im trying bass note picking and wonder if i have learnt the placing of my fingers in the wrong order when trying to pick the 5th string of a c shaped chord after playing a g. when i make a c i always go in the order of index middle then ring which is ok when im strumming but breaks up the rythm bass note picking leaving me waiting to get my finger to the 5th string.
I know that I have plenty of work to do on my speed of changing but would i be better to re teach myself c by changing the order to ring middle index or will natural speed build up using the way ive already learnt.
With time you'll find that you'll plonk all fingers down at the same time. :)
However, in the interim perhaps try moving your ring and middle down first. This shouldn't be too hard coming from a G (just moving the ring and middle fingers up one string each) ... of course, this assumes you're forming the G chord with middle, ring, pinky.
If you're not forming it this way then now might be the time to learn it as it's handy to use in situations where changing to or from are made easier.
Good luck.
From little things big things grow - Paul Kelly
I have found that if you will do a little practice with your chords like this. take the C chord. form the chord then lift your fingers off the fretboard but keep them above it slightly and keep the same shape you was making on the fretboard and then place them back down again. strum. Are you still playing the chord right? then keep repeating this by raising your fingers a little higher each time. then try another chord like G then E and D etc. Do this a few minutes a day and in no time your finger muscle memory will remember those chord shapes and you will move into those chords much faster. Try that and see if it works. But give it at least a week or two of trying. Good luck
for the alt bass picking I shape my chords slightly different.
my C chord uses my pinky on the 5th string, ring on the sixth, middle on the 4th, index on the 2nd.
that forms C.
switching to G my pinky moves to the 1st sting/3rd fret. and the ring and middle jump to 5 and 6 to form G. the index finger is raised off the 2nd string, but ready to go right back on for C.
it is smooth and fast. my fingers dont leave the fret board very much and I can flatpick a whole bunch of notes.
