💥3 Finger Bass Picking In The Style Of Billy Sheehan John Myung Alex Webster- Full Lesson!

[@flanneljoe7473]

Greatly appreciated. Your willingness to share has been priceless. Music and Bass has been able to drown out a lot of the "unmentionable" negativity on line. Channels like this are absolutely necessary.

[@rodoherty1]

Thanks for that last comment on octaves! Very helpful!

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad it was helped!

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Thanks for giving Jong Myung Recognition on this topic! He’s the one I learned from when I was a teenager on his progressive bass concepts vhs. And you also talked about Ryan martinie a few videos ago! I really appreciate you talking about my two favorite players! Great video today! I think more people who pick this technique up will find they will be able to pick up a ton of fluid speed I like how you said it’s supposed to be like a machine! That’s exactly it! To this day I still grab my bass and just pluck open strings just to warm up my machine lol great content big Rodney!!!🤘

[@RodneyMcG]

Really glad you enjoyed it, and John is definitely due more credit.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

@@RodneyMcG yes he is!! He sure does!! He’s inspired so many!!! He’s the reason I bought a Bongo lol

[@gabrielwalker4411]

@@bassimprovjams3772 awww that's great doss it play good?

[@jameslangford9347]

Great lesson. Slow practice getting the technique correctly executed will pay off later. Back in the 80s I read a Percy Jones interview and he talked about his 3 finger technique. I don’t remember specifics of it and didn’t stick with it probably because the practice slow thing wasn’t part of my thought process. The triplet thing you talk about getting through something that must have stuck from his explanation though. I do enjoy your lesson demonstrations and will be working on just using the 2 middle digits to get that strength/dexterity there in the ring finger. Also remember Billy Sheehan saying you gotta know the rules before you can break them.

[@RodneyMcG]

And Billy was right!

[@fieldofpads]

I found that certain permutations lend themselves well to certain rhythmic patterns: Eighth note leading gallop ie eighth followed by two sixteenths, use index, ring middle. Hum Hallowed be thy Name for bonus points. Reverse gallop (SLAYER!!) ie two sixteenths and an eighth suits ring middle index sequence. The principle here being use ring and middle for the sixteenths since they share a tendon.

[@RodneyMcG]

Great ideas!

[@t.j.meechan682]

I've tried for a very long time to use this technique. Never got very good at it. Thank you for making this video for us sir. Hopefully i can make some progress now. Appreciate it!

[@RodneyMcG]

Take it slow and get everythingexact, then speed comes naturally. Most people trip up when they rush it. Good luck!

[@teartamother1892]

I started slow and stayed slow and now the speed is happening months later.i practice everyday 😎

[@Mrmemphisbones]

Yes Yes Yes! Thank you very much. This system is my bread and butter since the original 3 finger picking video lesson. Awesome teaching.

[@RodneyMcG]

I'm glad you got some use out of the original, hope this tightens things up a bit and helps a little more.

[@ErnieLeblanc]

Excellent Attention to Performance Physiology and Executing Accurate Musical Articulations without Unnecessary Words.🎯💯🎯

[@chinatosinthiti3076]

I practiced 3 finger for a bit and I thought I was ok, then I found this video, for the part of using only ring and middle finger for a week. ouch! It was so hard, now I'm going back to beginner basics and I am finding it very challenging working on the ring finger separation.

[@harrypadarri6349]

Same mate! Never learned and played so many Nirvana songs at once.Haha But it’s weirdly satisfying. It feels like picking up the bass as a teen but instead of internalising bad technique first and then fix it it’s learning proper picking technique from the beginning and speed running to learn alternate picking.

[@rodoherty1]

I've recently adopted a floating/sliding thumb to mute unused strings. But I notice that my pinky finger curls in and occasionally snags strings. More practice needed.

[@RodneyMcG]

Yeah, good chops are a continuous process of refinement

[@Spector2112]

Digging that b-quad

[@RodneyMcG]

It is a beast!

