Trouble with three fingers?

[Slough Feg Bass]

wow, lots to say about this!
I learned the hard way.
many years ago, had a 5 week tour booked, with over 30 shows to play.
went skateboarding about a week before liftoff, and yup, broke my index finger on my right hand.
put a splint on it, and got to practicing.
got to about 4 weeks into the tour, guitar player says, "hey what's that on your hand?"
they didn't even notice.
ever since then, the ring finger comes into play all the time by itself.

 

[RWRLV]

Before I proceed,
"Power Tab" is free, and not too bad when you need to explain TAB.
What's more, you can insert guitar chords - rhythm/inversions/etc., which means, you can have a nice rhythm guitar playing with you and using your specific chord inversions/notes/scale notes/etc...
AND IT HAS A METRONOME.

Also, there is one more free software Anvil Studio that I would recommend for ZERO money,
BUT NO TABS.
http://www.anvilstudio.com/

Now about your Coltrane solo.

I don't want to take too much of your time explaining my approach of your example; therefore, I'd use only 4 measures/bars.

Again, I've revised your positions.
See attached.
Bar 1.

My left hand is "lazy" and did not want to jump from
E=14th fret/D string
to
F# = 11th fret/G string;
therefore,
the first four 8th notes I would play/position/fingering the following way:

C# = 16th fret/A string:
Left hand - 2nd finger.
Right hand - THUMB. Sorry, it's just me.

E = 14th/D string:
Left hand - 1st finger.
Right hand - Index.

F# = 16th/D string:
Left - 3rd.
Right - Middle.

B = 16th/G string:
Left - 4th.
Right - Ring.
...
See attached.

There is one spot where my right hand really wants to "rake". I'm working on it.

I don't want to write too much, just see my attachment.

Later, I'll try to attach some of my exercises that led to that kind of fingering and, maybe, could explain my logic behind it.

I missed this????
I'm just not an advocate of the use of TAB. I find it to be pi$$ poor for education & has contributed to the dumming down of players but that's another subject & as you pointed out above Jeff Berlin has been banned. (though I wish he wasn't)

But the software is neat. To bad you could not enter the information required with the fret note name. Knowing one played frets 12 on the D & 11,14 on the G won't help them on piano. Pianos don't have frets ya know..

Thank you for sharing the links & software information.


Who's Maybe we need to start a thread in regard to Fret/pick hand options???

NOTE! I made an error
F# = 16th/D string:
Left - 3rd.
Right - Middle.

*********This should be a G# fret 13 G string
Its a C#-7 Arp.*******************
Correcte d& Reposted here from Post # 48 Sorry my bad!!

 

[friedtransistor]

Not to steal the spotlight, but I too have been having issues. I can do straight eigths with three fingers at slower tempos, but no matter how hard I try I start galloping as I go faster. I tend to play R M I R M I R M I, which turns into RMI RMI RMI. And to keep up I notice myself doing RMI RM RMI RM RMI RM. Any way to be able to go faster without the annoying gallop? It's not like we play thrash at church...

 

[Precision345]

It will come with practice and time

 

[frisbieinstein]

I'm trying to get three finger technique down solid to hopefully play 16ths much easier. I can do 2 fingers no problem like anyone that plays fingers can, but making that jump to 3 seems impossible. It feels extremely awkward with the ring finger. I know theoretically if you keep your fingers close to the string you should be able to hit them faster, but when I do it that ring finger just won't do it no matter how hard I try it just flys backwards naturally. Obviously practicing more is the best way to go but does anyone have any other advice to bestow?

I started out with three finger then went to two. With three the different lengths of the fingers makes it too hard to make it smooth. With two you can angle your hand so it seems as though they are the same length.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

I started out with three finger then went to two. With three the different lengths of the fingers makes it too hard to make it smooth. With two you can angle your hand so it seems as though they are the same length.

If you use the correct technique your fingers will all be the same length...as soon as you curl your fingers in readiness to pluck...they will indeed all be level. If we allow the joints to work correct the finger tips will be as level as they need to be.
Only straight finger tips are not level, but we do not pluck bass with straight fingers.

The big question in these matters is "how much curl is needed?" and the answer is "enough to bring your fingertips level'.

 

[Ferret]

Grow your nails also and shape to make up for a bit of difference and also curl fingers. If you play (sorry, like someone who wears their pants under their ass) you can't use three properly. Bass up where belongs (again sorry to offend) it is easy peasy

 

[Nephilymbass]

I use it sparingly to help play certain rhythms. Ive found its a lot easier when you figure out what feels" better" or more natural so don't just try it the way you see someone else do it. for me i normally "lead" with my index finger when playing normal two finger finger style. For example index ring index ring and so on. When playing with 3 "fingers" wether its my thumb or index i have to " lead" with a different finger or it just doesn't work. For me when using my thumb (to pluck not slap) i almost always lead with my thumb. When i use my ring finger i play middle, index ring. That's not to say trying the way i do it will magically make it easy as pie. But try "leading with a different finger" you might be surprised to find it drastically easier then doing it like Billy Sheehan or someone you might have seen do it.

 

[Ferret]

Sorry, but I'd disagree with you.

My advice - keep your nails short.

What would be the reason to get some something extra in between your finger tips and the strings?

(Unless your have developed some special technique).

Been using this style for 34 years, pointer finger slight pic shape other two angled accordingly. Each have area on sides where can play using skin for that deader sound. If need brighter sound then play using just nails, if bright but thicker then hit string with more of finger and nail, duller, slight wrist bend and all skin. Just broke two fixing car but grow fast and will post pic. Often asked how get my sound and comments that looks like not even touching the strings.

 

[ZenG]

I practise with four fingers......but when playing I often have a tendency to revert back to two at times.....

This because with two fingers you don't have to worry about finger placement as much. So my brain always wants to take the easy way out.

But there are certain riffs where two fingers won't cut it.

So I continually work on using four.

Using three there are times when one is "out of sync" so to speak in note runs.

So you have to know when to use what.

So I always go for practising with four and I work on three as well.....

Rome wasn't built overnight....but it's all good in the end.

 

[Ferret]

Yes, indeed it's possible to get interesting sounds/tones with the help of your finger nails

(I've tried in the past. I remember getting that high attack nail tone mixed with low fingertip "pillow" sound simultaneously),



but



1. They can and will break. What to do if you have your gig tonight not in five days, but tonight, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow?



2. Sometimes, when I needed to play a solid bass line (no unique tones) at a fast tempo, the longer nails were getting in my way, even mentally.

(Should I lean more on my nails or on my finger tips?)



3. If you want to use your nails for your tone (include the finger nails in your right hand's technique), remember,

it requires a lot of pedicure maintenance time - the nail length must be strictly measured and cut in time. Not too long, not too short.

Rarely they break when playing usually if I cracked them setting up. Mine after years are hard but you can also use a nail hardener. I broke one bad once and had a fake one put on which I shaped to how would normally be.
Find more useful for faster songs. Also if really fast I spin my hand and use the nail like holding a pick with my thumb and middle holding my pointer like would hold a pick but that is rare as find can play just as fast with nails. (Look at flamenco players)

Yes you are right in third comment. I have a nail grinder from Avon which works great for shaping just what I need.
Your number 2 comment, if you can learn to play light then nails are the way, you can lower action very low this way. I can get a piece of paper under string with no buzz at all when playing

It does take time to get used to especially the tactic of spinning wrist to use only skin if needed.