Three Finger Plucking

N

Nickayl

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Mar 21, 2017
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Virginia, U.S
#1
I saw a video of someone plucking their bass with three fingers instead of the typical two. After seeing it I thought to myself, "That seems like a pretty efficient way to play" and then tried it out for myself.

I immediately learned a few things. One, my ring finger is pitifully weak. Two, just because I can tap my fingers in a row on a desk or table rather easily do not mean I can do it on bass. Three, it's pretty hard to practice because my two fingers just kinda instinctively take over.

My question to you guys is; out of those that do play with three fingers, how do you play? Like 1-2-3, 1-2-3, or 1-2-3-2-1? (When I tried it that's the method I attempted) And how do you/did you start to practice it? For those who don't play like that, why not?
 
#2
I use the 3 digit technique, and it's 1-2-3-2-1, etc. rinse and repeat......

I started doing this right after I began dabbling in classical guitar. It's a tremolo technique used a lot in flamenco. There are other patterns used by players in that style, but I've found that the 1-2-3-2-1 translates best to bass playing technique.

At first it was sort of awkward, but after a while it became second nature---now I do it without even thinking.
 
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#4
ONYX said:
I use the 3 digit technique, and it's 1-2-3-2-1, etc. rinse and repeat......

I started doing this right after I began dabbling in classical guitar. It's a tremolo technique used a lot in flamenco. There are other patterns used by players in that style, but I've found that the 1-2-3-2-1 translates best to bass playing technique.

At first it was sort of awkward, but after a while it became second nature---now I do it without even thinking.
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That, and your middle finger is on the 2 and 4 of the beat in most cases.
 
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#8
When I use fingers - for some reason I mirror what my left fretting hand is doing. E string with index, A string with middle, D string with the ring finger, etc. Not saying that is THE WAY, just what I do.

I came over using the pick, after awhile the pick went away and I started using my thumb as a pick. That is my main way now. I seldom use fingers any more.

The Wife is watching the new three hour Dirty Dancing movie and I escaped to my music/pout room. Excuse the ramblings...
 
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#9
Nickayl said:
How did it lead to overpaying? Did your fingers take over?

How did you guys start with three finger gear plucking? Any tips on practicing it?
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I got into the technique after seeing videos of Les Claypool of Primus. Being very young at the time, I had a tendency to overplay anyways and this technique didn't help matters.

I'll still use my ring finger for triplet feels, crazy fast nonsense endings, and some chordal plucking.
 
#10
MalcolmAmos said:
When I use fingers - for some reason I mirror what my left fretting hand is doing. E string with index, A string with middle, D string with the ring finger, etc. Not saying that is THE WAY, just what I do.

I came over using the pick, after awhile the pick went away and I started using my thumb as a pick. That is my main way now. I seldom use fingers any more.

The Wife is watching the new three hour Dirty Dancing movie and I escaped to my music/pout room. Excuse the ramblings...
Click to expand...

I read an article long ago about gaining right/left hand independence, to avoid the right hand just following the left, and allowing the right hand to have its own technique. I think it was Gary Willis where he talked about 3 finger technique, and I think a bass ramp too (which does not work for me). So I made it a point to keep both hands separate. However, sometimes the right following the left does happen to be the best way.

Yeah my gf and her kids have been binge watching Gossip Girl every night. Good time to play bass.
 
#11
In my opinion, it's just a matter of how good is your right-hand technique (often referred as "crossing").
If you have a very good crossing that means a good alternation of the index and the middle fingers then you really can play any music piece/genre.
The third finger lets your fingers muscles a bit relaxed, it's an equivalent idea as the classic thumping and double thumb in slap techniques.
Anyway improving your 1-2 crossing technique give you also the chance to use the 3 and 4 to mute the other strings.
A solid alternation of 1-2 gives you the ability to fit any music groove/scenario except if you don't play with a band and each song is up to 160-180 bpm with sixteenth notes solid groove.
 
#12
Years ago I followed the advice of a guy (forget his name) who did a video called, "Hanging Ten on the Bass".

This was an instructional vid showing how to use all 10 digits.

This means I pluck with the pinky, too ... or let's say, I do it sometimes!! The issue for me is that my brain tells me to play finger-to-finger per each hand. Because my fretting hand (left) is the classic crawling spider shape with thumb **always** behind the neck, the R/H pinky isn't quick enough to follow the fingering, L/H pinky ... and a bit of a 'rail crash' ensues!! Ha ha. So 3 but sometimes 4 to pluck is normal for me nowadays.

Sometimes I pluck the lowest string with my thumb and my arm is therefore the Anchor point, not the plucking hand thumb (as per the video first mentioned). I've not used a thumb anchor for at least 20 years!

Clearly there's no right or wrong way to pluck.

Best.

