3 Finger Technique

[da_s_man13]

I've just recently (last night) started working on the 3 finger technique. At first i just put a metranome on and was striking open strings and moving across strings to build up strength in the 3rd finger. For those of you who can use 3 fingers, what are some techniques/exercises you use to become confident in using 3 fingers.


Thanks,
Scott
:thumb:

[Led_Zeppelin678]

For one, always go the same direction. If you go back and forth, your middle finger is still picking every other note, and is really no faster.

Go up and down scales, play arpeggios, play songs you already know with two fingers. When going across open strings like you were talking about, always use groups of four, not three. Also, skip strings...go from E to D or G, etc. There's a lesson in this magazine which is very very good:

http://musicdispatch.com/item_detail.jsp?itemid=77770605&order=0&catcode=00&refer=search&type=product&keywords=sheehan

It took me a year (on and off) to get this technique down. Don't expect it to happen right away like I did!

[da_s_man13]

...bump?

[the101er]

I just practiced "The Toys Go Winding Down" by Primus over and over... took me about a week, maybe I've done it wrong.

[Phalanx]

chromatics and scales are what I use

[PaulR]

For one, always go the same direction. If you go back and forth, your middle finger is still picking every other note, and is really no faster.

Go up and down scales, play arpeggios, play songs you already know with two fingers. When going across open strings like you were talking about, always use groups of four, not three. Also, skip strings...go from E to D or G, etc. There's a lesson in this magazine which is very very good:

http://musicdispatch.com/item_detail.jsp?itemid=77770605&order=0&catcode=00&refer=search&type=product&keywords=sheehan

It took me a year (on and off) to get this technique down. Don't expect it to happen right away like I did!
Any possibility of a scan of that article?

[Az_Holl]

IRon Maiden- Phantom of the opera, is a good way to get used to using 3 fingers

[Sade]

For the last time people, Steve Harris DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT use three fingers. He uses two fingers, while his ring finger just sort of "trails along."

Proper three finger: three 16ths. Not two 16ths and an 8th.

[BassVirtuoso]

I always use my ring finger to hit the G string when I'm walking a swing chart.

[herrly]

For the last time people, Steve Harris DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT use three fingers. He uses two fingers, while his ring finger just sort of "trails along."

Proper three finger: three 16ths. Not two 16ths and an 8th.

Yeah I noticed that, it does look like he only uses 2. His ring finger looks like its following along, like flopping around.

[Squirellmeister]

For the last time people, Steve Harris DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT use three fingers. He uses two fingers, while his ring finger just sort of "trails along."

Proper three finger: three 16ths. Not two 16ths and an 8th.

I find I use 3 fingers for triplets and galloping rhythm. Just cuz Steve Harris doesnt use three fingers doesnt mean his songs dont help with a three finger technique.

[PainKiller8191]

i used to try to use 3 fingers for faster stuff, but i could never achieve that coordination because of the odd number...like i could do one note really fast with 3 fingers but once i get other notes in there or even the same note on a different strings it would suck...so i'm sticking to 2 and I've found with some practice it really isnt that much slower than using 3.....but yeah i guess some people use it for Harris gallops and/or triplets...

[Manticore Guy]

I like using the Steve DiGiorGio 3 finger method, I find that it actually does help me go faster, contrary to some beliefs.

[Az_Holl]

For the last time people, Steve Harris DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT use three fingers. He uses two fingers, while his ring finger just sort of "trails along."

Proper three finger: three 16ths. Not two 16ths and an 8th.
...and? Steve Harris has nothing to do with it. That song is all in triplets and it helped me to better use them.
IT doesnt gallop at all, and acoording to JP and some guy from Bass Guitar magazine Harris does actually use 3 fingers occasionally.

[Sade]

...and? Steve Harris has nothing to do with it. That song is all in triplets and it helped me to better use them.
IT doesnt gallop at all, and acoording to JP and some guy from Bass Guitar magazine Harris does actually use 3 fingers occasionally.

Oh yeah, I forgot; because the media is always right.

