How common is this playing style? If it's even used at all?

[TwistedPhoenix]

Alright, so I've been using my middle and ring finger to play for the past 8 or so months. However, in pretty much every recording of a top notch player I've seen, they've been using their index finger instead of ring finger.

So I tried it out. Adapted to the basics pretty quickly, got a good solid AA on Game Time in NB4 after a couple songs. Anyways, I've been trying to keep playing this way, but it just doesn't feel right.

Now I'm trying out this new style that I have seen no mention of, but works surprisingly well for me. I've completely eliminated my middle finger.

That's right, I'm using index and ring.

I've done a little rudimentary trill speed test, and honestly I can trill a helluva lot faster like this than the other two playing styles. I also have a lot better timing.

I can't pull up a previous score on stepmaniaonline.eu as it seems to be down, but I did take a screenshot of what I just scored on my second song playing.





And for me, getting a 5:1 ratio of Flawless to Perfects is pretty good.

[woker-X]

Silvuh uses that playing style too iirc

[bmah]

I used to play that way for YEARS. I was used to that setup forever, and I still got some pretty decent scores. Nevertheless it doesn't hurt to be flexible and get used to multiple styles as opposed to only one.

[nois-or-e]

The wife uses that too. Converted her from one hadn to spread, but index/middle feels awkward to her...

[hi19hi19]

I play with that setup on occasion. In theory it can be as good as 2-3 spread, though I'm not sure of any top player who uses the 2-4 setup commonly.

[danny53x]

I think no matter what style of spread you play, your non-index finger will feel more comfortable starting trills on the beat, but in all playstyles I feel my middle finger will be the strongest. In solo, my middle finger is used as the pivot so it feels necessary to use. I know people who have done index+ring and middle+ring, so it's not forbidden--it doesn't hurt to try new things, but I think if you want the most out of your hands, your most exercised fingers in daily use (index+middle) will be most efficient.

[Mau5]

It's all about whats most comfortable in my opinion. Anything spread really, most people recommend index and middle since they are your strongest fingers, but eh what good do strongest fingers do if they're far from comfortable.

[EzExZeRo7497]

I used to use that to do well on one hand trills, it worked for that period of time, until my middle finger started to actually become better at trilling altogether. It's not the best setup, but it's definitely an interesting setup.

[DefTeaMachine]

for a while a held my keyboard vertically us Q W N M.

[ScylaX]

I tend to use that style when I want to play standard mode with the keys used for my solo setup. It has a nice feel to it but I got bored of that style after one month.
It was amusing though

[TwistedPhoenix]

Well, to me it seems like each style has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Also, today I learned that if I am going to be switching styles, I gotta stick with it, because if I try to go back to my old style, for the next day I will suck so much ass I will want to throw my laptop at the wall and stop playing Stepmania. XD

It's not even funny. I couldn't get past a 200 combo on Emerald Sword. 180 BPM is so slow though!