Ok hey people.....this is my first question so I'll start off by saying that I've been playing bass for a few years now and I wasnt having problems at all UNTIL....I tried to learn "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden, no point even saying who did that song though cause I imagine everybody here knows it.....anyways, I'm having problems with galloping at that speed like Steve Harris does and i don't even know if I'm using the right technique and i do NOT want to use a pick like Gayson Newstead gallops with, that's just cheezy....do it the proper way or don't do it at all! Anyways, I pluck with my right hand like most people do and use 2 fingers like most people do too (my index and "fuck you" finger") Am i supposed to be using those 2 fingers really fast to play the triplets? or 3 fingers and are there any excersize techniques or warm up's anybody could explain to help me play at that speed? Shit dude, it sounds simple when you listen to it, but when you try it lol.....anyways thanks alot, any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

~Nick

take it slow

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Yeah exactly, start off slowly on the piece and gain speed eventually and you should have it. dont rush into it and go apeshit and try and get like 250bpm on your first attempt haha but just start off slow and your fingers will adjust and will build speed.

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yes, that's it . at first learn it slow and then play faster and faster.

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I use three. index-middle-pointer . Although sometimes I like to switch it up with pointer-middle-index or whatever hits the string.

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Pointer?.. is that your word for the ring finger?

@Trendkill - Who told you that? you should use whatever's comfortable and whatever gets the bass line down. people shouldnt be telling you what fingers too use and what fingers not too use.

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Haha yeah he probably does, but who the hell points with there ring finger?!

4 is just a technique, i dont expect to see any bassist playing with 4 fingers unless they need to get 16th'lets without using a pick, but seriously, use what feels good, if you can use 3 smoothly and accurately, then use it (its a bonus),and it takes a lot of ache off of your index and middle, because with the ring in there hitting notes, the index and middle arent being used as frequently as before.

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Just use cut-time and slow down, then try to get faster until your used to the pace of the song, and the gallop.
I've had to do it myself on various other songs...takes a while, but the final product is worth it all.

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Isn't your ring finger your index finger?!!

Your pointer finger is the finger closest to your thumb and the best one for picking your nose and eating it.

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Hahaha, i knew something was wrong, Smooth behemoth

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THUMB, INDEX, MIDDLE, RING, PINKY

Get it right

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Those are not triplets.

A triplet is a group of 3 notes, evenly spaced over any number of beats. Usually you do eighth triplets, being 3 notes to 1 beat (3 notes in the space of 2 eighth notes). A good example that springs to mind would be Evergrey - The Great Deciever.

What you're talking about here is 1 eigth note and 2 sixteenth notes in a group. There's no "music theory" name for it AFAIK, but I'd just call it galloping.

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Haha, ahh i missed a great one here.

BassB your ring finger is your ring finger.. and your index is your index finger.

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hehe, sounds true !

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Man you guys are all assholes!

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Haha, not really, im just nicely correcting you

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Bass Zone -

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haha you cockfiend!

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Hahaha, ahh i can feel the love.

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it's good ya'll can have fun with it. yeah man learn a few iron songs and you'll be a master at triplets. that's were i started so many years ago. steve is a master of masters at his style. everyone has given good advice slow is the key. i guess ya'll figured out i'm from texas houston to be exact.

That's a fun song I learned it a couple of months ago. I'd say the intro is harder than the "galloping" part. Once you can play it it becomes easy ... though I still get tired by the end of the song ... probably because I haven't practiced enough ... I forgot about this song.

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