middle or ring finger???

[King Nothing]

when i learned my basic modes, lets just take A major starting on the 6th string(3 notes per string), I would use fingers 1,2, & 4 for frets 5,7,9. I just got a book that says to use 1,3, & 4. That's alot harder for me, probably because I'm not used to stretching my pinky and ring finger so far apart. Should I relearn it this way? Will my fingers eventually get used to it so it's not so painful? Does it really even matter in the end? Thanks
-Chris

[andy7jem]

I've been playing quite a few years and i'm still confused I find 1,2 & 4 more comfortable up to the 12th fret and 1,3 & 4 above the 12th fret!!

[King Nothing]

okay, so its not really set in stone. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing it wrong and would find out a few years down the road that if I did it a certain way, everything would be a whole lot easier

[toneboy]

I've played for 15 years and I used whatever gets the job done. You can used to almost anything but some fingerings are just uncomfortable for some people. As long as you think about which fingers you're using and understand what the ramifications of your choices will be (e.g. can't bend a string with your pinky), you're fine.

[Mister CCJ]

usually when i do an A major or ionian run (3 notes per string) ill use 1,2,4 fingers for the 5-7-9 frets cuz when i get to the d-string (6-7-9) which ill use 1,2,4 fingers; its an easier transition on the hand. say when i do an A phrygian run from low-e to high-e 5-6-8, 5-7-8, 5-7-8, 5-7-9, 6-8-10, 6-8-10 ill use fingers 1,3,4 on those last 5 strings because of the transition on the hand. does that make any sense to anyone else? lol. and yeah after the 12th or so fret its hard to go 1,2,4 due to the hand position.

[Eggy]

I would seriously consider switching to 1-3-4 as IMO it promotes speed and clean legato. I've been playing 22yrs now and had to make that switch in technique about three yrs ago. The further down the line you get before making changes , the harder those changes are to implement.
Just out of interest I use 1-3-4 for the E and A strings over frets 5-7-9 but swith to 1-2-4 for the D and G string over frets 6-7-9.
But I'm a left handed guy who plays guitar right handed so I've just gotta go with what gets results

Ben

[mi2tom]

I uses 1,3 and 4 a lot perhaps I like to watch my middle finger hanging up when playing

[JESTER700]

I'm with Andy - it depends on how high I'm playing. 1-3-4 on higher frets, 1-2-4 on lower ones.

[andy7jem]

Originally Posted by mi2tom

I uses 1,3 and 4 a lot perhaps I like to watch my middle finger hanging up when playing

I'd never really thought about that until some-one pointed out to me it looked like i was giving them the one finger salute

[Mister CCJ]

also i noticed that when i do a 3-note-per-string dorian run ill do the 5-7-8 fret with my 1,2,3 fingers on the low-e as an easier transition to the 5-7-9 with my 1,2,4 fingers that way i dont have to shift any fingers IMO like i said before i think the less fingers u have to take out of position out of whatever run ur doin the smoother it will be thats how i base whether its 1,2,4 or 1,3,4 fingers ur fingers will get comfortable to adapt with time and u wont have to think which finger to use

[Ant1981]

which ever she likes best

[Cozi101]

Good one!

[gu1tar]

The 1,2,4 fingering is the is the technically "superior" way. But, hey, there are plenty of guitarsts who only play with 3 fingers while that pinky naps.

Let's take an A Ionian as an example. If you use fingers 1,2,4 on the low E and A strings (5-7-9) and transition to the D string (6-7-9), it's a smoother transition with the first finger moving and the hand position not having to change. If you used 1,3,4 for the 5-7-9, the transition to the D string takes more movement and more movement makes it slower and less smooth. The Aeolian mode is even more of a wreck on the D,G,B, and E strings if you were to use 1,3,4.

[Mister CCJ]

ok so im not the only one that does this lol

[Ant1981]

actually yea, i do that too, i watched one of the guitarists from the scorpions play like that, which put my mind at ease.