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raking

lburton2

lburton2

Les Is More
May 15, 2008
675
4
Detroit, MI
#1
Originally I learned to play strictly alternating index and middle.. As of about 2 years ago, I was taught to use raking.. And I've been doing it ever since. A few weeks ago, I read on here that raking is an improper technique, and can sound less precise than raking..

I understand that some songs call for certain techniques, and that "if it works for you, do it.." and that there are no "wrong" ways to play.. BUT

To my understanding, it seems that raking causes a better economy of motion.. If my finger is already there, why not use it? I just want to know if I should relearn strictly alternating or not.. Thanks fellas :hiding:
 
#3
I asked Adam Nitti, he said to learn both well enough that your brain can use which ever one works better subconsciously. But we're probably never going to get to that point, lol. My personal opinion? Strictly alternate, all the time. I had been raking for the past year and just now started strictly alternating. It feels SO much better. I can play so many things that stumped me before. Don't underestimate it, it IS faster in many situations. Just be sure to practice the major scale over and over again with different lead fingers and you're good.
 
#5
My take is this:

1. There are certain styles and parts that cannot be played without raking (much of what I play, for example).

2. Everything else can be played using either strictly alternating or raking, although it is hard to play very fast parts evenly using the raking technique.

Thus, as in most things in life, it's good to become proficient at both, but it is theoretically possible to do everything with a raking style, but I don't believe that it is feasible to do everything with a strictly alternating style.
 
#8
JimmyM said:
2 yes, 1 I don't agree with.
Click to expand...

Jimmy are you that familiar with FretlessMainly's playing?

Show me one bass player that can play one note per string in an ascending arpeggio across all 4 strings using alternate mid/index as fast as a descending arpeggio using a rake. Maybe someone can, but I''m unaware of them.

The Frank Gambale's, Yngwie's etc have shown that sweep picking is faster when using larger intervals, and raking is just a downward sweep.

Just because it's not required to rake in some styles of music doesn't mean it's not more efficient when a passage calls for it.
 
#10
Ah, the old sweep picking parlor trick ;) OK, if you're into that kind of thing, I guess you have to rake to do it. And I'll refrain from editorializing on it, but you are right...it's hard to sweep pick unless you sweep. OK, congratulations...you got me :p
 
#11
If you do a sweep ( up and down ) yeah right, it is kind of raking ... but it is really fast, while raking by bass player involve 2 or 3 notes accross 2 or 3 strings and it isn't as fast as a sweep... stuff that can be done alternating.

I think that if you don't do lighting fast arppegio, alternating should be a priority just because everything is clear and even. You have more control.
 
#12
you're right about it being a hard habit to break. Relearning strict alternation is becoming one of the hardest things for me to do on bass.

If i'm comping chords lightly and I don't want to do double stops or do a flamenco rake downwards, i'll do a rake upwards with the tips of my fingers.. which I guess you could call raking.. So there's no way I would do something like that with alternation.. Obviously there are exceptions, but I'm starting to see/hear how strict alternation is highly beneficial in most instances.
 
#13
Hi Guys!
Forgive me asking but:

By Raking you mean moving one finger across 1 - 4 strings going from (for example) G string to E string?

If yes, I can`t see anything wrong with it...I do that when there is a need for it (usually in slow and medium tempos) when I have more time to control it.

If song is very fast I`m alternating fingers as it seems to be faster to me.

People are raking were raking and will be raking. Can`t see anything wrong with it, most of instructional books I came across talks about raking on first few pages.
 
#14
JimmyM said:
Ah, the old sweep picking parlor trick ;) OK, if you're into that kind of thing, I guess you have to rake to do it. And I'll refrain from editorializing on it, but you are right...it's hard to sweep pick unless you sweep. OK, congratulations...you got me :p
Click to expand...
Well, unless you considering increasing your skill capacity a parlor trick. I personally don't really like raking because my action is too high for it and it's less comfortable.
 
#15
I have been a strictly alternating finger player from the get go 13 years ago. However, there are styles of PLAYERS that you can not imitate with alternating fingers. Anything can be played either way but there is a feel that Gary Willis has in his descending triplets that I could not pull off. I could get the notes just as fast, but something was missing. It was the raking. I agree with JimmyM 100% on most everything he says on this forum. However, no matter what, you can't make alternate fingering sound like a rake. I know, duh, right. So to reinforce Adam Nitti, learn both.
 
#17
Raking unacceptable seriously ????? ... Then is slapping not okay.. Is muting not okay??... Is thumbing bad???...No pick???... How many fingers is okay?...2. 3. 4. I'm disturbed by this.. Is this the salem witch trials.. Use whatever you want to as far as I 'm concerned ... If everyone played the same it would be boring... I rake... And I use mismatched cabs.. Burn me! Lol I've even used a drum stick on stage to beat the strings!!!!
 
#20
I play at church, and most of what I do is root fifth octave sweeps, and without raking I would stumble over notes. Plus it allows me time to perform a third or forth, or even a sixth when I'm feeling up to it, and hit the root right after. I am trying to practice not raking, but so far that's killing my rhythm and speed.
 

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