No Iron Maiden song uses a straight, sustained 16 16 16 triplet beat. I'm sorry.

[Duncster]

Oh yeah, I forgot; because the media is always right.

No Iron Maiden song uses a straight, sustained 16 16 16 triplet beat. I'm sorry.
I believe that JP and a magazines opinnion have a lot more credit then yours.

[naut]

i disagree, i believe that a handful of pebbles and a ham sandwich hold much more credibility.

[Duncster]

i disagree, i believe that a handful of pebbles and a ham sandwich hold much more credibility.
123 :lol:

[low-G]

i read in my Bass Guitar Magazine in an article by whats his face from Mastodon that Steve Harris taught him his 3-finger technique during ozzfest the past summer

[naut]

123 :lol:

LOMYALE.

[Sade]

i read in my Bass Guitar Magazine in an article by whats his face from Mastodon that Steve Harris taught him his 3-finger technique during ozzfest the past summer

It's a lie told by the government. The Mastadon bassist is actually extinct.

[d-mart]

Sheehan has good exercises in his advanced book, doing them 20mintues a day and you'd get it down in no time.

I would scan it in but im way to lazy...*hint*

[Kragen]

http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/Articles/Hanging_Ten/

I would learn, but I have so many other things far more important :)

[Az_Holl]

http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/Articles/Hanging_Ten/

I would learn, but I have so many other things far more important :)
Woah, that dude is a dumbarse.

Hes got all that crap with the finger tapeing which is just useless.

Its like that squeezing the tennis ball ****. Yeah you could do that.... or you could go practice your bass :rolleyes:

You want muscles in your sound, not in your hands.

[Raiven]

Maiden doesn't use triplets.

The whole 2 16th 1 8th has been incorrectly classed as a triplet.

He doesn't use 3 fingers.

[Sade]

Maiden doesn't use triplets.

The whole 2 16th 1 8th has been incorrectly classed as a triplet.

He doesn't use 3 fingers.

GG.

[Rollo47]

For one, always go the same direction. If you go back and forth, your middle finger is still picking every other note, and is really no faster.

Go up and down scales, play arpeggios, play songs you already know with two fingers. When going across open strings like you were talking about, always use groups of four, not three. Also, skip strings...go from E to D or G, etc. There's a lesson in this magazine which is very very good:

http://musicdispatch.com/item_detail.jsp?itemid=77770605&order=0&catcode=00&refer=search&type=product&keywords=sheehan

It took me a year (on and off) to get this technique down. Don't expect it to happen right away like I did!

Steve Bailey goes back and forth, and he's probably the best three finger player I've seen.

[Kragen]

Woah, that dude is a dumbarse.

Hes got all that crap with the finger tapeing which is just useless.

Its like that squeezing the tennis ball ****. Yeah you could do that.... or you could go practice your bass :rolleyes:

You want muscles in your sound, not in your hands.

No, actualy he's not a dumbass - I havnt followed the article, but I have read the entire thing, and it lists a number of techniques that will speed up the process of muscle and pattern training needed for the 3/4 finger picking technique.

For example - if you havnt got access to a bass (for example your on a train or at work), his tennis ball idea is a little more useful than "go practice your bass dumbass", besides, if you have low strength in one or two of your fingers compared to the other's practicing your bass is a very slow method of equalising out the strength of each of those fingers - you want to work specificly on improvig the strength of one or two fingers - playing bass works on all fingers.

Besides - have you tried the tape idea? (I mean actualy tried it...) seems to me that it is probably a very quick method for training your fingers the basic motion needed to strike the strings, so when you move onto practicing with all 3 or 4, your concentrating on timing, and not having to think about the string-plucking motion.

[Raiven]

GG.

lol itz almust as doe we r lyk on da same wavnelngthg lawlmgwtf

[PaulR]

Sheehan has good exercises in his advanced book, doing them 20mintues a day and you'd get it down in no time.

I would scan it in but im way to lazy...*hint*
What are you hinting at?

Scan it in bitch.

