Recommendations/Suggestions on improving right hand technique?

[basslord1124]

Not for my jerking off, I have a good technique there. :P But of course for bass playing.

It's sort of a new year's resolution and something I have wanted to do for a while. I am mainly talking about putting my other fingers to use. I started out just using my index and middle fingers to sort of alternate on the strings and it works fine for most applications. BUT after seeing Bob (yes you Bob :) ) tear it up using all four fingers at one of the bass meetings I have been to, it sort of gave me some inspiration to wanna try it for myself someday. Not just for the technique but I think it'd especially be useful for other styles where speed is important (metal for example).

So anyways, if you all know of some resources I could check out please let me know. In the mean time I may go browsing myself to see what I can come across. I have dabbled with it a little bit and I do what I call a "brushing" technique where it appears like my fingers brush across the strings. This works somewhat to what I am aiming for, but it's not really controlled.

But anyways, any help is appreciated. :)

[The Lurker]

http://members.iinet.net.au/~pgt/plectrum.jpg






:P

I'll have some actual suggestions eventually, but for now what comes to mind is if you want to use more fingers, start slowly with three and work at it, then go to four, etc. Billy Sheehan has a pretty strong three-finger thing on his right hand, most of the interviews or videos with him have a bit of him explaining it.... the problem for me with that was you wind up hitting the 1 with a different finger every time if you're using three fingers.

[bnyswonger]

I never could get the pinky going, I just use three. ;)

I think my basic technique is very similar to Mr. Sheehan's on the right hand.

You should be able to hit the one with any finger and make it pulse right...but if that's a problem, just play those types of grooves with two fingers and use the third only when necessary. If you're going to really go for adopting the 3 finger technique, though, you do have to learn to assimilate it most in everything you do in order to make it a natural thing.

[philthygeezer]

Try up and down instead of twisting. Also loosen your grip a little: it's not a transmission, honey.

[NotFSI]

http://www.stevebaileybass.com/lessons/lesson1/lesson1.html

Taught me everything I know

[MBIYF]

http://www.stevedigiorgio.com/bin/column.pdf

[Eatapita]

1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3
3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1
1-2-3-3-2-1-1-2-3-3-2-1
3-2-1-1-2-3-3-2-1-1-2-3
1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1
3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-3
1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4
4-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-4-3-2-1
1-3-2-4-1-3-2-4-1-3-2-4
4-2-3-1-4-2-3-1-4-2-3-1
many more possibilities = etc., etc., etc.

Practice and learn each technique, and then change timings for same techniques. This way, it does't matter if your timing is 4 or 7 or 5 or whatever. Translating with 3 or 4 fingers will not be an issue if these are practiced enough, just like with 2 fingers. The 4-2-3-1 example, is more about training the brain, then actual application. At the end of the day, you might still feel best with the 2 fingers, and still play speed metel at ultra high tempo. The main thing is to have the options, and not have to think about them. Once in a while I will substitute, and use just 1 finger as a pick , and flick it up and down real fast. This just gives a different attack, but keeps the speed going. It's still good to keep a pick tucked away sometimes, based on what the song demands. It's all about the sound you want for whatever particular part of the song required. The more options, the better. Hope this little tidbit helps.

[basshunter]

1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3
3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1-3-2-1
1-2-3-3-2-1-1-2-3-3-2-1
3-2-1-1-2-3-3-2-1-1-2-3
1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1
3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-3
1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4
4-3-2-1-4-3-2-1-4-3-2-1
1-3-2-4-1-3-2-4-1-3-2-4
4-2-3-1-4-2-3-1-4-2-3-1
many more possibilities = etc., etc., etc.

Try this. Mr. Pita-eata worked with me on these patterns, and they help. :)