gallopping?

[ilzaf]

im not sure but do you guys feel like cramp after awhile?

for instance gallopping to iron maidens trooper or those constant bassline like hallowed be thy name. im using alternate 3 fingers.

so is it something ill get used to or is something i have to worry about?

 

[shinobi]

by galloping u probably mean playing triplets... for me the most comfortable and fastest way to play triplets is by using middle finger, index finger, thumb. so i go M-I-T-M-I-T. i tend to lead with the middle finger because it is the strongest finger on my right hand (i wonder why). it's best to be able to use all your fingers actually lah and i'm working on it.

yah u might feel shag, but CRAMP might be a problem, check your wrist position- make sure the angle of your wrist is not too acute. the best would be to use the floating thumb method. the danger of the wrist bending too much is that you might develop CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME which is no joke.

still i see alot of jaco pastorius jazz bassist wannabes straining their right hand by playing with the bass guitar too high, or those punk rock posers straining their left wrist cos guitar is too low.

 

[schmuardian]

Best wrist position is straight. Can look at classical guitarist playing with footstools to get an idea.

However, it's probably that you just need to train your right hand more.

as for style, i personally use i, m and a fingers. (index, middle and ring), leading with the ring finger.sort of like drumming your fingers on the table actually.

 

[jkambing]

Its really up to you actually. For me, I use only my index and middle fingers, and alternate the fingers like I--M-I/M--I-M/I--M-I and so forth for faster songs like The Trooper or Run to the Hills. For slower songs, I usually accent the first note and start with the middle finger. I don't alternate for slower songs (like Hallowed be thy name). So its M--I-M/M--I-M/M--I-M/M--I-M and so forth. By the way, a gallop isn't the same as a triplet, just to clarify. A gallop is a eight-note followed by 2 sixteenth notes. A triplet is 3 notes of equal measure. I'm not musically trained, so I'm not sure if im using the right words. Heh.

 

[jkambing]

Oh yeah, as for your question about the cramps.. Well, my fingers hurt alot in the beginning, but no cramping since I've been using 2 fingers. It should take getting used to lah. I've been trying to use a third finger (ring finger) in general while playing bass, and I tried a gallop (slowly). I realised it sounds a little different from 2 fingers. Maybe you should figure out which method you like best. Cheers.

 

[KeDraiv]

i prefer using 3 fingers to do galloping.
sounds more complete.
i start with the ring finger then end with the index finger.
but i can't do it on the last string =[=[
i need something to push against when i'm doing it this way.
haha.

 

[Resetti]

when doing intense stuff liek galloping or even just pounding semi-quavers throughout the entire song, your fingers can become tired even 1/4 thru the song.

so when doing these things normall i will change my right hand position such that i use as little movement as possible to pluck the strings - play lightly and turn up the volume, instead of playing hard.

this way, I'll not cram so fast

 

[KeDraiv]

yeah.
that's what i do too.
prefer fingers over picks anytime
cause i can't hold picks that well.
they always drop out halfway thur the songs.
haha.

 

[ilzaf]

mkay. got it. adopted the floating thumb theory. its better. haha. only problem now is, my ring finger doesnt sound like the index and mid. neeed to work on the strength i think.

bwaha. anyhow thanks on the tips, the volueme one. ><

 

[Resetti]

classical guitar technique teaches using floating right hand, so no point is your right hand ancored to the guitar.

after playing this technique in classical guitar, when coming to bass, floating thumb is quite natural to get.

also i prefer this technique as it allows more range of movement

 

[KeDraiv]

yeah but if using that way the volume really gets a big drop.
to me at least.
still trying to perfect the classical tremolo method.
it sucks when you're a lefty using a righty's bass.
haha

 

[neverconscious]

I read in a Bass Player article with Steve Harris that he plays his gallops i, i, m. I've tried doing it that way but cannot maintain, so instead I use a, m, i