[d-mart]

i dont have a scanner :upset:

[PaulR]

Oh. So you're hinting one of send you a scanner? :p

It's on its way.

*posts*

What part of Portsmouth are you from?

I'm probably going to the Uni after summer.

[d-mart]

Baffins Mush!!

Why would you wanna come down here?, its ment to be the 3rd or 4th worst place to live in England.

[PaulR]

It's student town.

I swear, closer to the front, it's like bar, shop, bar, bar, bar, shop.

[d-mart]

Yer tons of em.

Gotta add the pikeys, the bums and useless police force. Also the music sence is dead, their in the process of closing all the small venues at the moment, so none of the local lot can play any more.

[PaulR]

Yer tons of em.

Gotta add the pikeys, the bums and useless police force. Also the music sence is dead, their in the process of closing all the small venues at the moment, so none of the local lot can play any more.
Really? There seemed to be a few places down by the front.

You play in a band in that area, right?

[TheClap]

i read in my Bass Guitar Magazine in an article by whats his face from Mastodon that Steve Harris taught him his 3-finger technique during ozzfest the past summer


His name is Troy Sanders, and yeah its true.

[low-G]

It's a lie told by the government. The Mastadon bassist is actually extinct.


:eek:
you lie!


and yeah Troy Sanders thats his name

[Az_Holl]

No, actualy he's not a dumbass - I havnt followed the article, but I have read the entire thing, and it lists a number of techniques that will speed up the process of muscle and pattern training needed for the 3/4 finger picking technique.

For example - if you havnt got access to a bass (for example your on a train or at work), his tennis ball idea is a little more useful than "go practice your bass dumbass", besides, if you have low strength in one or two of your fingers compared to the other's practicing your bass is a very slow method of equalising out the strength of each of those fingers - you want to work specificly on improvig the strength of one or two fingers - playing bass works on all fingers.

Besides - have you tried the tape idea? (I mean actualy tried it...) seems to me that it is probably a very quick method for training your fingers the basic motion needed to strike the strings, so when you move onto practicing with all 3 or 4, your concentrating on timing, and not having to think about the string-plucking motion.
Ok. :) I'll go on reading articles by Stanley Clarke and Jeff Berlin, but im sure some **** on the internet knows better.

[Duncster]

Ok. :) I'll go on reading articles by Stanley Clarke and Jeff Berlin, but im sure some **** on the internet knows better.
Those guys told you the tape thing was a bad idea? Quit being so closeminded :rolleyes:

[Az_Holl]

Those guys told you the tape thing was a bad idea? Quit being so closeminded :rolleyes:
No... they tell you that there is no replacement or gimmick for getting better at bass. See the trick is: you pick up your bass and you play it.

Want to know how i learnt to play with 3 fingers? I started playing my bass using 3 fingers :eek:

[naut]

here, i scanned some stuff...

http://www.freewebs.com/supernaut/sheehan.htm

[da_s_man13]

No... they tell you that there is no replacement or gimmick for getting better at bass. See the trick is: you pick up your bass and you play it.

Want to know how i learnt to play with 3 fingers? I started playing my bass using 3 fingers :eek:

Amazing. Simply amazing. :eek:



Thanks for the scans supernaut :thumb:

Hows the whole knive charge going?

[naut]

it's alright i suppose, i haven't really heard much from my lawyer...guess he's taking care of business. or ****ing me. one or the other.

[da_s_man13]

Either way, hes taking your money. Haha. Best of luck with it.

[naut]

thanks pipe.

[d-mart]

Really? There seemed to be a few places down by the front.

You play in a band in that area, right?

Compaired to what it used to be its nothing.

My band cant play in the area coz theres no metal scene down here, we have to go to places like Southampton, Reading, Guildford to get gigs.

[Sade]

Woah, that dude is a dumbarse.

Hes got all that crap with the finger tapeing which is just useless.

Its like that squeezing the tennis ball ****. Yeah you could do that.... or you could go practice your bass :rolleyes:

You want muscles in your sound, not in your hands.

Please inform your ignorant self before you attempt to edify.

