I am trying to master finger picking style (no pick) on acoustic guitar and electric bass (5 string, just so y'all know). I don't mind this thread blah blah blah being used by anyone else who finds the information helpful.

Finger picking style of Alex Webster and the guy from Necrophagist are my goals.




I was wondering if there's any particular pattern or technique I am supposed to follow (of course there is, WTF is it or what's the formula?!?).

What I have LEARNED (but am not sticking to until I get more info/opinions) is the your thumb, 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers are used, but in the order (w your fingers, thumb first) is 3rd, 2nd, and 1st in that order because apparently its faster than start withing your index and starting over from your ring finger.

Even if I stick to this, I'm not sure where and when to add the thumbs, and on which strings/depending on how many notes/strings are played.



This is something basic I copied from my guitar playing onto my bass, using all 5 strings.
(BEADG) or in tab form
G
D
A
E
B
... Yeah, I think everyone here can read tab...

- - - - - - 5 - 8 p 5 - - - - - -
- - - - - 6 - - - - - 6 - - - - -
- - - - 7 - - - - - - - 7 - - - -
- - - 7 - - - - - - - - - 7 - - -
5 h 8 - - - - - - - - - - - 8 - 5

and repeat

I would especially like to know the proper (right hand) fingerings on this particular sweep, please.

And I promise to stop posting shitty threads.

How many people here play fast and technical metal bass with their fingers?

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Definitely have to let you play with my balls sometime.

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That is funny. You can really joke your ass off. But can anyone answer the question?

My confidence in Metaltabs is running dim.

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I think you wouldn't use the thum on bass playing, that's for rolling on an acoustic...I think. Unless you wanna do a slap kinda thing on the bass...


when I play bass with my fingers, not near as fast as Alex Webster...I use my pointer middle and ring finger. Using three fingers is good becuase it allows you to group notes into fours easily.

Pointer=P
Middle=M
Ring=R


PMRM PMRM = 1234 1234. That way you can start back up on your pointer finger back at one.


Sorry if my explanation sucks, I can clear stuff up if you ask me. This is a really basic approach applied by a guitarist so I could be completely wrong.

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I do. The technique described by 7stringwarlord above worked real good for me, but I switched over to using all 4 fingers (well, five).
Anyway, the above technique was kind of more "autopilot" for me, felt really natural, and definately the style you should try to master.

Also, to get Webster's sound, if you've just started, you'll have quite a hard time but, this works especially well with the above technique:

That clanky sound? You get it by playing quite close to your fretboard, and instead of "caressing" the strings with your fingers, you hit them down. Seriously, thrust your fingers downward so the string bounces of of the fretboard. Gets you a loooot of treble.
Alternately you could just buy a Warwick.

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I would kill for a Warwick.

Well I'll try the PMRM but for some reason I think it gets more technical than that especially when switching from string to string, I guess it's a "Figure it out as you go" thing. Thanks.

Sometimes, because I read this somewhere, not sure from where, not even sure on validity of the source, but I read the correct order was Ring, middle, pointer, and possibly repeat...

...which confused the the shit out of me trying to play this.
1-2-3- =Fret
R-M-P = fingers

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