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RIGHT HAND (FINGER PICKING) TECHNIQUE One of the first things I do with new students, regardless of their experience

level, is to sit them down and analyze how their hands are working together on the bass. In many cases, the student has gone about as far as they can go given their current approach, because they are limited by a particular technical stumbling block. To get them working at the next level usually only requires some fine-tuning. Over the years, I have come to recognize some common problems and solutions with respect to hand technique, and we will address them in the articles that follow. When working to improve hand technique, sometimes it is a good idea to focus on each hand individually. Each hand plays a different role in playing the bass; therefore, each hand requires a unique technical approach. First, we will address right hand (picking) technique as it applies to finger style playing. In this article I will focus on some important concepts specific to the right hand that often cause problems for bass players. Muting Methods It is a good idea to utilize some sort of muting method to keep strings quiet that are not being played. This topic causes a lot of problems for players, especially ones who are making the transition from 4 string bass to a 5 or 6 string. Keeping the strings that aren't being played quiet is a challenge for the right hand because it is already preoccupied with the actual plucking of the strings. Many players try to depend on their left hand exclusively for muting tasks, but this approach can be futile during very complex or challenging passages. In my opinion, the use of a "moveable anchor" is one of the most versatile and least restrictive solutions to this challenge. Most of us who play finger style already utilize some type of anchored approach using the thumb of the right hand. For example, some players place their thumb on a pickup or the body of the bass while they play in order to stabilize their right hand. (figure 1) figure 1

Others might use a thumb rest or low string to accomplish the same task. The concept of a movable anchor is similar, but instead of leaving the thumb in one place, this approach allows the thumb to 'follow' the picking fingers back and forth over the width of the strings, acting as a mute in both directions. An exaggerated example of this approach for 4 string bass is demonstrated in the following exercise (figure 2): figure 2

Hand positions are illustrated in figure 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d: figure 3a

3b

3c

3d

A summary of the basic approach is this: As your picking fingers move across the strings, your thumb follows behind them, anchoring on those strings not being played and keeping them quiet. Let me state once again, however, that the previous exercise is an exaggerated example designed to show you the basic concept. The most practical applications of this concept allow the thumb to "float" across the strings more, as opposed to rigidly parking on each string until you move to the next one. There are several ways to implement this approach by simply changing the angle of the thumb; you'll want to experiment to discover which method works best for you. Over the years I've come to settle on a version in which my thumb usually stays two strings behind my picking fingers, depending on what I'm playing. Economy of Motion Another benefit to using a movable anchor is that in addition to taking care of muting tasks, it also maintains a consistent hand position as you move across the strings. To explain this another way, the actual 'openness' of your right hand remains the same regardless of which string you are playing. You'll find that the more closed hand position used by this approach usually results in a greater comfort. Why? Try this test: Completely relax your hands and watch what your fingers do... If you're built like most people, you'll find that they naturally curve into a more closed hand position. It actually takes a degree of strength to hold your hands completely open. Now think about how that applies to your right hand technique. With a stationary anchor, your right hand becomes more open the farther away your picking fingers get from your anchor. (figure 4) figure 4

* A moveable anchor promotes a more closed right hand position across all strings, since you don't have to 'reach' for the higher pitched strings. Alternation Another approach that will help to refine your right hand technique is the use of alternation in your picking fingers. Alternation is important because it splits up your right hand workload amongst your picking fingers, thereby making your picking more efficient. Regardless of whether you use two, three, four (or more!) picking fingers,

alternation is a key concept that will help you to be more proficient. When you practice your alternation, try to avoid "raking" as you move from higher pitched strings to lower. Raking is when you "brush" from the last note played on a higher string to the first note played of the next lowest string, resulting in the same finger being used to play both notes. Although raking is a useful technique, try not to use it at all when you are working exclusively on your alternation. This way you will develop full independent control over both techniques, and subsequently choose the best method for the job in various performance situations. Practicing using permutations One great way to develop your right hand is to practice exercises that involve moving across the strings while utilizing disciplined alternation. A very simple approach that can be developed further into more complex examples involves the use of left hand fingering permutations. Using a one finger per fret approach in a closed position, we will play through every combination of your left hand fingering while moving across the strings in both directions. To play the notes with the right hand, we will incorporate both good alternation and our new movable anchor system. For starters, let's assign the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 to our index, middle, ring, and pinky fingers, respectively, so that we can reference their individual use. Here are the possible combinations for your left hand if we use each finger only once: 1-2-3-4 1-2-4-3 1-3-2-4 1-3-4-2 1-4-2-3 1-4-3-2 2-1-3-4 2-1-4-3 2-3-1-4 2-3-4-1 2-4-1-3 2-4-3-1 3-1-2-4 3-1-4-2 3-2-1-4 3-2-4-1 3-4-1-2 3-4-2-1 4-1-2-3 4-1-3-2 4-2-1-3 4-2-3-1 4-3-1-2 4-3-2-1

Now place your left hand at a median location on your neck, for example, in 5th position. (5th position is where your first finger is lined up with your 5th fret.) Now simply lay your left hand fingers on the neck so that you are in a one finger per fret position. Our first permutation will be: 1-2-3-4. We've already covered how to play it in figure 1. Keep in mind that your right hand fingering needs to alternate 1-2-1-2-1-2, etc. without deviation until you complete the permutation across all strings and back. (figure 5): figure 5

(As you move back across the strings from highest to lowest, make sure to retain the same fingering.) The next permutation, 1-2-4-3, is illustrated in figure 6: figure 6

Continue until you have worked through all 24 examples. If you feel confident with those, then try a cross string left hand position playing through the same permutations. Your left hand would be positioned over the strings using the same one finger per fret approach, but assigning one finger to each string, instead. Two possibilities for left hand positioning using this approach are illustrated in figures 7 and 8: figure 7

figure 8

As you practice, it is a good idea to use some type of external clock source, like a drum machine or metronome. Play at very slow tempos for extended periods of time at the beginning, making sure that each note rings out fully until the next one is played. If you are having trouble putting both hands together at first, focus on only one hand at a time, paying strict attention to the problem areas. Work them out one component at a time, and then slowly bring your two hands together, playing broken down versions of each permutation and then gradually building. For example, don't try to play across all four strings until you can successfully and consistently play over one. I think you'll find that the more you refine your technique, the more confident a player you will become. Enjoy working on these concepts, and next time we'll cover some specifics for the left hand. Until then, keep it bassy!

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