Bad technique great sounding players

[Twincam]

Looking for examples of players with what many would call bad technique or just bad playing in general but have made it there own and still sound good.

[Hobbayne]

Dee Dee Ramone? He used to play with a P bass hanging down by his ankles. If that aint bad technique i dunno what is!

[SteveK]

Wouldn't describe it as "bad technique", but John Entwistle's tapping style certainly wasn't orthodox. It went a long way to creating that unmistakeable JE style/sound.

[Chiliwailer]

Billy Talbot - Crazy Horse.

Technically not even remotely close to the best bassist's Neil Young has played with, but he seriously makes those tunes thump. One of my favourite players because it's more heart and vibe than anything else.

Edited April 5, 2015 by Chiliwailer

[benh]

Erm... Flea?

[ezbass]

Does Jamerson's 'hook' count as bad bass guitar technique? Geddy Lee certainly has a very, er, aggressive right hand technique. Apparently Pattitucci doesn't mute when playing his 6, is this bad too? Given that our instrument (well the bass guitar anyway) is less than 70 years old, is there even an accepted/correct technique? If it sounds good, it is good.

Reading the above, it sounds a bit po-faced, it wasn't meant to, I like the idea of holding up the great and good to scrutiny; bring it on.

[JTUK]

I'd say two notables are Entwhistle and Geddy Lee. They have carved a niche for themselves
that can only really exist in their own bands and they'd never really be able to move out of it.
Having said that, JE greta right hand makes up for an awful claw grip left hand, IMO

[louisthebass]

Will Lee uses the fretting hand baseball bat grip, but still somehow manages to groove hard and sound great .

[alittlebitrobot]

Familyman Barrett actually has really bad technique, and if you seem him playing completely unaccompanied (like on BassPlayer tv or something), his timing's pretty bad too.
But, put him with a drummer and something miraculous happens.

[Annoying Twit]

David Steele of Fine Young Cannibals tells a story whereby someone at a concert was watching him really intently. The next day there was a post on a forum expressing surprise that 'David Steele's technique is AWFUL'.

Note: IMHO David Steele is a great player, even if he isn't necessarily using the easiest road to getting there

[Marvin]

From what I see most well known bass players don't use a text book technique...they just play

[neepheid]

My technique is probably awful, but I haven't been fired yet

[Cosmo Valdemar]

That guy on Fender's youtube demos!

[Bobthedog]

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1428234776' post='2739368']
From what I see most well known bass players don't use a text book technique...they just play
[/quote]

This.

Not a bassist but I was watching some videos of Eric Gales yesterday. A lefty but using an upside down guitar complete with standard stringing.

[Number6]

And who decided what textbook is anyway?

[RhysP]

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1428236140' post='2739383']
And who decided what textbook is anyway?


[/quote]

The people who wrote the textbook I guess....

[Number6]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1428236257' post='2739386']


The people who wrote the textbook I guess....
[/quote]

Those pesky academic musical technique dictators!

[40hz]

I don't believe in bad or good technique. Everyone has a different approach and whatever works, works. All that really matters is if you sound great and are comfortable IMO.

[Number6]

[quote name='40hz' timestamp='1428237145' post='2739404']
I don't believe in bad or good technique. Everyone has a different approach and whatever works, works. All that really matters is if you sound great and are comfortable IMO.
[/quote]

Yep 👍

[Drax]

If you can play everything you want to, and it sounds good, I guess the technique is good.

Norman Watt-Roy, Macca, Jack Bruce all have habits and foibles a teacher would steer you away from.

[Twincam]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1428232426' post='2739328']
Does Jamerson's 'hook' count as bad bass guitar technique? Geddy Lee certainly has a very, er, aggressive right hand technique. Apparently Pattitucci doesn't mute when playing his 6, is this bad too? Given that our instrument (well the bass guitar anyway) is less than 70 years old, is there even an accepted/correct technique? If it sounds good, it is good.

Reading the above, it sounds a bit po-faced, it wasn't meant to, I like the idea of holding up the great and good to scrutiny; bring it on.
[/quote]

Yeah there all pretty good examples.

And yeah i don't believe in rules as such, i just find other players quirks or non text book form/technique interesting.

[rogerstodge]

Don't matter how you play IMO , look at Steve Severin from the banshees with his up picking, sounds ok tho'.

[Japhet]

Louis Johnson slap technique could take your eye out but sounds amazing.

[JTUK]

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1428248186' post='2739554']
Louis Johnson slap technique could take your eye out but sounds amazing.
[/quote]

Very very dated sounding now... and very bruising on the hands.
I'd be very surprised if he hasn't had big problems by now beating his hands up like that ..?

[Iain]

[quote name='40hz' timestamp='1428237145' post='2739404']
I don't believe in bad or good technique. Everyone has a different approach and whatever works, works. All that really matters is if you sound great and are comfortable IMO.
[/quote]

I'd add to that that you sometimes need to change/improve your technique if you find something unplayable with your current technique. My left-hand technique varies between 'proper' and 'comfortable' depending on how challenging a piece is.