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Three Finger Picking

#2
A pretty simple one that works for me. Practice all sorts of scales using strict alternation (I go R-M-I) playing each note twice. You'll need to develop equal strength in all three to make it sound right, and since most of what we play is subdivided in twos, that tackles the issue immediately. When you become comfortable with this, practice the same thing alternating between two adjacent strings, then you can move on to skipping a string and working the octave. When doing string alternation, I start with the R-I on the higher string and rake down M-I on the lower. As long as it sounds right, no harm & no foul.
 
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#6
nysbob said:
A pretty simple one that works for me. Practice all sorts of scales using strict alternation (I go R-M-I) playing each note twice. You'll need to develop equal strength in all three to make it sound right, and since most of what we play is subdivided in twos, that tackles the issue immediately. When you become comfortable with this, practice the same thing alternating between two adjacent strings, then you can move on to skipping a string and working the octave. When doing string alternation, I start with the R-I on the higher string and rake down M-I on the lower. As long as it sounds right, no harm & no foul.
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Is the technique supposed to be strict 3-2-1?
Or 1-2-3-2, etc?
 
#9
Here are a couple of helpful walkthroughs. I play Ring, Middle, Index, Ring, Middle, Index. So 3-2-1-3-2-1. Same as Alex Webster.
Start with a decent tempo...about 160 bpm. Go through the motions and play until you can do it for a minute straight. Then bump it up to 180. Wash, rinse, repeat. The only way you're going to get it is if you work at it. And it doesn't take long to incorporate it into your playing. I'm still working on getting straight 16th notes down, but I can do triplets all day.



 
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#13
This is a fun drill. Just by tapping on a surface, like a desk or a box, you can get a good feel for three finger shizzle.

Tap out a 4/4 rhythm to start. You'll notice that the 'one' finger alternates across your hand, going, for example, ring middle index ring, middle index ring middle, index ring middle index, because 3 fingers and 4 beats forces this pattern to occur. The aim now is to have the sound of the tap on the 'one' the same, no matter which finger it is that produces it. It's a bit like a para-diddle for drummers and it really helps to give you subtlety and uniformity, flexibility and control. Work at it.

Work from a slow tempo, aiming always to stay in control, focus on the sound too because that's the secret, and work up to a good tempo, eventually taking it as far as you can. You'll find that this skill is easily transferred. And, the good thing about tapping is that it builds stamina along with timing and production, and you can do it anywhere :)
 
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#16
I've been trying to play a 4 note chromatic pattern associating the 3 fingers in the correct sequence:

So you might start 7th fret A string and pluck with the 3rd finger, then 6th fret with the second, 5th fret with the first and 4th fret with the third, then back to the 7th fret with the second and so forth.
 
#17
i want to know how to tackle solos that require me to be using 3 fingers at all times, for example; the John Myung bass solo in the dance of eternity

i always seem to accidentally deaden notes with my fingers, or some notes may be quieter than others, or i may jam or get my fingers stuck by picking in the wrong angle
 

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