[@rockereivanivan]

Thanks oh great Yodney McJedi for another great lesson lml

[@RodneyMcG]

My pleasure!

[@arix1479]

Great lesson, Jack Gibson and Alex Webster, are huge inspirations for me and i've been working on 3 fingers for 2 weeks already, but my string crossing still kinda sucks. This lesson for sure helped. Great video as always, thank you for still doing those videos man, there arent many metal bass channels around.

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad it helped out. If you haven't, check out my interview with Jack Gibson. We talk a bit about 3 finger.

[@arix1479]

@@RodneyMcG i've seen the interview, was great

[@leonardobustamante759]

I’ve been playing metal with a pick for over 10 years and I’m having a really hard time learning to use my fingers for metal, it’s a completely different world from the plucking you use on Jazz, RnB, Pop or other common genres and I’m so thankful you’re giving us all the hidden secrets of metal bass technique, I’m so motivated to practice thanks to you.

[@57precision]

Hell yeah Rodney! Who would think you could get such a heavy tone by "petting" your bass!

[@RodneyMcG]

That's not even running my main gear! 😉🤘

[@paulmccormick2442]

Thank you. Very very helpful lesson.

[@RodneyMcG]

You are welcome!

[@Slime-Man-Extreme]

Watched a few vids on this topic and yours in the one that helped me the most. Thanks man

[@RodneyMcG]

Really glad it helped

[@michaelferguson7771]

Thanks for this. I started practicing my 3 finger technique based off of your first video and now i can actually play faster with my fingers than I can with a pick. Still working the bugs out on the string crossing though.

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad to hear it helped!

[@EnsBass]

Awesome "Follow up" to the first three finger video!

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching both.

[@keythedevilssono.f.o.l3981]

Started really focusing on this a couple weeks ago. Just using my middle and ring finger. It is a game changer🤘 The progress is crazy, Thanks Uncle Rodney!

[@RodneyMcG]

Great job!

[@loneleaf5487]

Thank you bro.

[@musician1000]

Yeah! Took me about 10 weeks. I can now play faf, just like I could with two fingers, but now not only is it easier, but there are more tricks available to me. Good advice regarding the third finger, however, it took way more than a week! For anyone else who is about to start playing with 3 fingers. I found that plucking 4 beats (fingers, 3,2,1,3) then moving to the fourth above, then play another 4 beats (2,1,3,2) across a fourth (1,3,2,1) up a fourth and repeat the whole sequence moving back the way you came. I did this for weeks until I could do it without thinking. This solves the, 'crossing strings' problem. There are lots of variations on this exercise, but keep it simple, only adding a layer of complication once you are ready. You could use open strings, but I used E, A, D, going up, and G, D, A, going down. I play a 5 string so I was at the fifth fret. Thanks again to Rodney McG, for a really useful lesson.

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad it helped, and thanks for the good info in your post.

[@johnfollis2357]

yes I used three fingerpicking a lot. Especially when I’m fingerpicking like Steve Harris and what not. I do 321321321 mostly. But I will do 3212 little paws 3212 little paws 3212 little paws. But then sometimes I do 32121 little paws 32121 little paws 32121. Etc. when it comes to playing chords. When it comes to playing chords, I think about power cords and active cords and what not. If I am playing power cords, I use my first and second finger. If it’s extended power cord I’ll use my first second and third finger. But when it comes to active cords, I use my first and third finger inside it first and second finger. It makes things so much easier. Now I am playing disco octaves outside of metal context, are used first and second finger for disco octaves. But when I’m thinking hard rock and metal way, I will use my first and third finger for octaves. by the way sorry if maybe some of the texts got a little muddled. I’m lazy and using dictation.

[@RodneyMcG]

"little paws"!😂 I like your thought out approach.

