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To rake or not to rake...

Y

YogSothoth

Jan 20, 2007
60
0
Beyond the Wall of Sleep
#1
That is the question. For speed.

When descending (in pitch) from a higher string to a lower string, do you rake upwards with the last finger that played on the higher string, or do you keep a strict alternating pattern going down as well as up the strings?

I have heard that raking upwards is considered a "bad" technique when it comes to speed. I am experimenting both ways now, and it's kinda of a mind**** trying to keep a strict alternation: I can play faster using my raking technique.

I am trying to build a lot more speed here as well as a good tone to go with it. I can see at some point it might be less work for the brain to do strict alternate picking, if you could just put your right hand on "auto pilot."
 
#10
There are a lot of threads on this topic. Have you done a search?

I used to rake and didn't even know that it was considered "bad" technique. I was interested enough in "proper" technique to give strict alternation a try.

I spent an entire summer learning scales and other pitch patterns in strict alternation. It really cleaned up my technique and actually helped my speed increase. I could play fast passages while raking, but they seemed a little sloppy (I didn't want to say that at the time).

Now, I use both.

I've been doing a lot of funk style playing lately and raking really feels right in a lot of situations. The rapid 16th note sections work well with strict alternation.

I studied classical double bass in college and I was always concerned with "proper" technique. The electric bass is so different than double bass. It hasn't been around for very long. There are many ways to do the same thing. IMO, what matters the most is your end product. It's hard for me to say that. I want to believe that there is a right way to play, but how can we say that with the electric bass and everything that we are able to do with it?

Joe
 
#11
I rake.

When I was taught and then subsequently taught guitar to others, we always talked about economy and efficiency of motion - don't move unless you have to and only move as little as you need to.

I then moved to bass and took some technique lessons from a well respected bass teacher, and he said to rake and repeated the same economy/efficiency mantra that I knew and loved so it made perfect sense to me. Now this teacher was originally a double bass player and so some of his technique may have carried over from that, but I'm happy with my style and sound right now.

Having said that, I also practice strict alternation drills to increase my string hopping speed, but when playing songs I rake. The trick with raking is to work on your tone - sometimes you will want it to sound like you are 'strumming' the strings with your rake, and other times you want it to sound like you are playing the next note with the same finger (ie. no deliberate raking, just economy of motion).

Just as for guitar, there is no right or wrong way, and there are extremes of raking/alternating out there too. I went to a guitar workshop by Frank Gambale who specialises in 'sweep picking' which is an extreme pick raking move - and he was one of the fastest pickers I have ever seen.
 
#12
I rake - not consciously, but that's what my fingers naturally do when going from higher to lower strings. It might not be "right", but it works well for me. Since my finger is already resting on the string, why not use it?

Besides, I play mostly rock and blues, we don't need no stinkin' rules! ;)
 
#13
daffy said:
I rake.

When I was taught and then subsequently taught guitar to others, we always talked about economy and efficiency of motion - don't move unless you have to and only move as little as you need to.

I then moved to bass and took some technique lessons from a well respected bass teacher, and he said to rake and repeated the same economy/efficiency mantra that I knew and loved so it made perfect sense to me. Now this teacher was originally a double bass player and so some of his technique may have carried over from that, but I'm happy with my style and sound right now.
Click to expand...
The problem I have with this explanation for raking is that it automatically assumes that raking is the more economical of motion between the two because you use one finger to play two strings. It isn't always. I find it more economical to keep my two fingers operating in a pattern I'm already familiar with and have been using rather than break that pattern with a rake. It's especially economical when you're playing fast 16th or 32nd notes in a row and skipping strings a lot. Also, it's a lot harder to keep good time with raking. Now and then raking is good for a certain riff, like maybe a Jamerson riff, but SA will make you smoother and faster at skipping strings.
 
#14
JimmyM said:
The problem I have with this explanation for raking is that it automatically assumes that raking is the more economical of motion between the two because you use one finger to play two strings. It isn't always. I find it more economical to keep my two fingers operating in a pattern I'm already familiar with and have been using rather than break that pattern with a rake. It's especially economical when you're playing fast 16th or 32nd notes in a row and skipping strings a lot. Also, it's a lot harder to keep good time with raking. Now and then raking is good for a certain riff, like maybe a Jamerson riff, but SA will make you smoother and faster at skipping strings.
Click to expand...

I had a strong suspicion that this was the case. After 7 or 8 years of playing, I find I am lacking that clean speed that people have been telling me "will come with time." I dusted off the metronome after quitting my band after 2 years and am tweaking my technique. I haven't decided if I will rake or relearn everything, but I have a good feeling if I practice slowy focusing on cleanliness and smoothness along with the metronome I can increase my speed. Hopefully.

I mean at this point, it might be farther to go back than it would be to continue? The point of no return, as they say.
 
#15
Nah, that's all a myth. You just have to work through it and see it through. It's like correcting a golf swing...uncomfortable for a while but then you start to improve. Took me about a month to get used to strict alternating. YMMV.
 

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