norvegicusbass Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Anyone out there who plays with their fingers but plays up and down strokes with them? I cant really play too well with a pick but when I am playing Down In The Sewer by The Stranglers ( with fingers!! ) I play the end section - the brief bass solo - with my index finger playing up and down strokes. This is the closest I can get to sounding like JJ without picking. Mind I dont sound too like him LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelg Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 whats wrong with using your thumb for the downstrokes and index for the ups? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norvegicusbass Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='Michaelg' post='1125927' date='Feb 13 2011, 01:40 PM']whats wrong with using your thumb for the downstrokes and index for the ups?[/quote] Nothing but have you heard the song? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Chuck Rainey has used that technique for years,where one finger plays up and down strokes. Bryan Beller uses a similar technique when he's playing with Dethklok,only he uses both fingers in unison. There's a really good video on YouTube of him demonstrating it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmaat Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 (edited) I play down strokes with my index finger nail and sometimes even upstrokes with the thumb finger nail - probably because i am even more notorious in losing plectrums. Do whaterver gives you the sound you want dude! Edited February 13, 2011 by janmaat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Hmm! I had a go trying to play DITS like you suggested and it sounded a bit stilted. I can play it with the index and second finger quite well, but not as cleanly as I can with a pick. Maybe you,ve discovered a new technique Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='Hobbayne' post='1126063' date='Feb 13 2011, 04:03 PM']Maybe you,ve discovered a new technique [/quote] Nope-see my earlier post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='Doddy' post='1126075' date='Feb 13 2011, 04:12 PM']Nope-see my earlier post. [/quote] That'll teach me to skim through threads without reading the replies properly!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmaat Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='Hobbayne' post='1126078' date='Feb 13 2011, 04:14 PM']That'll teach me to skim through threads without reading the replies properly!! [/quote] just imagine the number of possible combinations! so many strings and so many fingers up and down must be about ... well thats maths innit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Why not just use a pick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norvegicusbass Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='Marky L' post='1126112' date='Feb 13 2011, 04:59 PM']Why not just use a pick?[/quote] You must be another skimmer see my first post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Geddy Lee's been doing this since what - 1974? Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Yep started with a pick 35 yrs ago moved to fingers few yrs later and have used the index finger as a pick on / off for many yrs. Not sure where or how I was influenced. Maybe just saved me having a pick to hand. Have also used the thumb and finger technique. As stated before anything that gets the job done and feels comfortable. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='Bassassin' post='1126163' date='Feb 13 2011, 05:32 PM']Geddy Lee's been doing this since what - 1974? Jon.[/quote] Yep Geddy Lee has a floating hand technique which is really impressive where he plays without resting a finger / hand or thumb against the bass as a referance point. Its become a lot more common these days but back in the day it was quite rare. Your obviously a Rush fan to pick up on this. Good call. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='dmccombe7' post='1126168' date='Feb 13 2011, 05:40 PM']Your obviously a Rush fan to pick up on this.[/quote] I've been called worse! Funnily when I first heard Rush (about 1980) I assumed he was a pick player - it took until I actually saw them to suss that he wasn't! I first noticed the one-finger thing when the Exit Stage Left vid was released - there's a brief slow motion clip focusing on his right hand clearly playing up/down strokes with the index finger. I'd guess his "flamenco bass" technique evolved from that. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='Bassassin' post='1126179' date='Feb 13 2011, 05:49 PM']I've been called worse! Funnily when I first heard Rush (about 1980) I assumed he was a pick player - it took until I actually saw them to suss that he wasn't! I first noticed the one-finger thing when the Exit Stage Left vid was released - there's a brief slow motion clip focusing on his right hand clearly playing up/down strokes with the index finger. I'd guess his "flamenco bass" technique evolved from that. J.[/quote] Yep first saw Rush circa 78 / 79 i think it was with the Farewell to Kings tour in Glasgow. He was good then but just went on to dominate Rock bass playing. You can tell I'm a huge fan - just wish I could play like him - LOL Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 [quote name='norvegicusbass' post='1126150' date='Feb 13 2011, 05:25 PM']You must be another skimmer see my first post[/quote] You say you don't use a pick too well? In which case I'd say this is a great opportunity/reason to start getting to grips (puns intended!) with a pick. Worth persevering with as IMHO it's very difficult to replicate the pick sound playing in another fashion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I used to do this, very rarely I still do it but I much prefer playing with a pick now. Like someone mentioned, Chuck Rainey used to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_skezz Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I practise it from time to time, not something I'm all that comfortable with though so I stick to just using a pick or upstrokes with both fingers for songs as fast as DITS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I occasionally do downstrokes with my finger, it's more of a flicking motion with the nail. Just an FIY: don't cut your nails too short, it's suprising just how much it hurts when you've got a bit of nail bed exposed when trying to do a downstroke like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I hold my fingers as though holding a plectrum and then play exactly the same as using a pick, but using my nails. Cos I'm 'ard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 [quote name='gafbass02' post='1126727' date='Feb 14 2011, 09:48 AM']I hold my fingers as though holding a plectrum and then play exactly the same as using a pick, but using my nails. Cos I'm 'ard.[/quote] Bernard Edwards called this technique 'chucking'. It's really handy for things like the intro to 'Everybody Dance'. There are probably other threads about it on the site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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