[@johnfollis2357]

oops I did not realize it spelled it that way. I meant to say pause

[@RodneyMcG]

😂 I understood, it gave me a good chuckle!

[@ShuKatashSam]

I think many players think it will take years to learn this and be really mentally painful. I assumed it would be. It was not and it was quite satisfying once mastered. I'm looking at this from the other side now, as is Rodney. This is a great lesson that I'd wish I'd seen decades ago. Thanks man!!

[@erickmazur807]

Thank you! I found your original video 3 months when i picked up a bass after 8 years. This is perfect to build up dexterity.

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad I could help!

[@rockereivanivan]

What I started doing at first was that I practiced with my index first then ring, then middle, and once I had a lot of practice, changed it to ring, middle, index and I've started building up consistency and being able to stay on that speed for a longer period of time

[@glennhm8142]

Thank you Rodney, awesome lesson and beautifully explained. I have been wanting to learn this technique for a while now, thanks for putting me on the right path.

[@RodneyMcG]

Hope it helps, Glenn

[@karolzmaczynski9681]

You just answered like 60% of questions I was about to ask :D Great video!

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad I could help!

[@pestilentdeath5814]

thanks

[@peterengland2892]

Thank you Rodney great breakdown of this technique . Am a big Billy SHEEHAN FAN . HAVE BEEN STUCK IN MY HEAD TRYING THIS . YOU'VE SIMPLIFIED IT . AM NEW SUBSCRIBER 👍

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hintz9173]

Thanks for this!! Starting in the 90's , it took me years to get the 3 finger technique down( the only source was Billy Sheehan instructional tapes). I envy players starting out now with all the resources like this to draw from, keep up the good work!! Cheers!!!

[@RodneyMcG]

There's defintely advantages to being a young player these days

[@fixing_the_shadow]

Thanks for the lesson. That's exactly the technic I'm going to master.

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad to help!

[@musician1000]

Thanks for this.

[@RodneyMcG]

My pleasure!

[@theshayanahmadiyan]

Hi rodney! Thanks for this precious lesson, I always had that gallop problem and never could manage to hit 4 with 3 fingers, got a little spark from your explanations and demonstrations hopefully I'll turn that into fire! lol thanks🤝🏻❤

[@RodneyMcG]

Just takes a little bit of slow practice. If I could get it, you definitely can!

[@mixc8]

Rodney you have not made a video I didn't like :) LOL oddly enough when I first started learning bass back in the 80's I would use 4 fingers, yep I used my pinky LOL. It was something I just started doing and still practice to this day. True it's not always practical using your pinky but I throw it in there from time to time and get some interesting licks. Also back in the day I brought Billy Sheehan's CD and really buckled down on his 3 finger technique, also if you notice in his video he added a little block between the pick up's to rest his thumb on that helps with this style. But I must say I have a real strong right hand pinky ahahahaha. I also studied Steve Bailey's style as well :)

[@RodneyMcG]

Nice! Steve was one of my teachers for a while. We went back and forth about his method and the one I used. He decided I had mine together well enough and told me to run with it.

[@iamgribs]

Very insightful. My picking technique is pretty good but i also wind up Harrising. I love Harris of course but that's not what i want. I read an interview with Webster that was interesting, he said something about Digorgio going index middle ring middle index when he's blazing. I will try what i saw here but it will take me forever to be rid of the "gallop"

[@RodneyMcG]

Follow the part about accents and getting seperation and it will come faster than you think.

[@baldsealion]

Fantastic video, I watched the old one then this one! So many good tips

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad it was helpful!

[@teartamother1892]

Another great lesson Rodney,I have been practicing since I first saw you doing it and you put up a lesson .I started slow and stayed slow for weeks but I have practiced for months now and just this week I saw my friend and said I've written a song you wanna see.After the intro I go 3 finger just on open E and then into the main riff.Well they we're very impressed and asked where did you learn that.so another advert was shared.I have been sharing your channel with NZ basses and I hope you have new customers LoL Thanks a million

[@RodneyMcG]

Really glad to hear your progress. Thanks for the shares!

