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Two Finger Tech Help

R

raul

Aug 30, 2006
423
89
Planet Earth
#1
yep, i need some help with the two finger approach to playing bass. i used to play with 3 fingers many years ago...stopped playing, and i'm back on bass and want to try the 2 finger approach.

so...here are a few questions...

do most of you start of with the index finger, or the middle finger?

and...when playing a gallop type of pattern, is it...do you start with the ring or middle? for example...

121 121 121 121
or
212 212 212 212

for example, how does steve harris pick his gallop style notes? is it the 121 121 121 method?

help...
 
#2
can't speak for everyone, but i encourage students to try to always alternate fingers at the start. as a pick should always be up, down, up, down, i treat fingering as index, middle, index, middle or middle, index, middle, index.
it does not seem to matter whether players start w/ index or middle, as long as they try to always start the same finger.
i am a fan of alternating, even for dotted/gallop rhythms.
the idea is that developing the index, mid alternation will make it easier for students to eventually use ghost notes, it tends to be more efficient with economy of motion, and developing speed.
it is my job as a teacher to guide students through fundamentals like alternating fingering (or picking). eventually, people learn the exceptions to the rule like raking strings, or something they come up with that makes their playing unique.
 
#4
I personally go with 21 21 simply because I strike slightly harder with the middle finger. But when I'm playing with 1 finger I usually use the index.

I think Steve Harris goes 212 121 212 121. It seems a lot easier to just go 321 321.

If you already can play 3 finger style I don't see much benefit in learning 2.
 
#5
Yeah, playing now and when I used to play I've always found it seemed most natural to play like:

121 212 121 212

this way you are always alternating. I think if you played 121 121 it's easier to mess up (probably just me). When I try to play like that I end up striking an extra note or messing up my timing.
 
#7
I think if you're playing "galloping" trips like that, and you know how to play 3 finger, there's no reason not to. I play almost entirely 2 finger, but for that style of fast triplet it's just easier with 3. You're going to give yourself tendonitis trying to play speed triplets with 2 fingers.
 
#8
i guess it's best to play what comes natural. i heard that a 2 finger approach was more traditional. i just wanted to try it out.
i'll have to play around with it and see what happens. i guess there is no "right" way to go about anything, right?
 
#10
It's good to be able to do either, because sometimes the way the phrasing pans out, you have to. So I often practice playing patterns/songs I'm working on starting on either.

You want it to be so natural that no matter what you're playing, you don't have to think about your technique.
 
#11
It's absolutely essential to know how to play properly with 2 fingers. 2 fingers is the way to go in most situations. 3 is great for those speedy triplets, but for pretty much everything else 2 is better. Don't take my advice about using 3 fingers for speed trips the wrong way, that's pretty much the only thing I think 3 finger technique is good for.

Play what is comfortable and natural and all that. However, plucking with 2 fingers is a skill you MUST have in your repertoire as a bass player. It's like using 4 fingers on your left hand, it's a must have skill.
 

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