Right Hand Technique (or left hand depending on your orientation)

[maddog]

So I'm working out of a few books and trying to get real about playing instead of doodling. And so I'm thinking about my right hand (non-fretting). Should I be serious about trying to alternate my index and middle finger while plucking? I'm working on scales and I get so confused when I move up to eighth notes.

Maybe I should go get a pick.

Alvabass, got any tips?

 

[shamus63]

Just do what's comfortable for you; don't think too much about which finger combos to use. If a pick feels right, go that route (or switch back and forth).

James

 

[maddog]

Just do what's comfortable for you; don't think too much about which finger combos to use. If a pick feels right, go that route (or switch back and forth).

James

Yes, I think way too much about everything. I'll keep on working on it til I find some comfort zone.

 

[Motojunkie]

Just do what's comfortable for you; don't think too much about which finger combos to use. If a pick feels right, go that route (or switch back and forth).

James

I agree. I find that if I'm playing music that I'm comfortable with, I alternate fingers - if I'm outside of my comfort zone I tend to play with just my index finger.

Work on alternating while practicing, but play whatever is comfortable while making music.

I tend to use a pick occasionally, but it's mostly for the tonal aspects than the ease in picking. For me, playing with a pick is pretty natural since I'm a converted guitarist, but a little bit of work broke me of that habit, and I have reaped the tonal rewards ever since. I like the sound of fingers the best.

If you have to use a pick, and you prefer the sound of fingers, you can try rubber picks. I have tried them, and they sound really close to fingers, and they are a breeze to play. Here's a link - http://www.samash.com/catalog/showi...rase=&Contains=&Search_Type=SEARCH&GroupCode=

 

[Alvabass]

I'm working on scales and I get so confused when I move up to eighth notes.

The solution is fairly simple: Just USE A METRONOME when practicing. Words aren't enough to emphasize this. Set it at a tempo which feels really comfortable to play your scales and speed it up a bit ONLY when you can play them without getting confused say, 30 times in a row. Nothing beats this practice routine.

Trust me, most of us have had that kind of problem because we want to see results quickly but the key to get things well done is crawl before you walk. BTW, if you want a metronome for your computer there's this online metronome, but I prefer this standalone application because you can do whatever you want (beat and tempowise) with it.

And yes, play strictly alternating index-middle. Sometimes raking is allowed when playing a descending scale, but you should master strict finger alternation first.

Hope this helps.

 

[strummer]

What Alva said.

Also, why not bring your ring finger into it while you're at it? I don't use my ring finger live, but practicing and at rehersals i do. To get the ring finger feeling natural I use ring/middle when rehearsing, and when it's practice time i go index/middle/ring. It feels weird because you start beats with different fingers, but I have found it actually helps my creativity (as if i had any)...

 

[Aussie Mark]

Use whichever finger can play the note at the right time. That might mean alternating, or repeating or some other combination.

 

[arrowheadguitar]

So I'm working out of a few books and trying to get real about playing instead of doodling. And so I'm thinking about my right hand (non-fretting). Should I be serious about trying to alternate my index and middle finger while plucking? I'm working on scales and I get so confused when I move up to eighth notes.

Maybe I should go get a pick.

Alvabass, got any tips?

my top tip of the day - get some lessons

I have a pile of books and DVDs that I've been learning theory and technique from, and learned more in one two hour lesson than all of them put together.

it's much easier for a teacher who knows what he or she's talking about to watch how you play and show you ways that will improve your technique

Paul.

 

[Alvabass]

why not bring your ring finger into it while you're at it? I don't use my ring finger live, but practicing and at rehersals i do. To get the ring finger feeling natural I use ring/middle when rehearsing, and when it's practice time i go index/middle/ring. It feels weird because you start beats with different fingers, but I have found it actually helps my creativity (as if i had any)...

The most common approach when using three fingers is ring-middle-index, as Billy Sheehan does. Steve Bailey does ring-middle-index-middle. I'm not an expert on the 3-finger style (it's very difficult to me, actually), but I didn't want to go further with that because I noticed that my tone changes drastically. I can play Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" with both approaches and it's definitely more comfortable with 3 fingers but my tone becomes very weak compared with what I get using only two, which is the way I prefer to play it.

Of course there are things that are impossible to play with two fingers alone. I still hope (after years of struggling with it) to be able to play the intro for Mr. Big's "Colorado Bulldog" clearly:

I've never seen Billy playing it nor have a transcription, so this is my interpretation of the tune but I'm 300% sure that it works. The only problem is to play it right (ring-middle-index strictly).

 

[tkarter]

+1 for the metronome.

tk

 

[Mobay45]

If I played a lot of triplets I would definitely spend more time on three finger technique. About the only time I use my ring finger is at the end of a song where I'm rolling a note.

I switch between alternating fingers and using the finger that seems more efficient to use at a given time in a song.

 

[Golem]

It's NOT an "Orientation".
It's a "LifeStyle Choice".

 

[Golem]

If you've had no discipline or training at all for right hand, the "always alternating, two-finger" discipline is a great one to adhere to for however long it serves you well. It's not the Hotel California. You can check out any time you like, leave and return at will.

 

[shamus63]

...most of us have had that kind of problem because we want to see results quickly but the key to get things well done is crawl before you walk.

That is definitely key here!

Also, the alternating idea is very useful. That way, you don't get set to one right-handed style.

 

[BigStrings]

I've never had to think about what finger was doing what, it just kind of all works together. I can say that I used to use all 3 fingers but discovered years ago that I was much quicker and cleaner with just my index and middle finger. My style of playing includes a ton of quick doubles and triples and have never had a problem with just the two fingers. I can and have used my ring finger but it's only to give one of the other two a break when I've been playing a whole bunch and one of them is sore.