[@thepedalarchive2]

Ha! Good timing. I just watched the original video a few days ago. Been looking into learning some Hardwired era Metallica songs and Rob seems to use this technique a fair bit. Also revisiting some Cliff Burton classics too (RIP Cliff) and I believe he selectively uses 3 fingers. But mostly 2?

[@RodneyMcG]

Actually, Cliff never used three fingers but it's easy to think that as he had kind of a spread eagle open hand attack where he would just slap the strings with whatever finger happened to hit and the Open Hand smack can kind of look like a 3 finger approach.

[@nicolasdenis9471]

Thank you very much sir !! I wish I could get such contents years ago when internet was just starting. Right hand techniques are often overlooked by beginners but I always considered them as crucial. Greetings from belgium.

[@RodneyMcG]

I'm glad you enjoyed it - Greeting from the USA!

[@pleasurementgui]

You’re awesome! Best teacher and content creator for metal bass! Always great and on point. Learned a lot and can’t wait to take this to my practice.

[@RodneyMcG]

Thanks! I think you'll get a lot out of it.

[@vichi2059]

I just happened to come across your page the other day and in just two days of isolating my ring and middle finger plucking, the speed and nimbleness of my normal two finger technique is noticeably improved. Thank you for that bit of advice and looking forward to checking out the rest of your content!

[@RodneyMcG]

Love hearing the progress! Thanks for checking out the channel.

[@joachimrieb1014]

Great lesson,dude.I'll be working on that.I just subscribed to your chanel,including the notefication bell.Cheers,mate.

[@freddygarza1201]

This is pretty much the only way we can hang with these guitar shredders without using a pick.

[@askcitizenfitz]

Probably not the first to say it but I like Rodney's wizard room. It contrasts nicely with his experiential, matter of fact delivery.

[@cjbrewer3843]

How has it taken me so long to discover your channel. It's pretty much everything I need in one stop!

[@RodneyMcG]

The youtube algorythm is not kind, but glad you found your way here!

[@KyleS.1987]

Awesome, clear explanation and breakdown of the technique! Thank you for putting it together. I've been playing with three fingers for some years now, but the one thing I'm still struggling with is descending string changes: to rake, or not to rake? I know Sheehan and Myung use raking along with three-finger technique, but I haven't been able to figure out exactly how. I've tried coming up with my own picking patterns, and raking seems to make things a lot more complicated...but obviously would lend itself to greater speed down the road. So I'm kind of stuck wondering if I should grind away at the raked approach until it's not complicated anymore, or stick with the simpler approach of strictly alternating A-M-I.

[@RodneyMcG]

This is tough to cover in a comment, but I would do both so you have the choice. The raking isn't that difficult if you look at it as a pause in the rotation, not a break.

[@KyleS.1987]

@@RodneyMcG A pause in the rotation and not a break... That's a really good way to think of it. Thanks!

[@juanmanuelmegiasleal709]

Muy buen video❤

[@graagullesson87]

Great YT material, you are easily explaining fundamentals how to start and keep going with 3 finger picking. I would really appreciate if you could show some good exercises with metronome how to achieve 16th note tremolo like picking. I am keeping up the 180-200 BPM, but I am really struggling with faster tempos. When I am going faster than that I often start to play gallop like picking...

[@jakslayersyth]

I used to always struggle with this technique until I got a papercut on my index

[@MikamiHero]

Thanks heaps for this lesson, Rod! I've been trying to implement 3-finger plucking for a while, but I suffered from the weak 2-3. I didn't have enough guts to do play with just 2-3 for a week, but what I did was double-up on my warmup exercises. I usually do them (scales, arpeggios, etc) with 1-2-3, but for every exercise I did, I repeated it with just 2-3. After a week, I've started to feel it's not as awkward to bring in the ring finger on a whim!

