I am trying to use the alternate finger for picking as Josh taught in the lessons.
But…some use picks while many others use alternate finger picking.
So I’m trying to understand why use alternate fingers. Those using picks must be able to pick fast too.
I know Josh teaches alternate finger picking, but am I “wrong” to just use my index finger for picking.
I’m just trying to understand…thanks for your feedback.
You’re only wrong if you can’t pick fast enough with one:) I usually alternate pick, but find that I can lock some rhythms down and be more consistent tone-wise if I go to single for certain situations. Someone else here will have a better and more nuanced view I’m sure. But that’s where I’m at- it’s almost done unconsciously when I switch.
This is not an either-or. Most use both picks and alternate-finger plucking, actually.
Not if your finger is fast enough! But in general it won’t be for most of us.
thanks for the reply.
I seem to be able to pick some songs (usually faster) with just my index finger better….”House of the Rising Sun”.
that’s amazing to me that some pick both ways!
picks are faster and have a very different sound than fingerstyle.
fingerstyle better suits some styles, and alternate plucking is simply more natural and efficient than single-finger once you get it down.
James Jamerson a one finger player, pretty darn good.
I use both styles after seeing Geddy use one finger, he does it a fair bit but not always.
I use one finger to keep the tone more equal when required.
Get good using alternating fingers at first until you don’t need to think about it, around this stage you’ll be able to accordingly use your fingers the best way necessary.
Even Robert Fripp after nearly 6 decades of performing songs live he still looks for different more streamlined fingerings, it relates.
Hi there, I recently got more used to a pick (mainly because of Mötley Crüe, sick basslines).
I discovered that imo single and alternate picking produce very different tones than single or alternate plucking. Especially with metal, some baselines just “need” that constant downstroke. And it doesn’t depend on speed so much: W.A.S.P.'s “Wild Child” just doesn’t sound right with alternate picking.
On the other hand, listen to some Thin Lizzy (e.g. “Dancing in the Moonlight”) and you’ll hear how important alternate picking is for those baslines.
Tl,dr.. it depends.
Try playing Pressure by Queen/Bowie. That triplet is devilishly hard to hit single finger.
I can’t alternate pluck - I had surgery a number of years back and my ring finger doesn’t work right. Sometimes it plucks all on its own. I use a pick more
Hello @timtuckboog , my advice is to slow down and ONLY alternate two finger picking. Now , hear me out. I only used my index finger when I started. This means I missed out later down the road with raking. Because I only use my index finger , I then had to start all over when I began practicing alternating. Sounds easy BUT the weaker fingers will sound different compared to your dominate index finger. I am 100% NOT saying that you are learning wrong or telling what you should be doing. It is just that for me personally , I wish that I would have started using three fingers earlier while learning the fretboard as well. I also wish I would have “sang” the notes back then because I still struggle singing today.
As for the pick , there are definitely a number of songs that are “easier” to play with a pick. That also takes practice and I recommend that you ease into that style as well.
Hopefully this helps ,
Cheers
Agreed!
Until…
When you know you know, then without effort it becomes accordingly and maybe one day you get all flamenco with it.
Alternate and build control and stamina until your fingers do as you will them to do.
travis….thanks for your very good response…I appreciate the tips.
Yes, I am sticking the alternating picking.
and thanks to everyone responding.
this forum is great..people sharing..doesn’t get any better…THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE!
I’m looking forward to seeing a cover of this. Great song.
I also do that even if it can be tough sometimes, especially when I have to highly focus on fretting, but once I recognize that I’m off, I do force myself back to alternating. The thing is: we’re not Jamerson, and I think it’s right what Josh said during the course: if things get faster, most of us won’t be able to keep up with speed with one-finger plucking. At least this applies 100% to me.
But the bassist Geddy idolized, Chris Squire, did play with a pick, and Geddy was a die hard fan. To the point when Chris passed Geddy stood in for him at the HOF induction
Geddy’s voice would even work for Yes.
Fun fact: for a brief moment in history, Trevor Horn was the vocalist for Yes, and it killed the group 
Which ended up well for Trevor as he went on to be one of the most impactful music producers in the '80s.
But they had a big comeback after with 90125 and Owner of a Lonely Heart (meh)
They had so many lineups and competing bands with former members - there was a band called Yes and another Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe touring at the same time. A lot of Y-drama really
Until he passed, Squire was the only player in all incarnations of Yes
True. I believe that Geddy Lee mentioned what a challenge it was to fill in for Chris Squire at the HOF induction.
Chris Squire likely influenced Geddy Lee playing a Rickenbacher bass (even though he did use a Fender Jazz bass at the HOF induction performance.)
They are two amazing unique bass players.
High praise to be one of Geddy’s bass idols.
TBH I did not like Yes (any incarnation) but I totally appreciate the skill across the whole band. I did dig Rush a lot though.