Playing Led Zeppelin: Black Dog

[bons]

Hey folks,

I'm a right-hand, finger style bassist practicing Black Dog. Below is a description of how I was fretting and also what I'm doing now as I try to adjust for speed and clarity. My changes focus mainly on how I'm playing the 7th (A) note of the main riff.

I'm interested to know how others approach this song. I'm open to recommendations. I hope this description is clear. The screenshot is taken from Songsterr. I think the tab is correct. I've color coded some of the notes I've changed my fretting for.

Was - Technique A
Starting with ring finger on the first note (7th fret E) and playing through with my index, middle, and ring, I was hitting 7th fret on D string (yellow) with my ring finger then shifting index finger to 7 on G (green) to play ring finger on 9 (purple) and sliding back to do the 5-7-5 hammer on with index and ring. Remainder of riff with index and ring.

Now - Technique B
I've changed to now play 7D (yellow) with middle finger. So I'm using index on 5th fret G as before, but now using middle on that yellow 7D. For 7 (green) and 9 (purple) I'm dropping my middle finger down (green) and then using my pinky finger for 9 (purple). This is freeing up my index and ring to quickly move to the 5-7-5 hammer on.

I hope this is clear ...

I'm finding that what I'm doing now to be much quicker, clearer and cleaner although it's taken some adjustment as it's a bit awkward for me, but I'm getting the hang of it. What are your thoughts? Am I approaching this differently than most?

Please note I am self taught and wouldn't know "best practices". Over the years I've just tried to watch the players I like most and reduce "flying fingers" and keep things moving. Thanks for the input!

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Which fingering to use is such a personal thing, that's probably why no one has responded here.
I haven't played this song since the 80s, and then on guitar.
Option 2 may be more efficient, but not necessarily, depending on how quick and easy you can change that position.
As long as it works with what came before and sets you up for what's next, it's really whatever works best for you.

 

[bons]

Which fingering to use is such a personal thing, that's probably why no one has responded here.
I haven't played this song since the 80s, and then on guitar.
Option 2 may be more efficient, but not necessarily, depending on how quick and easy you can change that position.
As long as it works with what came before and sets you up for what's next, it's really whatever works best for you.

Thanks. Yes agree. Very personal and a preference. I was just curious to know what most others do? What’s typical for this song? Seems using index finger vs middle is likely most common?

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Thanks. Yes agree. Very personal and a preference. I was just curious to know what most others do? What’s typical for this song? Seems using index finger vs middle is likely most common?

Hard to say. Everyone is different. What feels awkward for one person on one neck might feel easy for another. I say practice both and see which one feels more efficient in context.

 

[LeonineAlpha]

Funny, also self taught but also try to work on "good" techniques, same song, was doing A, also switched to B lately. Am now able to do it as a hammer on with the pinky. Find it a stretch (so may do index-ring) if im doing simillar on lower frets, but 7-9 is fine for me.

I kid ye not, I got a recluse spider bite on my left index, and couldnt use it to play bass for a couple months. Forcing me to really improve pinky strength and use. Now I also have a weird scar/callous on the side of the index that works great when I want to roll up and down between two strings, and am trying to keep the pinky going strong. So thanks spidy!

JPJ uses a lot of 4 chromatic note patterns, and a lot of 5 and 6 fret stuff, given his amazing keyboard skills, I dont doubt he used his pinky for all this.

When I play a 5 string and want to drop down to the B string reaching far right, I usually use my ring cause its reach is longer at that angle, elsewise Im trying to keep the pinky growing stronger.

Try the guitar riffs from "In the Light" also, underated JPJ Zep song, totally doable as bass solo (obv not the raging keyboard intros lol) and pinky practice. And "Ramble On" is great with pinky hammers, and well a whole lotta Zep really...