[@RodneyMcG]

Love that!

[@icemike874]

Dropping some serious Knowledge, Thanks ✌

[@RodneyMcG]

You bet

[@kyusama347]

😭 Thank you, i;ve been trying to get this technique down for years, and wondered if there was something wrong with me! I've just been practicing wrong!

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad I could help!

[@andrebassreto4410]

I like it, I learn a lot

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad to hear it!

[@jimmyjam5358]

Excellent lesson

[@RodneyMcG]

Thank you! 😃

[@Nuk3mB455]

Great insight as always, Rodney!! 🤘🏻💀🤘🏻

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Justbeingjosh]

Fantastic video and clearly explained on how to apply in scales.

[@jakp8777]

Nice video

[@postalmane666]

Nice tips, gotta try later 🫡

[@talesfromthetoiletseat8295]

Good stuff! I will have to put this into use. My ring finger lags a lot and hits a lot weaker than my index and middle.

[@RodneyMcG]

Glad it was helpful!

[@andressanzcorrea1168]

Muy interesante. Gracias.

[@al76groovekeeper]

Another good video…I get the most speed w just flicking my index n use it as i was holding a pick for palm mute i also do the victor thumb down up index for triple add my ring if i want 4…. I lost my middle in accident and the tip of ring finger it’s been 3 years in I’m starting to get some meat on in the last yr or so ….lol i do practice just using ring pinky and trying different techniques but i fell that i just waist time in should work on what fells mor natural which is if flicking for me. i get more power w flicking n i tend to play at the end of fretboard so that i can tap if I want n switch back n forth i have a hard time tapping w my pinky not much power n control makes me sad but at least i can still play…lol i use super glue on my stub… what do u use if your tips feel sore anything? What do some of your friends use?

[@RodneyMcG]

I use super glue as well, but usually only need it on the road. MOst of the time I just intentionally build calloses

[@ikestoddard2458]

Super! I already exercise my right hand to roll that way, so making it actual part of practice is cake. Thanks for the details! And how to get to four. 😁 And lessons of course go better with coffee….

[@RodneyMcG]

Everything in life goes better with coffee! And if it doesn't, get rid of it. You don't need that kind of negativity.

[@dorssberube]

I need to learn this!! Thanks for sharing!! 🤌🏻

[@RodneyMcG]

You can do it!

[@brianbergmusic5288]

Your advice on always starting/reloading with the 'A' finger (edit: ring finger) is advice that already has a rock solid pedigree in Classical Guitar in the three-note tremolo technique (P - a - m - i ). Obviously, the hand/thumb placement is different, but similar principles apply. Just curious: do you ever find I - M purists who argue for it as strongly as the strict alternate pickers do? To me, it seems like a logical choice for bassists who wish to work smarter not harder (kind of like hybrid/economy pickers). That doesn't mean that it is easier, but it does mean that it's more mind over muscle training.

[@RodneyMcG]

I find people just usually argue for whatever habit they already have.

[@s3k1m]

Can't believe I'm watching this for free

[@anesthetism]

Another great vid! When is your bands next gig?

[@RodneyMcG]

Thank you! Not playing shows right now, just special events here and there. If something comes up, i'll annouce here for sure.

[@kimfaucher007]

Thank you so much again for your help and inspiration at trying to get better! I also am using an « down and up picking » approach with the fingers of my plucking hand.

[@RodneyMcG]

Very cool. Did you see my video on that?

[@kimfaucher007]

@@RodneyMcG yes I did and it actually inspired me to try! I was already doing it with my thumb whenever I was doing slapping… I am using double thumb for fast slapping songs!

[@ickywyrmwood1993]

THANK YOU! VERY HELPFUL!!

[@fueu2617]

that is quality info. thanks

[@afootlongdingledong674]

Where did you got that beautiful huge desk behind you?

[@RodneyMcG]

Thank you. I bought it from a video production studio in los angeles.

