get faster if you start slow and play to a beat/click.

 

[onda'bass]

I am in the process of incorporating 3 fingers, so like they say.... practice perfect technique as speed allows and crank it up daily. scales in triplets or 16ths per note, or open strings are a good starting point. not cool, but in 6 months you will wonder why you struggled.

 

[MrB64]

Don't make it harder than it has to be. Learn some basic scales like majors and minors, concentrate on alternating your fingers. It's just practice. Like anything else, the more you do it, the better you'll get at it.

 

[Wfrance3]

I got to where I could do it pretty much on auto-pilot by going to the basics.

TECHNIQUE
Thumb in the middle of the back of the neck. if seated, bass at about a 45 degree angle from you. Neck should be away from you, bass body near you.
One finger per fret. That can be a hot topic, but to conquer this specific thing, one finger per fret.

METRONOME
Set up a 4-beat click. Don't worry about how slow it is. Just set up something and be honest to it. Increase speed as you improve, but don't get in a hurry. Building a foundation here.

SCALE
Play a simple C-Scale from the 8th fret on the E string. Get each note on a click.

Now here's where the fun starts. - Make sure you are using alternation as you go. Index (C) Middle (D) Index (E) etc. It will help to actually say the word "index" and "middle" as you alternate through it. Go up and down the scale (not just up). Do that until you don't feel like a giraffe on a pair of roller skates any longer.

If you get that down and can play it at I dunno, maybe 80 BPM, Get Broken 3rds under your fingers:
3rds Scale Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com
Same thing here. Go up and down the scale.

There are deep dives on technique. They have a great one at Scott's Bass Lessons. There might be free Youtube on it if you check. What I just outlined above is a pretty good start. Good Luck!

 

[Relayer71]

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

Take the C, E, or M train. That's how I used to get there.

 

[Queue]

I found this video most helpful: