Right hand index and middle finger

[Carl Hillman]

My position is as follows

Looks like your fingers are just about at a 90 angle to the strings. That works most of the time, but if you raise the neck (or lower the body) of the bass you make your strings angle so that they are ever so slightly closer to your index finger and further from your middle finger. Observe how a classical guitarist angles his instrument. This makes your index and middle finger contact the string in about the same place on each.

I find that this makes really fast repetitive notes a little easier to play with the same volume and sound on each finger. Also, the faster I play the more I'm on the very tips of my right hand fingers. This means you gotta keep your fingernails pared way down so they don't strike the string.

 

[matthewbrown]

I just don't want to go with the wrong technique, because how it starts goes the same way, I need to know every detail

You will see plenty of great players on YouTube playing very fast, and watch their right hands. Many drape the hand over the body of the bass and let the wrist curve. Many tilt the wrist to get the fingertips to align. The main thing they have in common is a lack of tension. See

 

[icarus88]

Looks like your fingers are just about at a 90 angle to the strings. That works most of the time, but if you raise the neck (or lower the body) of the bass you make your strings angle so that they are ever so slightly closer to your index finger and further from your middle finger. Observe how a classical guitarist angles his instrument. This makes your index and middle finger contact the string in about the same place on each.

I find that this makes really fast repetitive notes a little easier to play with the same volume and sound on each finger. Also, the faster I play the more I'm on the very tips of my right hand fingers. This means you gotta keep your fingernails pared way down so they don't strike the string.

I put the guitar body between my legs and lifted the neck up about 45 degrees, it was not visible in the photo

 

[icarus88]

You will see plenty of great players on YouTube playing very fast, and watch their right hands. Many drape the hand over the body of the bass and let the wrist curve. Many tilt the wrist to get the fingertips to align. The main thing they have in common is a lack of tension. See

I raise my right elbow, the wrist and arm become straight, maybe I shouldn't raise it

 

[Drop1]

I just don't want to go with the wrong technique, because how it starts goes the same way, I need to know every detail

Learning almost anything else ,id agree.
In this specific case, I disagree.

Using 2 fingers takes some playing with to get right and its different for everyone.

You kinda just have to jump in. As you make progress, you'll notice small things you can correct/adjust. Those corrections take seconds to learn.

Play with finger curve and wrist angle, while you are playing. It's the only way to work it out.

 

[SteveCS]

I was just wondering if I need to bring the fingers to the same level (by slightly bending the wrist) to get faster, my target is 16th notes at 170 bpm

Are you sure - that's 680 notes per minute, or just over 11 per second.

 

[icarus88]

Here is my full practice video, are the fingers bent too much?





Here the right wrist is slightly bent to the right, it is involuntary

 

[Lee Moses]

Here is my full practice video, are the fingers bent too much?





Here the right wrist is slightly bent to the right, it is involuntary

I don't think so. It does seem that you are attacking the strings vertically rather than across the string. Either a slight bend of the wrist or bringing out your elbow--or a combination of both--should give you a little better angle to pluck the string.

 

[icarus88]

I don't think so. It does seem that you are attacking the strings vertically rather than across the string. Either a slight bend of the wrist or bringing out your elbow--or a combination of both--should give you a little better angle to pluck the string.

Does hitting the strings crosswise increase the speed?

I edited the post, in second video I slightly bended the wrist

 

[icarus88]

Thank you very much for your advices, what can I do for you, I will become a Gold member in the future when I am financially comfortable!

 

[icarus88]

Are you sure - that's 680 notes per minute, or just over 11 per second.

Actually it is a gallop at 170 bpm playing maiden is number 3 on my list of things to do before I die,

 

[Lee Moses]

Does hitting the strings crosswise increase the speed?

No, but it will give you the sound you want for each note.

 

[Fender_Bender]

My middle finger is about 3/4” longer than the index and I suffer no problems. In fact, I also use my ring finger for plucking as well. I also use my pinky to mute the G sting while playing on the A and D strings. That was the most difficult to incorporate but with practice it all becomes muscle memory. A key thing to practice is something like octaves, where you have to do a lot of string skipping.

 

[grimjim]

For example at extreme speed, 16th notes in 170 bpm

That's not that fast. Depending on the progression I will have my fingers pretty straight. I use three fingers, all different lengths.

I recorded 16 notes @ 240 (well, 32nd notes @120) and could probably get a few more BPM in bursts. Especially when droning on the same note.

 

[icarus88]

That's not that fast. Depending on the progression I will have my fingers pretty straight. I use three fingers, all different lengths.

I recorded 16 notes @ 240 (well, 32nd notes @120) and could probably get a few more BPM in bursts. Especially when droning on the same note.

OUCH
Could I see your right hand position? Thank you very much

 

[Drop1]

Does hitting the strings crosswise increase the speed?

I edited the post, in second video I slightly bended the wrist

Yes, pulling across the strings is faster. It's just a quick pull straight across. This keeps your fingers higher (they don't dive as deep between the strings so you dont have to adjust them as much).
When you get a pull on a sting straight through, it should land in the perfect position on the string under it ready to pluck.

We can give you a little guidance, but this is something you'll really have to figure out on your own. It's kinda similar to learning to slap. Everyone strikes the strings a little diffemet to get the sound they want. Finding the optimal angle to strike a string is a personal thing cause all out fingers are shaped differently.

For now just play. As you play more, you'll start to notice things that could be better. Just fix those issues as you notice them. This is something nobody can do for you. Somtiems fixing a plucking issue is just the tiniest adjust. Half a mm of finger tip less on a string changes its sound. It's really that sensitive.

I can give you generals. Like when playing motown, I use quite a bit of finger pad, but when playing Rock, I barely touch the strings with the tip of my fingers. Using just the tips adds brightness and attack to the sound where using more meat softens the attack and adds more bass.

I keep saying it , but it's true. You'll have to find what works for you and the sound you want to make. Our fingers can make a HUGE variety of different sounds. This is where rhe "tone is in the fingers" phrase comes from cause it's true. Even finger to finger on the same hand sounds different.

I could guide you to sound just like me, but that won't help you. Use this time for sonic discovery. When it comes to your sound, your plucking fingers are just as important as where you place them and eq. The can wildly change the sound in ways a lot of players dont fully understand.
My fingers can get rather close to a pick sound, but also a deep, dubby sound and lots of other sounds in-between.
So can yours. You just gotta figure out how. Callouses help fir a bighter , picked type sound. Soft , meaty tips sound more like motown.

I can't emphasize how important learning YOUR fingers is if you want to get the most from them
Also strings. Worn in steel strings can be blazing fast. They feel grippy at first, bit as skin oil builds up on them they get slick. Once that happens you can fly with the speed. They can feel almost too fast at times due to how easily your fingers glide over the strings. Steel can get slippier than coated strings sometimes. I have to wipe my down with a hot rag at times cause the get too fast for me after about a week.

 

[icarus88]

Yes, pulling across the strings is faster. It's just a quick pull straight across. This keeps your fingers higher (they don't dive as deep between the strings so you dont have to adjust them as much).
When you get a pull on a sting straight through, it should land in the perfect position on the string under it ready to pluck.

We can give you a little guidance, but this is something you'll really have to figure out on your own. It's kinda similar to learning to slap. Everyone strikes the strings a little diffemet to get the sound they want. Finding the optimal angle to strike a string is a personal thing cause all out fingers are shaped differently.

For now just play. As you play more, you'll start to notice things that could be better. Just fix those issues as you notice them. This is something nobody can do for you. Somtiems fixing a plucking issue is just the tiniest adjust. Half a mm of finger tip less on a string changes its sound. It's really that sensitive.

I can give you generals. Like when playing motown, I use quite a bit of finger pad, but when playing Rock, I barely touch the strings with the tip of my fingers. Using just the tips adds brightness and attack to the sound where using more meat softens the attack and adds more bass.

I keep saying it , but it's true. You'll have to find what works for you and the sound you want to make. Our fingers can make a HUGE variety of different sounds. This is where rhe "tone is in the fingers" phrase comes from cause it's true. Even finger to finger on the same hand sounds different.

I could guide you to sound just like me, but that won't help you. Use this time for sonic discovery. When it comes to your sound, your plucking fingers are just as important as where you place them and eq. The can wildly change the sound in ways a lot of players dont fully understand.
My fingers can get rather close to a pick sound, but also a deep, dubby sound and lots of other sounds in-between.
So can yours. You just gotta figure out how. Callouses help fir a bighter , picked type sound. Soft , meaty tips sound more like motown.

I can't emphasize how important learning YOUR fingers is if you want to get the most from them
Also strings. Worn in steel strings can be blazing fast. They feel grippy at first, bit as skin oil builds up on them they get slick. Once that happens you can fly with the speed. They can feel almost too fast at times due to how easily your fingers glide over the strings. Steel can get slippier than coated strings sometimes. I have to wipe my down with a hot rag at times cause the get too fast for me after about a week.

Thank you for your interest, I have never changed the strings since I bought the guitar, I can't change them now because it means extra cost for me, strings are dead, I think this is a bad thing for me to hear the tone differences, I am completely changing the right hand technique, thank you again

 

[Ravenblack67]

Is it important to bring the right hand index finger and middle finger to the same level in terms of speed?( My middle finger is too long)Does having a slightly curved middle finger compared to the index finger prevent speed? Is this an anatomical obstacle?

I say yes. I play two fingers curved middle floating thumb. Been playing that way for 50 years.

 

[SteveCS]

Actually it is a gallop at 170 bpm playing maiden is number 3 on my list of things to do before I die,

As a relative beginner you need to dismiss any ideas of playing at these kinds of tempi, at least in the immediate future, and work slowly on your techniques. By slowly, I mean in the 45-60 bpm range. Right now you are simply trying to ingrain or 'groove' a pattern of movement into your fingers. Before doing this you need to know what that movement is and teach it to your muscles very slowly. It's like a golf swing or squash stroke.

Also, it might be worth revising that BPM are normally defined in terms of the quarter-note, and that there are 4 1/16 In each. Reading the thread I'm not sure this is fully understood.

Also at this stage, although we are discussing tempo, whilst you are learning don't be tempted into using a metronome - it will only get in the way.

 

[icarus88]

As a relative beginner you need to dismiss any ideas of playing at these kinds of tempi, at least in the immediate future, and work slowly on your techniques. By slowly, I mean in the 45-60 bpm range. Right now you are simply trying to ingrain or 'groove' a pattern of movement into your fingers. Before doing this you need to know what that movement is and teach it to your muscles very slowly. It's like a golf swing or squash stroke.

Also, it might be worth revising that BPM are normally defined in terms of the quarter-note, and that there are 4 1/16 In each. Reading the thread I'm not sure this is fully understood.

Also at this stage, although we are discussing tempo, whilst you are learning don't be tempted into using a metronome - it will only get in the way.

Trying to reach a conclusion as soon as possible was the biggest mistake I did. At first I thought I could do it easily but it's not like that, you're right.