[@rob0nemusic369]

What do you think about using double thumb slap technique ( Victor Wooten, Jacob Umansky ) vs this 3 fingers picking technique ?

[@RodneyMcG]

I don't find it as versatile, but do what you like

[@Desert_Cruiser]

I practiced my rolls on the flat surface of my laptop with my middle/ring fingers scrunched to gather the strength needed and then raise my ring finger as high up as it'll go (i mean, really raise that sumbitch) . Hopefully my comment helps somebody out there.

[@drewinman7171]

Cool insight. However, I would argue that your Steve Harris demonstration was a 16th 16th 8th gallop, not a triplet.

[@RodneyMcG]

Correct. Gallop feel, not triplet. One of my pet peeves when people make that mistake, and I got talking fast and did it myself 😂

[@drewinman7171]

@@RodneyMcG It's one of mine too!

[@Ludde_V2]

I personally can only do the wave without really thinking about it. Still can't play songs without switching to 2 fingers

[@RodneyMcG]

Slow and methodical will get you there

[@StephenBecker]

Good stuff as always! I'm kind of curious if you think there are reasons one *shouldn't* try to learn this technique? I've been thinking about it, but am also worried it might set me back significantly while resetting my mechanics. Because I'm already pretty fast with two, in the end I might not be able to pluck all that much faster. Ultimately the question is, what is the point of diminishing returns?

[@RodneyMcG]

I don't know that I see much of an argument for having less technique under my belt. I started with 2 finger and definitely don't see any of the setbacks you are concerned about. And it's not just about speed. It's a gain in endurance and dexterity.

[@aidengaming4696]

So quick question, if I'm having trouble avoiding the triplet still, like with 4 8th notes or 16th notes-a full set, how would I fix it, would I just go ring middle index ring? And then just keep going in the rotation, so after that 1st set it would middle index ring middle, would I just do that and practice getting the speed faster and the dexterity in the fingers better?

[@RodneyMcG]

TEchnically both things you listed are just still doing Ring Middle Index. Just do what I mentioned in the part of playing with a regular beat or metronome slowly making sure you have a single count for each beat, then do the accents, accenting the first beat of each set of 4.

[@William_Earl]

I've been using 3 fingers for years, but do you think there is a benefit to strictly alternating as opposed to just raking?

[@RodneyMcG]

Completely depends on what you are trying to achieve and yourend goal. Both are valid.

[@armignac]

why not index middle ring? Dont really get the use of doing it the other direction.

[@themetalheadguy_666]

I think a problem I've always had with three finger technique is I'm stuck thinking about what my fretting hand is doing too much Edit: 12:14 Is what I need

[@alejandromataporras3070]

Do u personally use raking when playing 3 finger technique? Or you follow strictly the order?

[@RodneyMcG]

Depends heavily on the sound I'm going for and if I'm doing something like extremely accurately doubling a guitar riff. I do tend to use raking a lot as most of the players I was influenced by coming up used it as well

[@jeffreyswing730]

What mods did you do on your B-Quad? That doesn’t look like the stock bridge or pickups. Do you have the details in another one of your videos? I’ve never been happy with the sound of the stock pickups on mine, highs are weak, very muddy.

[@RodneyMcG]

The bridge is a ABM. I swapped the pickups for EMG

[@RisvoldTheGreat]

Why three? Music is usually based in sets of 2-4 bars per measure include every finger.

[@RodneyMcG]

Because the pinky is radically shorter and weaker making it more of a drag than an advantage

[@OG051]

My ring finger feels a bit too short for 3 finger plucking :( I feel like there is no solution to this problem

[@RodneyMcG]

It may just take some experimenting. I've never seen someone who couldn't get it done. Good luck.

[@adamrushka8096]

My wife thanks you.

[@RodneyMcG]

She told you?!

[@adamrushka8096]

@@RodneyMcG she cant keep a secret