3 finger bass guitar lesson

[a7xrulze100]

i honestly came here because when i play with 3 i do triplets and thats the original reason i learned(im a huge power metal fan)but i wanted to learn how to do it for styles like death metal so i can do sweeps

[Guyverhoeven]

I dont get people saying to use 3-2-1 over and over. I can do that but thats not normal picking... thats just doing fast gallops / triplets......Doesnt sound natural at all...

i am now learning to pick 3-2-1-2-3. Also when i tried to pick 3-2-1-3-2-1 at a straight rythm my middlefinger simply refuses to get skipped.I dont see the point in it really. You basicly trow away a extra finger in your patern.

Every bassist with a bit of decent education should know its a failed technique.

[TheMarkMarxon]

There's a useful exercise on my channel for 3 finger playing... BTW Great vid! Cheers man

[tokorev747777]

Thanks for the video dude! Do you think this would work good with fast bass playing? Because i love playing death metal and i don't use a pick anymore so its hard to keep up with fingers

[jedynyiprawdziwyGomo]

fuck...i play much faster with 2 fingers:/

[charlesruiz2000]

that looks like a very good exercise for fingers and dexterity.

[neonbl]

i use this to!

[TonyLeash]

Well, it's not that it's wrong because it comes down to preference and comfort, but the way you're doing it you're actually forcing your middle finger to do one extra movement, and in the long run this can be bad for you. It's a little easier that way, but most people prefer to using a cycling 3 finger technique like 3-2-1-3/2-1-3-2/1-3-2-1 and so on. Nice vid, though.

[Fodera4]

I think of it as 1 less movement for my index and ring. Also we are bassist and need to focus on grooving, I have to multi-task when making 3 2 1 ,3 2 1 work while improvising or playing anything technical. Even billy sheehan admits that, He works hard to make it work on-stage.

[TonyLeash]

Yeah man, in the long run comfort is what matters most, especially in a long gig, and to each his own! Cycling through three fingers just works better on certain stuff (like galloping riffs), but YMMV. Keep making those vids man. Peace.

[mrsnot97]

can you use 4 too???

[melodiccreepingdeath]

i like his head movements when he plays xD

[MagicalBush]

well hello lol

[Muffinz525]

well hello this is marcus matthew again :O

[joltzkrieg]

is it wrong to play with the side of your thumb? that's the way my teacher taught me how to play, but i never see ant bassists use that technique. Just 2-3 finger and picks

[sunchild90]

depends, it's probably the best way if your a begginer

[crazyedd123]

victor wooten uses his thumb alot for the double-thumbing technique (like alt-picking but with your thumb)

[stevedap0pe]

ive been teaching myself to play bass for a bout 2 years now, and i started out with a pick and still use one to this day. but im now trying 2 learn how to use my fingers so i can play certain songs, and also bc the sound with fingers is better for metal IMO. dream theater/necrophagist for example. check out necrophagist - only ash remains! the bass intro is fingered and intense! but you cant get those sounds with a pick as im finding out now lol. also i wanna learn 2 pinky pluck

[CincyMetalSlave]

pinky pluckin is stupid IMO. i sprained my finger once doin it lol. U can accomplish the same thing with ur other digits

[abc3380abc]

i cant do i end up using my 2 and 3rd finger at the same time

[secondrelation]

i play it: 1st, 2nd, 1st, 3rd Finger

for me this is the best version

greetings to all baser

[Zomroy]

great lesson man. thanks

[thebassman10101]

Rock and roll is so easy to sustain lol at least for me.

[Basstomi01]

Thx!

[MyEggIsBoiled]

You're a very good bass teacher sire.

[Cropsgrinder]

Finally someone using more than 3 fingers. That has a 4-stringed instead of a 5/6 stringed bass!

[RichiBitch]

Thank You Sensei!

[piter2619]

i think you can't go fast..you can't play 3 fingers..try with pick as i do!

[dazedreality]

You can play with 3 fingers easy "I can" if that's what you're saying. I play faster without a pick. Just because you play that way don't make it the right way. There is no wrong way as long as you feel good with the way you play.

