How do YOU play GH/RB?

[tf5_bassist]

Been wondering this one for a while, actually.. And i'm probably looking like a nerd by asking it, but hey, thems the breaks!

So most everyone I see play either uses a thumb-slap style hit (like slap bass, but downward instead of inward), pinches the strum bar between thumb and forefinger, or braces their hand against the bottom of the body and presses down with their thumb.

My bro-in-law plays with a pretty major slap. Then again, he also took to wearing Mechanix gloves while playing (less friction on fretting hand, thumb on right hand doesn't get as sore after six hours of GH2 lol).

My wife barely plays, so she presses the strum-bar down with her thumb very n00b-like... slow, pressing it all the way, and letting up just as slow lol...

I, however, had the misfortune of getting a busted 3rd-party wireless controller with my first copy of the game, and the strum bar would stick if i slapped it down, or used fingers... So I started using a pick, and lo, the sticking was gone.

Since then, I can't NOT use a pick... which is sad, since i don't even use a pick to play bass lol... I alternate between a pick for 95% of playing, with the other 5% holding the strum bar and chugging away fast (parts of Misirlou, Jordan, parts of Freebird, Play With Me, Because It's Midnite, etc)...

So... there's my extremely long-winded and lame story about boring mechanics of playing GH/RB. anyone else play the game oddly?

[ZkDotNet]

Normal downstrumming -> thumb slap
Fast alt-strumming -> pinch between thumb and index finger

I still haven't gotten used to alt-strumming, except in long and fast rhythm sections. Which is weird, because I picked up alt-strumming on a real guitar very fast. I often wondered if holding a pick would help, but haven't tested it yet.

[nicko68]

I'm exactly the same as ZkDotNet. I tried strumming normally by pinching between my thumb and forefinger so I could more easily switch between normal strumming and alt-strumming, but I don't like it.

I thought a pick might make it more realistic. I don't have one though, since I don't play real guitar.

[tf5_bassist]

Normal downstrumming -> thumb slap
Fast alt-strumming -> pinch between thumb and index finger

I still haven't gotten used to alt-strumming, except in long and fast rhythm sections. Which is weird, because I picked up alt-strumming on a real guitar very fast. I often wondered if holding a pick would help, but haven't tested it yet.

as long as you can hit the strum bar with the same percentage of the pick at the same angle, consistently, then it's fine. I use alt-strumming for pretty much everything. I'm pretty used to up- and down-picking, so it was natural for me. it's just the strum bar that took a while to get used to.

I'm hoping for a 3rd-party mod with a string like the Harvey Starr midi controllers (http://www.starrlabs.com/) instead of a strum bar. :D

edit: Or the Suzuki XG-1m Unisynth controller (http://www.stoffelshome.de/alt_controller/suzuki_xg1m.html). Which I have played, like 10 years ago, and felt quite decent. The frets just sucked on that one, the Starr is much better.

[tf5_bassist]

Just take $5 down to your local music shop, and go hog wild. :D

seriously, most picks only cost a couple of dimes.

[Eman311]

I've been slowly adjusting to alt-strumming.

But the time i'm done with RB, i'll probably be only alt-strumming.

[jq71586]

I do thumb tapping for slower sections and for faster sections I grip it with the thumb and index finger and push up and down.

How do all of you guys position your hands on the frets? I keep mine 4 fingers on GRYB and just stretch my pinky for O. But I know some people who keep their fingers on RYBO and just shift their hand for G. The only time I shift my hand is if there is a RO chord.

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PSN - jq7586 - looking for PS3 friends:D

[tf5_bassist]

I used to stay on GRYB, but more and more I'm keeping "home position" at RYBO. it's faster and more accurate for me to stretch my index finger than my pinky... getting better at it though. :D

[ZkDotNet]

Just take $5 down to your local music shop, and go hog wild. :D

seriously, most picks only cost a couple of dimes.

Oh, I have picks. I just haven't given it a try yet. [Edit: Oh, you probably weren't talking to me. Didn't see that other reply.]

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For the fret hand position, I started with easy/medium so I obviously started there, but now I don't really have a home position. I slide them back and forth as the situation arises and rarely 'stretch'.

[Julio-Claudius]

It depends on the nps rate. If the notes are coming really slow, I'll grasp the rest of my right hand on the body and strum with my thumb. If the notes are coming really fast, I pinch the strum bar with my thumb and index finger and alt strum.

[Brock_Landers]

I hand plant, and just flick my thumb down, using my wrist to pivot.. and alt-strum between the fingers for the really fast stuff. Anything else I tend to get accidental double strums :/ Really messes up my showboating.

