Relatively new player - need help

[trackskinz]

I travel for work and have some crazy hours, so getting actual lessons is tough. Been playing about 7 months, mostly via youtube 'how to' videos etc.

I have run across a couple of songs that I am clueless how to approach as they have 1/8 notes on the same fret of 2 adjacent strings (Sympathy For The Devil/Stones, and Why We Fight/Decemberists).

The speed is an experience issue of course, but how do I go back and forth between strings that quick and mute the other? I play finger style.

Thanks!

 

[iovar]

Mute with your fretting hand.
Place a finger flat on the fretboard so that it covers both the notes you want to play
(i.e. the 7th fret on both the E and the A string) and then apply pressure only to the
one you want to play. Then "roll" the pressure to the other one and keep repeating
until you get it right.
Soon enough it will require no effort or thought.

 

[trackskinz]

Mute with your fretting hand.
Place a finger flat on the fretboard so that it covers both the notes you want to play
(i.e. the 7th fret on both the E and the A string) and then apply pressure only to the
one you want to play. Then "roll" the pressure to the other one and keep repeating
until you get it right.
Soon enough it will require no effort or thought.

Thanks. That's kinda what I was thinking. what about the right hand? I usually use just my index but am trying to learn 2 fingers on certain songs. would you suggest one finger per string in a case like this?

 

[nightwulf]

Alternating fingers it the way most teachers would tell you...Me? I'm a freak, I play with one finger, and only in emergencies do I bring out a second (or sometimes third) finger to pluck...

 

[iovar]

Thanks. That's kinda what I was thinking. what about the right hand? I usually use just my index but am trying to learn 2 fingers on certain songs. would you suggest one finger per string in a case like this?

Using more than one fingers is very useful when string crossing is involved, but I think you should also try to learn to properly alternate them. It will do wonders for your stamina, speed and fluidity of playing.

On your question, when playing a pattern that goes back and forth on adjacent strings, if you have finger alternating down, it will seem like one finger per string, but the difference is that this part is integrated smoothly into the rest of your playing. So getting in and out of it will not have the audible result that a technique switch (2 fingers to 1) will probably have .

So my advice, get 2 finger alternating down correctly and then you won't have to think of specific solutions to specific songs (at least not very often).

 

[Bert Slide]

If you only use one finger you would be better off using a pick. It would be much faster and easier to play notes rapidly.

Ever see Mike Huckabee play bass. He's pretty much a one finger guy.