J
 
#13
This is an excerpt on the technique I use for four finger plucking. I will emphasize floating thumb if you decide to go with 3 or 4 fingers makes your speed cleaner. Any ways here is a repost for you guys originally posTed in the demystifying metal thread

I play six string fretless and I use four fingers to pluck on the right hand and have for years. It take time and practice but yes I have a short pinky and have to slight angle my wrist to get the pinky in there. I posted this in a metal thread as I play mostly technical death metal and jazz lol. Some of the description pertains to getting a good tone for metal as well someone said you can never hear the bass, well not in the band I'm in!

with four fingers. I play metal specifically technical death metal and this is almost necessary with how fast things get now a days and trying to keep up with the double kicks. I start with the pinky the ring middle index and flick outward with the pinky then ring, middle index. The end result is a continuous picking that with enough practice of your outward flick the attack and sound will match and sound like a normal finger style attack. Word to the wise it took me some serious rudimentary practice, finger independence, and strength training on he outward flick. I will post what I posted in the demystifying metal thread. Granted it is also about getting the tone for the genre and speed but you'll get the point here it is:

get a fretless, crank the mids, and give plenty of highs tastefully, balance the lows adequately not overwhelming or floor shaking (may vary on preference) think forest la pointe of beyond creation, archspire, or obscure. Even a more aggressive jaco sound will cut very well with the right amount of highs and mids. use roundwounds on the fretless will mwah more and push the mids more the lower action helps as well along with getting the right attack. i have been playing technical death metal for about (bass player for about 12 years now) 4 years now and this has worked extremely well to poke through the mix and get an aggressive sound. i have gotten many compliments on my tone at gigs. just my 2 cents. depending on the bass you may want to only use the bridge pickup and dial in the tone described to taste (i was able to achieve the sound i described by defretting an ibanez six string putting rounds on it and installing a bartolini ntmb 3 band eq).

as far as speed and technique i usually play near the bridge pickup (this depends on the sound im going for the other positions are inbetween the two pickups and on the end of the fingerboard) with a four finger plucking technique plucking on the upstroke and flamenco right near the edge of the nail and finger mass on the way out this gives me quite a bit of speed and with practice and time it becomes quite easy and sounds good (may take a few years of rudiment and string skipping practice). this essentially is like a heel toe technique that drummers use for double kick but for finger picking. Your outward flamenco stroke will need to be strong though to balance out. For warm ups i practice a quadruplet string skipping only using the flamenco and alternate patterns once the muscles feel warmed up i bring in the finger picking (think upward fingerpicking stroke pinky first down to index then pinky flamenco out to the index creates a fluid consistent movement of all four fingers, and with practice can be fast enough and consistent to stay with the kicks). switching between picking near the neck and bridge will help during certain passages you need more balls in or more of that rolling off the finger sound strings bouncing off fretboard. be fore warned you will not see good results for atleast a year of consistent practicing as you need to build up the muscles neccessary. practice slow build up speed and before you know it you will be shredding away at awesome speeds. you will also need to practice left hand muting to ensure clean notes. Floating thumb technique will be paramount over time especially during very fast agressive passages.

to recap 4321 4f3f2f1f f=flamenco you can also practice the finger picking for a while before incorporating the flamenco 4321234 and any variation there of will help you want complete control of the right hand which is especially important in this genre of music. create a table and make all the possible configurations starting with each number 4321 4231 4132 4213 etc then move onto 3214 3124 3421 3142 etc then create another table with all the variations for string skipping and create fret pattern on the left hand and right hand to practice finger independence with left hand as well especially helpful with erb basses. These are techniques that i have practiced for years took a lot of work but has paid off in a big way. my band mates always say i am a fast mother shager. lol
 
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#15
With finger style, I play 1 finger per string. And alternate the thumb for the 3 lower strings. ON acoustic, I keep the arm and pinky off the soundboard, to let the guitar resonate more.
 
#16
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work out very well when trying to adjust/ improve any technique. Results don't come quickly so we don't find out whether / not it's working out til it's almost too late! Well, that's how it seems to happen with me.

In the end, I think, I probably wasted too much time striving for plucking with all 4 + thumb. Whilst the experience wasn't wasted, I think I could probably have used personal practice time to better effect.

On a general basis I decided nearly 50 years ago that the best way to approach all aspects of playing bass was to be able to play the right notes at the right time for the music (obviously!). From a technique perspective that demanded that I had to be able put my fingers of both hands on the instrument at exactly the right time. So I spent ***lots*** of time trying to make my fingers do all sorts things on the instrument that they don't find exactly find natural, with seemingly pointless technique exercises!!

It has worked for me because I felt inspired to do it like that whilst recognising my limitations. Now, as an almost exclusive (unlined) fretless player, I'm quite into playing about with little classical pieces, the time spent has paid dividends.

Best.

J
 
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