Right hand fingering while playing Billie Jean

[Whousedtoplay]

Our TB member in some other thread mentioned the bass-line from M.Jackson's Billie Jean.
My question is about the right/picking hand fingering while playing that simple but fundamental to the song bass-line.
For some reason, there is not a lot of info about it on the Internet.
(I could not find any.)
It would be interesting to know how other TB members are playing that riff with the right/picking hand.
(and maybe why?)
Anyway, here is that simple riff.

Here are my right hand fingering versions.
(N.B. If needed, I could play that riff with just one finger. It could be my Ring, Middle, or Index, or even Thumb.
Also, because of the original Billie Jean's Bass Feel, I did not want to use any Hammer-on's.)

Here is my first take (without any thinking) R.H. fingering in order of those eight 8th's:
(One finger = One 8th note)

1. Middle - (rake) Middle - Index - Middle - Index - Middle - Index - Middle.
(Variation A: replace the Middle finger with the Ring finger -
Ring - (rake) Ring - Index - Ring - Index - Ring - Index - Ring.
Easy and simple, but...

I know that some highly skillful and advanced Bass Players don't like/recommend "RAKING";
therefore,
I decided to use some different fingering:

2. Index - Middle - Index - Middle - Index - Middle - Index - Middle.
(Probably the best/easiest way to play, but I'm not too enthusiastic about starting a bass-line with my Index finger especially if the following/second note is lower.
I think it's some kind of mental block/leftover from playing the accordion in my early days.)


I'm using quite a few (all five fingers) right hand fingers; therefore, here is a different fingering:
3. Ring - Index - Middle - Ring - Index - Ring(or Middle) - Index - Middle

4. Here is my fingering that involves the thumb.
(Just recently, I've learned that Damian Erskine is very good at using his three fingers - the thumb, index, and the middle; therefore, I named that fingering the "Damian's way".

Middle - Thumb - Index - Middle - Index - Middle - Thumb - Index.
or
Middle - Thumb - Index - Middle - Index - Thumb - Index(Middle) - Thumb.

Some variations:
Variation B: Replace the middle finger with the Ring finger.
Ring - Thumb - Index - Ring - Index - Ring - Thumb - Index.

Variation C: Incorporate four fingers:
Ring - Thumb - Index - Middle - Index - Ring - Thumb - Middle.

Variation D:
Ring - Thumb - Index - Middle - (and again) - Ring - Thumb - Index - Middle.

 

[bass12]

Now that I'm thinking about it I'm not sure if I usually start with my index or middle finger. Regardless,

Middle, (rake) middle, index, middle, index, (rake) index, middle, index.

I generally play the line a bit more staccato than on the recording as it seems to work well that way. Also, for years I played the line wrong (I wasn't omitting the fifth note in the pattern when on the Bm).

 

[INTP]

"Hello, my name is INTP and I'm a raker."

I personally would rake and not worry about it. There are wonderful players who rake and wonderful players who avoid it.

If I were to strictly alternate, though, I'd start with middle for this line and use m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i. The reason is that I find it easier to reach the higher strings with the middle finger while using the index for lower strings. Starting with middle puts you on the higher string D more often, and the index is on the A string more often.

 

[petrus61]

Since its a slightly robotic/tight line, I tend to stick to m-I-m-i...it's funny, but this made me think "How DO I play that?". It's on one of my bands set lists. I would like to come up with a way to play the low F# simultaneously to the octave, similar to the recorded version where the F# is doubled by the synth/keys. Back when I was using an octaver, I loved busting it out for this tune.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Middle, (rake) middle, index, middle, index, (rake) index, middle, index.

.

I've tried your "bad" raking fingering, and now (like some kind of annoying song),
it's so difficult to get rid of.

But raking is "ba-a-a-d", very "ba-a-a-d".
(just kidding)

"Hello, my name is INTP and I'm a raker."
If I were to strictly alternate, though, I'd start with middle for this line and use m-i-m-i-m-i-m-i. The reason is that I find it easier to reach the higher strings with the middle finger while using the index for lower strings. Starting with middle puts you on the higher string D more often, and the index is on the A string more often.

Usually, I start with the middle finger (with less attention to the higher/lower strings). It's probably due to my mental block.

I would like to come up with a way to play the low F# simultaneously to the octave, similar to the recorded version where the F# is doubled by the synth/keys.

Maybe, the thumb and the ring for the first doubled F#,
C# on the A string with your Middle finger, followed by
Index - Middle - (on the D string) and Index - Middle on the A string again?

 

[Whousedtoplay]

But...
If you play with the pick - it's easy:

Down - Up - Down - Up - Down - Up - Down - Up,

 

[Bassco]

i start with middle finger and alternate--never really thought about it until you started giving all of the alternatives--just seems "natural" to play it this way.

 

[paulears]

I'm amazed anyone would expect there to be anything on the net about this at all. So much depends on your personal preference and how good the muscles are in your fingers. I've played this quite a few times and frankly the right hand just plays automatically - I've never given any thought to changing the way my brain works my right hand - with the dots, or from memory it just flows the same way that Disco Inferno does.

 

[Bassco]

thanks paulears-- I checked out Disco Inferno--and yes --that is fun to play and it does just Flow!!

 

[PJSShearer]

I just played it for the first time in many years and it turns out that I used all index finger.

 

[elgecko]

To be honest, I've never once thought about how might right hand plays that line.

 

[JimmyM]

Strict alternation. Why take your fingers out of rhythm with a rake? OK, so it's easier to recover at that tempo with a rake, and it can be done with a rake, but for me SA is the only way to go because it's all about keeping a steady rhythm, and I can do that much easier with two fingers alternating.

 

[20db pad]

Played this live a zillion times over the years. I could never get the proper articulation, proper accents of the eighths on the one and the "and" of 2, or correct note length values without SA.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

First time I play this and I went with strict alternation naturally, it is way easier to keep the steady rythm. To me raking break that rythm lock. I also play it around the 7th fret as it is easier on the long run ( I play a 6 strings so yeah ).

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I'm sorry for posting this video, because
I understand that there are quite a few Anna Sentina's fans here at TB, but I could not stop from posting her rendition in the living room of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean".
My question.
How are you getting all those kinds of endorsements for playing that very simple "Billy Jean" bass-line with THAT KIND OF FEEL?
P.S. I'm not going to pick on her about those tiny rhythmic discrepancies.
Anyway, she rakes some notes.

 

[20db pad]

How are you getting all those kinds of endorsements for playing that very simple "Billy Jean" bass-line with THAT KIND OF FEEL?

If TB has taught me anything, it's that musical ability has no correlation with how many endorsements you can get.