[80srockixass]

picks are for pansies that are scared of calluses

[piter2619]

please close your mouth because all the shit you've free is stinking until out of my home

[yourself2036]

Picks are for people who think picks fit their style better. Its just another technique. I think its best to learn both fingering and picking.

[jbgsk]

picks give a very different sound from fingerstyle. MUSICIANS would realize and appreciate that

[80srockixass]

guys im sorry that was my brother, i play with a pick occasionally myself, he thinks picks are "sacrilegious"

[breakbonesgr]

and he is right!

[breakbonesgr]

attacking a playing style makes you pansie sweetie!

[sstrunks8000]

Does Ryan Martini from mudvayne use IMRIMR or IMRMI?

[buskruid666]

i use sinds a month ago my index and middle and thum, and thats feels in the beginnin realy naturaly. my english sux i know

[hellboundpn1]

thanks,it help me alot!

you telling your way how to play,and all people who saying "you dont know to play" are jeleus,becouse you are bether them than...sorry on bad english. :) greetings

[fraas123]

i agree with basssoko

[basssoko]

Mate, I'm not sure you should be posting lessons. Your technique is questioanble and your playing is very average...

You really need to learn better technique your notes are all over the joint.

[bassist13]

Because you have videos showing off your technique which is sooo much better...

Oh wait, you dont.

[joltzkrieg]

well if your such a genius on Bass Guitar, why don't you just post us some GOOD lessons then?

[staysictonkpils]

the order u should play in is IMRMIMRM, not IMRIMR.

[Marlowann]

I'd prefer RMI over either.

[koml3uch4]

agreed

[vicwootenisgod]

me too

[skiver24]

same

[WarPhalange]

You're a dumbass. Playing IMRMIMRM makes you use your 2nd finger twice as much as the others, which defeats the purpose of 3 finger picking. You need to take off the load from *both* fingers onto a 3rd finger, not just from index to ring.

IMRIMR or RMIRMI are the way to go.

[Voltage223]

i tried that for a while, but i tend to lose sight of rythm, turning it all into three beat rythms instead of four, if you get what i mean. some people the RMIRMI just doesnt work.

[yourself2036]

But if you go back and forth, using RMIMR, its 4 beats. I agree though, its still feels kinda weird.

[staysictonkpils]

you're a fucking douche bag fuck you.

the motion of my fingers is more fluent and consistent when i use imrmimrm my hand dose not get tired from using my second finger. i can play much faster then i could using my technique then i would using your's.

what works for you, dose not always work for me.

[joltzkrieg]

does it really matter?

[XxYunie19xX]

when u play a note from the neck of a bass guitar,do u touch the string or something?

[rickyricardo2006]

Are you serious?

XxYunie19xX

[strngplyr37]

hmmmmm one might wonder....

[XxYunie19xX]

okay...

[griffon85]

Yes, you push the string against the fretboard with your finger...

[sangsaratrip]

shorten distance between plucks

less hand movement meaning less waste of energy

thats what I'm trying to learn now

[thelightbetrays]

this is very usefull, you can between strings far easier with this method, also 32nd notes are cake with this method

[canvoodoo]

lol thats why I started using 3 fingers playinf boring 8th lines all night

[skaterman339]

ive seen some people use a pick when playing the bass. when are you supposed to use a pick or can up use your fingers all the time

[JackDavis16]

some people use a pick all the time

some people use fingers all the time

some people use both for different things

use whichever you feel comfortable with

pick is considered by some to be easier to play faster, but i can use 3 fingers to play fast.

[scarymonster2010]

I do 3213 to 2132 to 1321

[sashakepoes]

don't give up teaching i learn a lot from u

(was this his last video?)

[TeddyAguilar182]

the 5 finger would be considered slap

[sthocked]

sum people play 5 finger picking

[webfxca]

thanks

[6zeros]

so can i just you 3 fingers instead of useing four

[Bammywammie]

dude ur my hero i getting a bass guitar soon and this is gonna help me so freaking much u rock!

[Bassistsrpeople2]

Very good lesson, i prefer to use the 3212 it just feels right to me ive been managing to play a fair bit of Dream Theater using that particular method.

good stuffs

[JtK27]

Ring,middle,index is so much easier. And you can achieve more speed also. If you play metal at least I think playing 3213 2132 1321 3213 is much more rewarding. The style you're using is pretty much useless if you wanna play 16th's in 200 bpm.

