Right hand technique (lefties please don't tase me) is often discussed in terms of tone and timbre but here I'd like to consider the timekeeping aspect.
personally I have 3 ways of attacking the strings: trad 1- or 2-fingersyle, thumb-and-forefingerstyle ( we can also call this Travis picking ), and plectrum.
My go-to is thumb-and-forefinger for a number of reasons:
- Timekeeping. Travis picking is incredibly adept, intuitive, powerful, and quite elastic in terms of maintaining and expressing time. i've been doing this on guitar forever and my only doubt was what fast notes on a single string would sound like on a bass but as it turns out they sound incredible.
- Ease and stamina. I will never understand the two finger vogue when you can employ a counterforce in your thumb that goes more or less unused in two finger style. I think this explains a lot of the timekeeping prowess as well since you literally have a pendulum built into the attack. trad fingerstyle to me just doesn't dance it feels more like trying to do a flutter kick in rhythmic pattern, it's a very boxed in feeling to me whereas I feel quite free with a Travis approach and it opens up the strings for easy syncopation. otoh I feel like trad fingerstyle often gives a really nice pocket feel.
- Clarity. Travis style isn't as clear and clean as using a plectrum but it is not as subtle and boompy as two fingerstyle which can be quite soft and featuresome and is one of the main reasons I will switch to that style. but I am really impressed with how consistent and sharp Travis style is. One thing to watch out for is that you get your thumb notes to be compatible with your finger notes as these can sometimes sound pretty different, for me if I keep my nails trim I get a very consistent sound. ymmv.
- Effect. Travis style I can soften my finger and thumb and play over the string or get under the strings and get close to popping. Very easily expressive and again you maintain utter control of time.
Anyways I'll leave it there to start but may make more notes.
What say you?
Do you notice different right hand techniques allow for different timekeeping postures? What are your go-tos and why?
personally I have 3 ways of attacking the strings: trad 1- or 2-fingersyle, thumb-and-forefingerstyle ( we can also call this Travis picking ), and plectrum.
My go-to is thumb-and-forefinger for a number of reasons:
- Timekeeping. Travis picking is incredibly adept, intuitive, powerful, and quite elastic in terms of maintaining and expressing time. i've been doing this on guitar forever and my only doubt was what fast notes on a single string would sound like on a bass but as it turns out they sound incredible.
- Ease and stamina. I will never understand the two finger vogue when you can employ a counterforce in your thumb that goes more or less unused in two finger style. I think this explains a lot of the timekeeping prowess as well since you literally have a pendulum built into the attack. trad fingerstyle to me just doesn't dance it feels more like trying to do a flutter kick in rhythmic pattern, it's a very boxed in feeling to me whereas I feel quite free with a Travis approach and it opens up the strings for easy syncopation. otoh I feel like trad fingerstyle often gives a really nice pocket feel.
- Clarity. Travis style isn't as clear and clean as using a plectrum but it is not as subtle and boompy as two fingerstyle which can be quite soft and featuresome and is one of the main reasons I will switch to that style. but I am really impressed with how consistent and sharp Travis style is. One thing to watch out for is that you get your thumb notes to be compatible with your finger notes as these can sometimes sound pretty different, for me if I keep my nails trim I get a very consistent sound. ymmv.
- Effect. Travis style I can soften my finger and thumb and play over the string or get under the strings and get close to popping. Very easily expressive and again you maintain utter control of time.
Anyways I'll leave it there to start but may make more notes.
What say you?
Do you notice different right hand techniques allow for different timekeeping postures? What are your go-tos and why?