Squeezing a tennis/stress ball is medicinal. It strengthens and flexes/warms up your tendons so that you do not over stress or possibly tear them while using them extensively. (Like playing bass, for example.)

Sure; go listen to Stanley Clarke and what he has to say about these things. But then ask yourself, is Stanley Clarke a doctor? No. And what's typically the purpose of such practices as squeezing a tennis ball? Medical.

So please, spare me your expansive ignorance, tempting as though it may be for you to share.

Also; to anybody who claims "famous" bassists have more credibility and knowledge than "unfamous" bassists: You're a moron.

Bassist from Fall Out Boy. Does he has expansive knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the intricate workings of the human hand's bone structure? No. But wait! Sade, he's famous...so he must know more than us!

Well, ok; it's unfair about the hand thing. But he must know about gear, playing, etc...right? Again, no. Just because he's a famous musician does not make his opinion any more credible. In fact, as more expansive sound equipment and crew for individual bands increases with fame, thus decreasing, typically, the musician's contact with gear and amps, you could say that increased fame decreases credibility in that aspect.

And as far as actual "playing" and technique goes, who would you call more credible....Quatre or Mark Hoppus? Well, Hoppus is more famous than him..and Quatre's just some random idiot on the internet!

Again; "fame" itself holds no increased credibility. Is the current US President immune from making bad choices? He's pretty famous, right? Is he the "best" decision maker? No, and no.

P.S.

A true triplet, musicially defined, (by at least a majority) is three straight notes played at the same tempo, typically fast. 16th 16th 16th. No Iron Maiden song uses a 16th, 16th, 16th triplet. They use "galloping" rhythms, which I never said couldn't be played with a three finger, either. I was simply saying what a triplet actually is, and that Steve Harris does not use them, or hasn't ever.

[PaulR]

Compaired to what it used to be its nothing.

My band cant play in the area coz theres no metal scene down here, we have to go to places like Southampton, Reading, Guildford to get gigs.
You guys play in Reading?

Send me an email next time you're around or something. I'll come down and check you guys out.

[Duncster]

No... they tell you that there is no replacement or gimmick for getting better at bass. See the trick is: you pick up your bass and you play it.

Want to know how i learnt to play with 3 fingers? I started playing my bass using 3 fingers :eek:
Its funny you say that actually! About 6 months into my playing I just had to learn the three finger technique. Since the best 3 finger bassists I knew were Myung and Sheehan, I had to learn it RMIRMI style. This was impossible at first. I then found a lesson by Mutha_Goose that taught how to seperate each hand with finger excersizes sitting at a table. I practised them for a few days, then I could play any crazy pattern RMIRMI because of that excersize, without any practise with my bass.

[Az_Holl]

Please inform your ignorant self before you attempt to edify.

Squeezing a tennis/stress ball is medicinal. It strengthens and flexes/warms up your tendons so that you do not over stress or possibly tear them while using them extensively. (Like playing bass, for example.)

Sure; go listen to Stanley Clarke and what he has to say about these things. But then ask yourself, is Stanley Clarke a doctor? No. And what's typically the purpose of such practices as squeezing a tennis ball? Medical.

So please, spare me your expansive ignorance, tempting as though it may be for you to share.

Also; to anybody who claims "famous" bassists have more credibility and knowledge than "unfamous" bassists: You're a moron.

Bassist from Fall Out Boy. Does he has expansive knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the intricate workings of the human hand's bone structure? No. But wait! Sade, he's famous...so he must know more than us!

Well, ok; it's unfair about the hand thing. But he must know about gear, playing, etc...right? Again, no. Just because he's a famous musician does not make his opinion any more credible. In fact, as more expansive sound equipment and crew for individual bands increases with fame, thus decreasing, typically, the musician's contact with gear and amps, you could say that increased fame decreases credibility in that aspect.

And as far as actual "playing" and technique goes, who would you call more credible....Quatre or Mark Hoppus? Well, Hoppus is more famous than him..and Quatre's just some random idiot on the internet!