[Fodera4]

dead wrong jtk27, economy of motion is on my side. less distance to travel. Try to minimize the motion for 12321 picking. Be relaxed. Billy sheehan explained it the best. But yes use what ever way you wish. I play 16ths at over 200 bpm with this technique. cleanly, but I think it's more musical to use other tech's to play something at that speed. It is good to push your limits but all of us should focus on how to do our job as a bassist better. M.

[JtK27]

Economy of motion is on your side? How can that be? Your middlefinger is working twice as much as the other 2 fingers. Is Billy promiting this kind playing? Maybe as a exercise but Billy's using the same pattern as I am when he plays regulary. "I play 16ths at over 200 bpm with this technique." I don't belive you until I see it myself. To become a better bassist is gr8 but pushing oneself is a part of that I think, even though that necessairly doesn't mean "play as fast as you can".

[Fodera4]

Wrong again, billy used to use 123123 picking, so if you are learning from his old videos then that would be correct. But now days he uses almost all 1232123. You have much better control string skipping and improvising in odd time signatures, And just as much speed.

[Fodera4]

I will post a new video of 10 different techniques to use while playing over 200 bpm. 12321 being one of them. I will put some work into it unlike my other videos I recorded after the 14 hour shifts I work here in tokyo. They are 1 takes and improvised.

[wackiirahki]

i agree w/ your technique(12321). it is easier for me since i started the 3 finger thing a couple of months ago. but hey, whatever works for you the best, then go for it. looking forward to your posts...

[bassist12345]

billy sheehan and john myung use the 3213 2132 1321 pattern. Steve digiorgio uses the 3212 3212 pattern. i personally use 1231 2312 3123, but in the end with practice and of these techniques can be fast, clean and efficient, so i don't think it's really worth arguing about

[JtK27]

That's probably right but to me it seems like the most natural to play a 3213 2132 pattern. But I get what you saying. I play the 3212 3212 pattern for practise to prefect my pattern. Because if you can play that pattern "fluently" jumping strings will be easier. I usually go back to my pattern but "trading" patterns so to speak I think can be very usefull for the "fluency" (is that a word?:P) of 3 finger playing.

[videoperson92]

I can play fastest (and it feels more natural to play) a 321 321 321 pattern.

[JtK27]

Me 2.

[JtK27]

Hey man. No more videos yet?

[danielnilssonmaki]

I'm playing dance of eternety just with two fingers

[SomecallmeJack]

I learnt to play that up to the solo with two fingers, but the solo defeated me.

[fingerboy18]

Some Dream Theater songs like Dance Of Eternity, it is not possible to play with 2 fingers. Almost guaranteed.

[BreakupBass]

is that a yamaha bb1600?

[Fodera4]

yes, I own 2. My favorite is the "tragic kingdom" bass that tony kanal used for recording and touring during no doubt's big break into the big time. See it on my 9th video. The red sunburst.

[johnnybutt89]

Excellent man, finally some help techniques!!

[ronfromdanetherlands]

THAAAAAAAAAAAAANKS Finnaly some dude who finnaly gives a good vid about this, with me its exactly the same, i totaly burn out my fingers after 30 min of fast playing so annoying n i tried to to ring finger, middle, index then back to ring, but that so sux u get like this crappy galloping way of playing, your style totaly pwns!!! Ty man 5/5

[XxxxSandmaNxxxX]

ha tell me about it try playin phantom of the opera by iron maiden with 2 fingers its brutal n the middle finger

[ronfromdanetherlands]

lol i did clansmann n Mother russia with 2 aswell, goddamn on mother russia, the 2nd part has to be plugged so fast with 2 fingers, i totally crash my arm after it lol :P

[staatsy19]

yea dude ur right is a lot easier i just started yesterday and i'm already getting pretty good at it.

[theFREAK101]

i so needed that thanks man.

[Schivenbass]

thanks!!!

[ThalliumBass]

dude, u rock. thanks for all the great videos. helps a lot

[BassPlayerRene9]

good vid :)

[CopRad]

Thank you it help ^_^

[chevyguybc]

well done