Twincam Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Erm... Flea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Will Lee uses the fretting hand baseball bat grip, but still somehow manages to groove hard and sound great . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alittlebitrobot Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 From what I see most well known bass players don't use a text book technique...they just play Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 My technique is probably awful, but I haven't been fired yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 That guy on Fender's youtube demos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 And who decided what textbook is anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 [quote name='Number6' timestamp='1428236140' post='2739383'] And who decided what textbook is anyway? [/quote] The people who wrote the textbook I guess.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1428236257' post='2739386'] The people who wrote the textbook I guess.... [/quote] Those pesky academic musical technique dictators! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number6 Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 [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 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Don't matter how you play IMO , look at Steve Severin from the banshees with his up picking, sounds ok tho'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Louis Johnson slap technique could take your eye out but sounds amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 [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 ..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.