Ring finger on The Stone and other songs

[ElGuitarrista]

Hey everyone,

I noticed that Dave keeps his ring finger fully extended when playing the main riff in The Stone, I'm assuming to mute the top sting.

From watching videos it seems that he often uses his middle or ring fingers to mute, then plays notes with his index and pinky.

Is it just me, or is this type of playing really difficult for others on the board? I've been playing for a while, but when I try to keep my ring finger extended, it's so difficult for me to fret the other notes in The Stone. The tendency is for my ring finger to want to 'curl up'. It's like my finger muscles aren't trained for that position.

Any tips?

Thanks.

[saleen]

well it isn't just you, I think it is impossible

[MWR]

Dave also extends his middle finger on power chords which for muting purposes you can use you index. Basically he has his idosyncrasies and they don't always serve a purpose. Then again on songs like Stay its pretty crucial to have the middle and ring extended while fretting with index and pinky(because theres so much percussion). On the single note songs(The Stone, Help Myself) he is just really accurate. Learn how to palm mute it helped my playing quite a bit.

[jsgksu]

I also dont get how the hell he, and others, are able to play power chords with their index and pinky. I cant barre a fret with my pinky as all, gotta use my index and ring finger, I guess I just gotta get more strength in the little guy.

[DustyDave]

I also dont get how the hell he, and others, are able to play power chords with their index and pinky. I cant barre a fret with my pinky as all, gotta use my index and ring finger, I guess I just gotta get more strength in the little guy.

You should definetly practice the use of the pinky , it will make alot of things easier for you , not to mention that if you don't use it all that much , you'll really miss out on some nice chord shapes

[jsgksu]

I have alright use of my pinky, its not up to par with the rest of them but it deffinatley doesnt go unused. I just cant barre with it at all, it curls up on me, but aside from that he works ok, just a little slower then the other guys.

[DustyDave]

" Im coming slow but speeding .... " lol he will come just keep practicing him

[Fanofdave]

Just practice at it. The more you try to play it the easier it'll get for your fingers to move like that.

[schollz51]

alright i need help with the stone.my problem is i cant get this part:

Intro
E:-------------------------
B:-------------------------
G:-----2-------------------
D:---------3---5-5--2-3-2--
A:-5-----------------------
E:-------------------------
4 1 2 4 4 1 2 1
i cannot get the 2-3-2 to sound like dave does it.can anybody help(understand) me?
thanx


jon

[jsgksu]

i cannot get the 2-3-2 to sound like dave does it.can anybody help(understand) me?
thanx

Thats pretty much everyones problem and the main controversy with this song, Im real bored, want a sound clip?

[schollz51]

i cannot get the 2-3-2 to sound like dave does it.can anybody help(understand) me?
thanx

Thats pretty much everyones problem and the main controversy with this song, Im real bored, want a sound clip?

absoultly!! thank u


jon

p.s. im bored too

[madtownjj]

for the stone this, i can't get it to sound right so I play that last part of the intro riff like this



E--------------------------
B-------------------------
G-------------------------
D-5-5--3-2-------------------
A------------5--------------
E---------------------------


Also, I have seen him play the chord in the middle of the verse a little differently than jkanter has it on this site


E-------------------------------
B------3-------------------------
G------3-------------------------
D-------------------------------
A------1-------------------------
E------3-------------------------

[grock]

if i'm lazy i'll play that Gm chord like this

Code: Select all

---  Fingers
---  
-3-  3
-0-  
-x-  
-3-  2

and on occasion i'll stretch my index back there to play the chord "right"

alright i need help with the stone.my problem is i cant get this part:

Intro
E:-------------------------
B:-------------------------
G:-----2-------------------
D:---------3---5-5--2-3-2--
A:-5-----------------------
E:-------------------------
4 1 2 4 4 1 2 1
i cannot get the 2-3-2 to sound like dave does it.can anybody help(understand) me?
thanx

i had this problem but the trick is to play it with 6 beats. remember time signature. so many times it is attempted to play this song in 4/4 and it kinda sounds right but that is the main problem. the 5-5-2-3 are all eighth notes while the rest are quarter notes.

so the beat is "buh bah buh bubump bubump bah"

[Trippin Hillbilly]

so the beat is "buh bah buh bubump bubump bah"

hahaha, ...that's funny

[TOMAMI]

The Ring Finger- Dave uses it to mute the two E AND A strings so he can half strum the notes the pointer finger mutes the G when not played and the B, e strings below. Holding your ring finger like this takes practice and will become easier over time.