The Trooper! I can't do it!!

[dave74200]

I'm depping for a band and The Trooper is in the set. I don't think I can get the stamina, it just has never been a strength of mine, literally and I'm close to giving up and playing it with a pick. I've tried very light touch and repeatedly going through it but fail halfway through!! Any tips?

[chris_b]

Are you trying to do that galloping feel? I'd leave that to the guitarists and drummer and just play 8's.

[ezbass]

Nothing wrong with using a pick but, if you’d rather not, try 3 finger trills, I go: ring, middle, index, repeat.

[Paolo85]

3 hours ago, ezbass said:

Nothing wrong with using a pick but, if you’d rather not, try 3 finger trills, I go: ring, middle, index, repeat.

This. Just a single movement of closing the hand, but with fingers falling on the string staggered. It does not require a lot more stamina than playing eight notes

[Newfoundfreedom]

I found out takes a bit of practice to get the timing down so that all 3 fingers hit at the exact right time, but yeah. Definitely a lot less taxing than the two finger method for that kind of galloping bass line. 

[bassalbert]

I've had to play it too and always went to the three finger technique, never used in another tune, but I think it's the way to do it without stressing your hand

[paul_5]

three fingers for me - ring, middle, index then rinse and repeat. I used to practice on the seams of my trousers on the bus!

[Crusoe]

I'll never know how Harris plays it with only two fingers.

[Baloney Balderdash]

17 hours ago, ezbass said:

Nothing wrong with using a pick but, if you’d rather not, try 3 finger trills, I go: ring, middle, index, repeat.

This!

 

Galopping is really hard both with 2 finger plucking and using a pick, it is however really easy when utilizing 3 fingers, that is index, middle and ring finger.

 

Try practice that.

 

For me personally I found it really hard with 2 finger plucking technique, and even harder using a pick (and mind I am rather proficient with pick playing), but came easy, almost naturally, when using 3 fingers.

 

Edited July 30, 2024 by Baloney Balderdash

[Daz39]

31 minutes ago, Crusoe said:

I'll never know how Harris plays it with only two fingers.

Yeah, same. Bonkers. And his strings are massive too. He must have gone for adamantium finger implants sometime in the 80s...

I can do the 3-finger as mentioned above, and also manage to vary it so it's either 3 identical notes or 2 and then 1. I don't know about what feel they are - except that my fingers feel knackered halfway through.

[paul_5]

‘Arry only ‘tickles’ the strings though, a fairly unique approach that differs from the vast majority of us mere mortals.

[BassAdder60]

I can play it and gave gigged it using two fingers ( challenging) or a pick 

 

Pick with palm muting works well 

 

Takes practice but it’s achievable 

[dudewheresmybass]

not only is he a tickler, but he uses french chalk to get purchase on the strings

On 30/07/2024 at 12:14, paul_5 said:

‘Arry only ‘tickles’ the strings though, a fairly unique approach that differs from the vast majority of us mere mortals.