Three finger plucking?

[SteveCS]

Jaco needed only two fingers!

Half the time he only needed one (think about it)...

 

[prowla]

I use my first 3 fingers; my pinky is shorter than the others, so it's not in play.
To do 4 notes I often use my index finger up and down.
For some things and strength I sometimes bunch my fingers together and use them as one.
On occasion I'll add in the thumb, maybe for octaves.
If I'm mucking about I can go full-Flamenco!

 

[badinage]

Yes. I think mine is basically a two finger technique but it doesn't matter which two. No thought goes into it unless I decide to add the pinky, which I do sometimes just because.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Does anyone here pluck their bass strings with 3 fingers (index, middle, ring)?

Yes. And thumb on some lines.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I often play three fingers over 4/4, or 32132121. It depends on the piece. I've done quite a bit of drumming in a polyrhythmic context, so three over four makes sense

I just broke my index and second fingernails moving some stuff and I normally play with nails so I'm having to do 2121.... at the moment. Except when I need attack, all on 3.

 

[Xanthis]

Where did you get this idea? Steve Harris only plays with 2 fingers. I have covered a lot of Iron Maiden songs at one time or another with 2 fingers.

You and Steve Harris might be able to do it with 2 fingers but I'm only human

 

[arbitrary]

I started doing this as a teen and it’s been v helpful. Makes switching between finger and pick easy, by holding the pick with my thumb and index, plucking with middle and ring.

 

[sxaxsx]

I do use my ring finger but only for octaves really. I don't often do the galloping thing.

 

[landrybass]

Does anyone here pluck their bass strings with 3 fingers (index, middle, ring)?

The Toys Go Winding Doooooooown!

 

[Koshchei]

Yes. And thumb on some lines.

This. Don't restrict yourself to one technique -- different pieces of music have different demands.

 

[HardNHeavy]

three finger "gallop" like Iron Maiden yes.........or finger style like playing an acoustic with no pic, then i'll use four three fingers and thumb

 

[BobKos]

Sometimes. I have pretty bad technique altogether, but I have noticed lately that my ring finger jumps into the mix every now and again. I don't consciously force it - it just works out that way. I'm lazy so it must be an easier path kind of thing....

 

[Andy Marshman]

For years I intentionally focused on using 3 fingers. Then, out of nowhere, I used a pick for a couple of years. Now I'm 95% fingers - only and I don't give a thought to whether I'm using my ring finger or not. I'm more focused on the music and my fingers will just do what they need to do. Once in a blue moon I'll look to see if I'm only using one finger - and I'm not (nothing wrong with just one digit plucking).

 

[drumvsbass]

I play a hybrid of 2/3. Ascending 3, descending 2 with a rake. Then various combinations when switching directions or for lines that have more or less than 3 notes per string. But for playing 'scales', 3 up, 2 down. This is only for melodic of solo playing. For funk or more repetitive lines at reasonable tempos I mostly play 2. Metal and faster tempos I might workout a 3 finger pattern, it depends. Mostly, it's a secret weapon option in my skill set. I have been working on it to produce odd groupings (5 would be 2/3, 7 would be 2/2/3 etc) but currently switching between the two is not as efficient as blasting with on or the other. But things take time.

 

[RGerhart]

Does anyone here pluck their bass strings with 3 fingers (index, middle, ring)?

Yes, for many years now. Though I actually favor my ring finger, so I usually pluck ring, middle, index (a, m, i, for those classical guitarists ).

 

[g-dude]

Yep, got to do this if your going to play iron maiden without a pick

Not really.

Nail of middle, middle, index gets a real nice gallop going.

 

[g-dude]

Jaco needed only two fingers!

So did Django.

 

[39-Bassist]

2 & 3. Working on using 4 (more consistency while playing needed, lol)

 

[JRA]

Does anyone here pluck their bass strings with 3 fingers (index, middle, ring)?

yes, like most of the previous players: when needed --- it's a good option for some lines/fills/solos. every once in a while i'll use those three all night, or for a set, just to keep that ring finger on its toes!

 

[Scarysharkface]

Does anyone here pluck their bass strings with 3 fingers (index, middle, ring)?

Yup. I use all five, depending upon what it is I'm playing.

John