I began alt-strumming for everything at one stage, and got fairly proficiant at it.. but then one day just thought "what the ****? this ain't rock!" due to the less frantic nature of it. No offence to the guys who do, of course. (I actually just sprained my wrist, thanks to it.. so hey)

I may switch back one day, when the image of rocking out becomes less important than getting a good score lol.

[tf5_bassist]

I hand plant, and just flick my thumb down, using my wrist to pivot.. and alt-strum between the fingers for the really fast stuff. Anything else I tend to get accidental double strums :/ Really messes up my showboating.

I began alt-strumming for everything at one stage, and got fairly proficiant at it.. but then one day just thought "what the ****? this ain't rock!" due to the less frantic nature of it. No offence to the guys who do, of course. (I actually just sprained my wrist, thanks to it.. so hey)

I may switch back one day, when the image of rocking out becomes less important than getting a good score lol.

you sprained your wrist?? Ouch man, that sucks.

btw: When I first saw your username here, I thought it said Brock Lindow - singer for 36crazyfists. lol.

[_GABO_]

I used to stay on GRYB, but more and more I'm keeping "home position" at RYBO. it's faster and more accurate for me to stretch my index finger than my pinky...

It's the exact same for me. I can't stand having my index finger on green anymore, and I just don't know why.

I usually play with a thumb smack, and go with thumb and forefinger for faster sections. Sometimes, however, I'll switch like I'm playing bass (even if I'm playing a guitar part) and strum up with my fingers, just for the hell of it.:cool:

[ThePaska]

I alternate strum 100% of the time, pinched between my thumb and index finger and I push it down and pull it up to alternate my strumming, I find that to be the easiest way and most comfortable way to play.

I also keep my fingers GRYB, and shift as necessary, and in certain circumstances either stretch my index or stretch my pinky, it matters where my hand is at the time and what the next note is.

[Brock_Landers]

I tried RYBO for a bit, but gave up on it when the orange notes seemed so sporadic in comparison to the green... I've still got the last half of GH2 expert to go though, so I may need to reverse my stance, though

[IErrantVentureI]

Constant up and downness for me.

[tf5_bassist]

It's the exact same for me. I can't stand having my index finger on green anymore, and I just don't know why.

I usually play with a thumb smack, and go with thumb and forefinger for faster sections. Sometimes, however, I'll switch like I'm playing bass (even if I'm playing a guitar part) and strum up with my fingers, just for the hell of it.:cool:

haha... yeah, i occasionally try playing fingerstyle like bass, but doesn't


I tried RYBO for a bit, but gave up on it when the orange notes seemed so sporadic in comparison to the green... I've still got the last half of GH2 expert to go though, so I may need to reverse my stance, though

yeah, chances are it'll help. :D

[Kang_Zircon]

I do the strumming like most people here seem to, single thumb taps for slow, and alt for fast parts. I also alt-strum on parts with pretty static rhythms, bass parts especially.

My pinky on my right hand is really slow, I odn;t know if it's tight tendons or what. So on some songs I actually end up sliding my hand over so my index finger is on yellow just so I don't have to use my pinky.

I have a question about how people plan on playing the second frets for solos on the new Stratocaster...

I'm actually a lefty (for writing) and I'm probably going to try and use my left (strumming) hand for the second set of fret buttons since strumming isn't required. I'd just like to see how that feels, and my pinky on that hand works a lot better.

[tf5_bassist]

I do the strumming like most people here seem to, single thumb taps for slow, and alt for fast parts. I also alt-strum on parts with pretty static rhythms, bass parts especially.

My pinky on my right hand is really slow, I odn;t know if it's tight tendons or what. So on some songs I actually end up sliding my hand over so my index finger is on yellow just so I don't have to use my pinky.

I have a question about how people plan on playing the second frets for solos on the new Stratocaster...

I'm actually a lefty (for writing) and I'm probably going to try and use my left (strumming) hand for the second set of fret buttons since strumming isn't required. I'd just like to see how that feels, and my pinky on that hand works a lot better.

oh man, that second set of frets is going to be awesome for showboating! Two-handed tapping, here we come!

I've only tried two-handed tapping on one song, I think it was the Shadows Fall song on GH2, just for ****s n' giggles... but with that second set of no-strum-required frets, it's on!

[zankfrappa]

i pretty much started out alt-strumming just because it was what i was used to doing playing real guitar, there are some parts in some songs i prefer to just all down-strum though, so i can change between the two if needed.