Developing a third style of play: is it worth it?

[minhtam2448]

Okay, here's my shtick. My current goal right now is to rank in the top 1000 for all VD (Difficulty 8) songs. Now, I have 6 VD AAA's so that's something to look forward to, but at the same time, I can't get past #2813 on {Red Alert}, #2023 on Harry Potter Techno Remix, and #1500 on most other songs.

So I have two styles of play:

Main: Spread
Alternate: One hand 2-fingers

And I find that this combination works well difficulty 7 or under, as well as a handful of 8s. Maining spread is an obvious must, but there are a handful of patterns where I can switch immediately to one hand 2-fingers and back and get better results, and it's worked so far.

Except there are some patterns where both styles fail. {Firestorm} (rank #1988) is a big example, where there are unique patterns that neither spread nor one hand 2-fingers will be sufficient to get through with good accuracy.

So I'm thinking about adding a third style to my repertoire. Is it worth it? And if so, any suggestions?

[Zageron]

Why not change 2 fingers to 3, and then add Index into the mix?

[i love you]

In my opinion, i don't think you would need a 3rd style of play but if you want to be able to do firestorm more easily, i would suggest learning how to play 3-finger spread. If you don't know what that is then i don't mind explaining it. Back in my time, i remember {Firestorm} being one of the most annoying songs to AAA because of how slow the song's BPM is and if you're not consistent with the flow of patterns at that speed, you can easily get a good.

[TC_Halogen]

Index is always a useful style to have as a secondary style, but isn't useful as a primary style. Try it -- it works wonders on songs with lots of trills/runningmen. You might even be able to make a hybrid spread using three fingers where you can switch in and out from indexing/spreading to tackle really funky one-handed/indexable patterns.

[fullmetal_alchemist027]

Oh please do explain 3 finger spread Id love to learn a new spread style

[minhtam2448]

Wait, time out, 3-finger spread? What's the finger positioning and coverage for 3-finger spread? I assume this omits the left middle finger?

[customstuff]

I'm assuming it's where you use 3 fingers on your dominant hand and 1 for the other.

Like q,i,o,p for right-handed people.


I don't do that, so I could be wrong.

[rushyrulz]

thirdstyle *cringe*

[ddrxero64]

Originally Posted by Zageron

Why not change 2 fingers to 3, and then add Index into the mix?

^This. I'm not much of a spread player, though I'm proving. But what I do is use my middle finger on my right hand (I think I'm lefty, try other hand first) on the right arrow key. Then I use other two index for the other three keys. This simple style that I became accustomed to makes jump stream on index a bit easier, and makes keeping up with chaotic arrows a little easier. I actually play some spread songs with this style.

Doesn't someone else here use this exact same style but mirrored? I think it was BethanyBangs, I don't remember. But yea, it helps with the more spread like patterns. Crossovers become a lot easier as well.

Edit: I've never heard of three finger spread. The one I use is definitely three finger index. Primary reason being that the fingers aren't stationery. My simplest way of putting it is that it's index on 3 keys, while one of the keys has a finger covering it the entire time.

Keep in mind I can play index as well, but using this style makes my MA better since I don't have to be awkward about certain patterns.

Spread is still the primary style, but index is always fun. It has its own kind of files, but will never be as uh... productive? (for lack of a better word) as spread.

[basicdrummerman]

Originally Posted by rushyrulz

thirdstyle *cringe*

same thing i thought

[AsphyxZero]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

Index is always a useful style to have as a secondary style, but isn't useful as a primary style. Try it -- it works wonders on songs with lots of trills/runningmen. You might even be able to make a hybrid spread using three fingers where you can switch in and out from indexing/spreading to tackle really funky one-handed/indexable patterns.

I've tried this before actually, it's hard to pick up lol

Also try playing pettanko (ring and pinky spread, as opposed to index and middle).

[alloyus]

You'll feel so cool if you do.

[Mans0n]

playing 3 finger is basically index with your choice of which ring finger you want to use, whether it be your left or right hand. That's how I played FFR for about 2 years.

Really great way to play imo. at least until you have to start doing fast JS ^__^

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

Index is always a useful style to have as a secondary style, but isn't useful as a primary style.

[XCV]

I ran across a fellow in MP one day who got 6 goods on Degenerates with 3 finger spread, so it's viable, but not the sort of thing I'd normally try. The ligaments/tendons in your hand connect the ring finger to the middle, and it seems a lot harder than normal to do long jacks with it, and JS has already been mentioned.

And God forbid a split player ever have to play those damn trills in Blooddrunk.

[Xx{Midnight}xX]

Learning multiple styles is good for learning control which is more important than speed and endurance.

Personally I can play 4 styles, Not all of them gosu well, but I can play them.

I can play Spread, Index, Split, and One Handed (On either hand, though the right one is better.)

I recommend it personally.

[TheVCRman]

My secondary style is right index on bottom, right middle on top, right ring on right and left middle on left...
It's a bit odd but I rape jumpstreams with it.

[G.S.M]

I'd like to learn a second style of play... but not sure what to use. I mainly have trouble on running men (Classical Insanity, mashing) and songs like Monstrous Turtles! and Vertex Beta 1319 combo is my best with some mashing...got a much cleaner score, lost it at around 800 or so, which means I am still stuck with my mashy score.

oh edit: I use spread AS GH