Are You Plucking the Wrong Way? (Raking v. Alternating Showdown)

Which bass plucking technique is the best - raking or strict alternating? Let’s battle ‘em out on 3 songs to find out. Hadouken! 👊🏼💥

With all the online debate and confusion about “the best bass plucking technique,” it’s time to settle the score.

In this lesson the Strict Alternating technique will battle against the Raking technique, AKA “economy plucking.”

Technique #1, Strict Alternating, means you ALWAYS pluck index-middle-index-middle-etc., regardless of note groupings or string crossings. (or middle-index-middle-index, you can start on either finger)

Technique #2, Raking, means that when you cross from a higher-pitched string to the next lower string (like from the G string to the D string), you can reuse the finger you just plucked with, since it’ll be resting on that string after your previous pluck. That’s why it’s also called “economy plucking” - you’re reusing the same finger so you don’t have to switch.

In this vid, we’ll take both techniques through their paces by battling them out on three popular songs - “Just What I Needed,” by the Cars, “My Friend of Misery,” by Metallica, and “Johnny Kick a Hole in the Sky” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Each round’s winner will be awarded a point, and by the end we’ll see who emerges victorious. Ready… Fight!

#BassPluckingTechnique #Raking #StrictAlternating #Round1Fight

NOTE - Just What I Needed was removed thanks to YT's copyright policies.

[BassBuzz]

What do you think of my verdict? Do you think one technique is better than the other?

Timestamps for this lesson:
0:32 - Meet Your Challengers
1:21 - Round 1: Just What I Needed
2:56 - Round 2: My Friend of Misery
4:13 - Round 3: Johnny Kick a Hole in the Sky
5:37 - And the Winner Is…
6:29 - Does Raking Slow You Down?
6:58 - The Big Bad Plucking Trap
7:45 - Alternating Pros & Cons
8:00 - Raking Pros & Cons
8:32 - How Do You Pick?
9:39 - Secret Character Unlocked!!!

[pjotrvangriensven]

Man, I really appreciate how you managed to integrate the whole Street Fighter bit with the video without making it corny.

[damndamien]

I love how much thought he puts into these videos. The strict use of Squiers in these videos reminds the viewer that cheap basses arent so bad.
Also he has one bass for strict alternate plucking, and a diffrent one for raking.
Not to mention how much work he puts into the animation and editing. We should really be paying for these videos at this point

[alexandermcnevin]

Josh, this was even funnier than your, “Play scales like a human” video which was my fav until now. I used to play that game at the corner deli down the street after school like every day lol! Thanks so much for the helpful tips. As always, you’re able to deliver major practice technique advice in a concise and memorable manner. Best to you and yours.

[sethrohl]

I really appreciate how Josh incorporates humor into these videos, I find it helps make them more captivating

[STWear]

I love how basically every "technique fight" one way or another end with "choose what's better for you in each moment where it's needed", because that's what music is all about, it's not technique, it's feeling from song to song and part to part

[medmac]

My mom told me to stop these exercises because she says I’m too self-centred. All she hears from me is “I am I am I am”.


(Credit to Minh Pham for the original comment)

[tonybp]

I do both, not following any rules, just whatever comes naturally at the time. I don't know if that's good or bad. BTW nice shirt. RIP Cliff, tomorrow will be 35 years since we lost him.

[mfCRD]

I used to rake almost all the time. It changed when I started to play more metal, because I wanted a somewhat even clank on every note. Because of that, now I usually alternate.

[Cmac]

Currently on module 6 of your Beginner to Badass Course! I’ve learned so much and really see huge improvements of my skills in such a short time thanks to your step by step instructions. I’m so glad I found you on you tube to teach me the bass! I can’t wait to see my skills when I complete the course!

[Sinb]

Thanks Josh, what I’ve learned is that once I unlock the secret character, I should just use one finger for all situations!

[FncySutan]

I've honestly never thought about this in-depth. I honestly go with whatever based on muscle memory, but now I know that there's more to it. :D

[cactustactics]

I think once you get both techniques down, you'll instinctively start to use the most appropriate move for a situation a lot of the time too. Sometimes that means switching it up - which can be a crutch, so you have to watch out for that, but it's a feel thing too. But you gotta practice both so they just feel natural and you don't need to think about it so much!

[dodomemester]

Ok I’m back from the “are you fretting the right way” and it looks like he love this kind of video but I like it anyway because he put so much effort in it

[sebastianbisurgi]

So basically; Depende todo depende. Lesson learned. Idea for a complementary video on this topic: Three finger plucking. As always, thank you very much for this video.

[MaestorRasanen]

I laughed my ass off at the "it's really tragic.." bid after showing Billy Sheehan! :D :D :D That was priceless :D

Oh and BTW I'm myself a guitar player for past 20 years and last week bought my first bass. Been training different songs (Tower of Power - Diggin on James Brown is a blast!) and I didn't even think that there would be a technique like raking! Have to say kudos to you! Your videos are a really big help! Keep up the good work!

[BeshTacona]

Never really noticed until you uploaded this video because it has always just been my play style, I use both plus some other techniques depending on what I am playing.

[indykatley]

...when you go to internet groups to ask as a newbie how you can pluck specific songs, but Josh has a video about that (thank you!!)

[hossdosboss]

My mans a legend for recording while wearing that ride the lightning shirt, rip cliff

[erickmazur]

Thanks! This video came along at the perfect time. I'm learning to play bass fingerstyle after playing with a pick for years.