Are 3 note per string fingerings that involve wider stretches essential for improv?

[S_R_S5]

Nothing is essential for soloing. Yes it gives you a wider choice and it helps you learn to fret board, but not really anything magical to make you solo better. The real thing about music is play notes that sound good.

[JonnyPac]

Um, so how many of you guys actually play 2 or 3 octave diatonic scales in an improv? Without chromatics or embellishments? Once in a blue moon I might do a fast triplet scale ending on a target note, but 3 nps isn't that much swifter if your technique is ok.

I hardly run more than 2 octaves. I try to sing in my head, and I can't sing a 3 octave run. Smaller ranges sound "human", IMHO.

To the OP...

I never use the 3 per version, unless it is required of the line for some terrible reason. CAGED is cool, but so is just playing the notes you want and making it happen without some big system. Transcribe some Wes... you will find no such obvious patterns, just nice lines that make sense in themselves.

[markf]

I find things like "four notes per string" to be a cool exercise:


Please don't accuse me of shredding! It opens up your hand and makes you practice short jumps to notes.

I heard that you have to leave Kelowna city limits if you're caught shredding.

[ronjazz]

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort with "stretch" fingerings, you may want to explore a shorter-scale instrument.

[Jazzpunk]

I find things like "four notes per string" to be a cool exercise:

(F scale)

||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-x-|-x--|---|-x-|---|-x-|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-x-|-x-|---|-x-|---|-x-|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|-x-|---|-x-|-x-|---|-x-|
||---|---|---|---|-x-|---|-x-|-x-|---|-x-|---|
||---|---|-x-|---|-x-|---|-x-|-x-|---|---|---|
||-x-|---|-x-|---|-x-|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|

Please don't accuse me of shredding! It opens up your hand and makes you practice short jumps to notes.

Interesting. I saw Adam Rogers last night and I'm pretty sure he was utilizing this technique. His fingers were moving so fast it was hard to tell though! He is one bad mofo.

[JakeAcci]

I find things like "four notes per string" to be a cool exercise:

(F scale)

||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-x-|-x--|---|-x-|---|-x-|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|-x-|-x-|---|-x-|---|-x-|
||---|---|---|---|---|---|-x-|---|-x-|-x-|---|-x-|
||---|---|---|---|-x-|---|-x-|-x-|---|-x-|---|
||---|---|-x-|---|-x-|---|-x-|-x-|---|---|---|
||-x-|---|-x-|---|-x-|-x-|---|---|---|---|---|

Please don't accuse me of shredding! It opens up your hand and makes you practice short jumps to notes.

I've spent some time with these types of fingerings. Interestingly, for any strict alternate pickers...down + up = two motions....four notes per string means the right hand does the exact same thing every string, whereas in 3NPS the right hand alternates its pattern every string...you could say that 4NPS is easier for the right hand but harder for the left hand...you could say that...

[richard vandyne]

hi jazzpunk-i think you will eventually find you are going to need those stretches in your overall playing. you probably should stick with it till it works. a thing that may help is to maybe change the way you are fingering the stretch. for me it is much easier if you play the first note with your index(FIRST FINGER) the use the ring finger for the second not and lastly play the third note with your pinky. i have had an accident with my left hand and had to do a little changing in order to get that stretch . try it- cant hurt. this pattern will keep you in your place a lot better than using your second finger for the second note.

[richard vandyne]

big daddy- love that idea of four notes per string!!!!! lots of sliding but a lot of fun and quick once you get the rythum(NEVER COULD SPELL THAT WORD)