Again; "fame" itself holds no increased credibility. Is the current US President immune from making bad choices? He's pretty famous, right? Is he the "best" decision maker? No, and no.

P.S.

A true triplet, musicially defined, (by at least a majority) is three straight notes played at the same tempo, typically fast. 16th 16th 16th. No Iron Maiden song uses a 16th, 16th, 16th triplet. They use "galloping" rhythms, which I never said couldn't be played with a three finger, either. I was simply saying what a triplet actually is, and that Steve Harris does not use them, or hasn't ever.
Yeah being famous has nothing to do with it at all. Being Stanley Clarke and Jeff Berlin does though. I dont listen to them because they are famous, i listen to them because they are extremely good players who are recognised as some of the best in the bass world.

I admit i may have gone a little over board, but it just annoys me when people go looking for gimmicks and shortcuts when you should just pick up your bass, get out there and play.

P.s- i have no really knowledge of what a triplet is meant to be apart from a grouping of 3 notes, its just that in the powertab i have all the triplets are 3 sixtenths. Im starting to think the guy may have tabbed it wrong.

[MetalBassist616]

Please inform your ignorant self before you attempt to edify.

Squeezing a tennis/stress ball is medicinal. It strengthens and flexes/warms up your tendons so that you do not over stress or possibly tear them while using them extensively. (Like playing bass, for example.)

Sure; go listen to Stanley Clarke and what he has to say about these things. But then ask yourself, is Stanley Clarke a doctor? No. And what's typically the purpose of such practices as squeezing a tennis ball? Medical.

So please, spare me your expansive ignorance, tempting as though it may be for you to share.

Also; to anybody who claims "famous" bassists have more credibility and knowledge than "unfamous" bassists: You're a moron.

Bassist from Fall Out Boy. Does he has expansive knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the intricate workings of the human hand's bone structure? No. But wait! Sade, he's famous...so he must know more than us!

Well, ok; it's unfair about the hand thing. But he must know about gear, playing, etc...right? Again, no. Just because he's a famous musician does not make his opinion any more credible. In fact, as more expansive sound equipment and crew for individual bands increases with fame, thus decreasing, typically, the musician's contact with gear and amps, you could say that increased fame decreases credibility in that aspect.

And as far as actual "playing" and technique goes, who would you call more credible....Quatre or Mark Hoppus? Well, Hoppus is more famous than him..and Quatre's just some random idiot on the internet!

Again; "fame" itself holds no increased credibility. Is the current US President immune from making bad choices? He's pretty famous, right? Is he the "best" decision maker? No, and no.

P.S.

A true triplet, musicially defined, (by at least a majority) is three straight notes played at the same tempo, typically fast. 16th 16th 16th. No Iron Maiden song uses a 16th, 16th, 16th triplet. They use "galloping" rhythms, which I never said couldn't be played with a three finger, either. I was simply saying what a triplet actually is, and that Steve Harris does not use them, or hasn't ever.

nobody really read all of this crap did they :lol:

[MetalBassist616]

a triplet 3 note taking place of two.

thes are usually eighth notes or 16th

in the place of 2 8th notes play three

same for 2 16th

[Sade]

nobody really read all of this crap did they :lol:

You're new here, so let me help you out a little bit.

We've got these things called the MX Vending Machines. I handle distribution and product control, so I can hook you up with a nice, frosty can of Shut the **** Up.

And don't forget your parting gift; a lifetime club membership to the international house of douchenuggets.

Thanks for shopping.

[MetalBassist616]

i have recently started 3 & sometimes i try and throw in a pinky

i just wing

pick anything and throw that in there

[Sade]

Yeah being famous has nothing to do with it at all. Being Stanley Clarke and Jeff Berlin does though. I dont listen to them because they are famous, i listen to them because they are extremely good players who are recognised as some of the best in the bass world.

I admit i may have gone a little over board, but it just annoys me when people go looking for gimmicks and shortcuts when you should just pick up your bass, get out there and play.

P.s- i have no really knowledge of what a triplet is meant to be apart from a grouping of 3 notes, its just that in the powertab i have all the triplets are 3 sixtenths. Im starting to think the guy may have tabbed it wrong.

It is not a gimmick. It is a medicinal exercise.

For the most part; that is. And often times, these exercises are extremely helpful.

[MetalBassist616]

well how aren't mine

[Sade]

i have recently started 3 & sometimes i try and throw in a pinky

i just wing

pick anything and throw that in there

Amalgamating your pinky into your fingering technique is as useless as it is impossible. Your ring finger and pinky are attached to the same tendon, and building up independence is extremely difficult, if not physically impossible, to apply to any significant degree when plucking.

[Az_Holl]

It is not a gimmick. It is a medicinal exercise.

For the most part; that is. And often times, these exercises are extremely helpful.
Sure they make your fingers stronger but i'd still rather apply that to bass and i just find it easier to do so with a bass in front of me. Because as well as your right hand you also have to co ordinate your left as well.

[Sade]

Sure they make your fingers stronger but i'd still rather apply that to bass and i just find it easier to do so with a bass in front of me. Because as well as your right hand you also have to co ordinate your left as well.

Keywords here: You'd rather apply it to bass. You find it easier to do with a bass in front of you.

Simply because you do not find them helpful, does not in any way mean they are a gimmick.

[MetalBassist616]

i practuce that like how Cliff Burton does and remembr "you dont have to be famous"

[MetalBassist616]

well i state my opinion

you say whatever the heck any of your crap means

[Az_Holl]

Keywords here: You'd rather apply it to bass. You find it easier to do with a bass in front of you.

Simply because you do not find them helpful, does not in any way mean they are a gimmick.
Shh, your meant to agree with me so i dont look like an idiot... or more of an idiot than usual.

>_> <_< >_>

[Sade]

well i state my opinion

you say whatever the heck any of your crap means

What's this?






















This is the start of you never posting again.

[MetalBassist616]

o wow i just posted

[Jublian]

rob trujillo??

[Bplay]

Try playing everything you used to play with two, with your three now, from straight scales, up and down the neck to string-switching 16ths patterns also working on your E string will make your fingers stronger and more responsive, when playing on other strings.

but mainly i would stress on playing straight scales up n down and alternating fingers.

[katana_manatee]

Try playing everything you used to play with two, with your three now, from straight scales, up and down the neck to string-switching 16ths patterns also working on your E string will make your fingers stronger and more responsive, when playing on other strings.

but mainly i would stress on playing straight scales up n down and alternating fingers.

123

Start as slow as you need to and work on consistency, make sure the ring finger sounds as good as the other two.

Sade is correct, I know of no Iron Maiden songs with triplets in the rhythms. an 8th and two sixteenths may be a group of 3 notes but a triplet is a rhythmic term of (as Sade said) having 3 notes of equal rhythmic value over the space of what would normally be two straight notes of the same value but not tripleted.

Ie. Triplet eighth notes are three notes over the space of where two straight eight notes would be, or triplet sixteenths where 3 notes are played over a space of two straight sixteenth. But these notes must be of equal value, so two 16ths and an eighth note are not a triplet.

I hope that makes sense.

[Sade]

123

Start as slow as you need to and work on consistency, make sure the ring finger sounds as good as the other two.

Sade is correct, I know of no Iron Maiden songs with triplets in the rhythms. an 8th and two sixteenths may be a group of 3 notes but a triplet is a rhythmic term of (as Sade said) having 3 notes of equal rhythmic value over the space of what would normally be two straight notes of the same value but not tripleted.

Ie. Triplet eighth notes are three notes over the space of where two straight eight notes would be, or triplet sixteenths where 3 notes are played over a space of two straight sixteenth. But these notes must be of equal value, so two 16ths and an eighth note are not a triplet.

I hope that makes sense.

I guess my musical education hasn't completely left me, eh? :thumb:

[katana_manatee]

I guess my musical education hasn't completely left me, eh? :thumb:

Indeed not. :thumb: