No lust in Jazz Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Concentration (if you can call it a technique) is my biggest issue. Being self employed working long hours, mean that tiredness has an impact on my playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Reggae is easy; play less and never go above the fourth fret. What is interesting is that almost all of the above posts reference difficulties with techniques that are practically useless Fopr instance, I don't slap particularly well and double thumbing is weak. The reason for this is primarily that, whilst the techniques in question undoubtedly turn heads, I DON'T LIKE THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED USING THEM AND NEVER PLAY THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED USING THEM. So, in short, the techniques are of no real use to me. Hence, I do not practice them, hence, I am not very good at them. When I was a fledgling bass player, I learned lots of the required party pieces that use odd techniques (5G by Jeff Berlin, Schooldays by Stanley Clarke, Motherlode by Berlin, Country Music by Stu Hamm etc). I also learned to play Pat Metheny's 'Are You Going With Me' as a two-handed extravaganza. As I moved on, however, I realised that these techniques are pretty much peripheral to the world of music making. I suspect the above list of 'difficulties' reflects that fact that most of the things we have 'difficulties' with are not bass playing but party tricks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Rapid alternation of first and second fingers - someone broke my hand several decades ago and so my right forefinger is a little shorter and lower than it should be, and I've never been able to compensate properly for that. I don't have any problems playing classical guitar style though. Slap bass - I've got as far as hitting strings with my thumb (mostly accurately) and haven't progressed any further in the last 25 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1432195527' post='2778989'] What is interesting is that almost all of the above posts reference difficulties with techniques that are practically useless Fopr instance, I don't slap particularly well and double thumbing is weak. The reason for this is primarily that, whilst the techniques in question undoubtedly turn heads, I DON'T LIKE THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED USING THEM AND NEVER PLAY THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED USING THEM. So, in short, the techniques are of no real use to me. Hence, I do not practice them, hence, I am not very good at them. [/quote] But for those guys that do like playing music that features slap, double thumbing and hammering on, the practice and learning of these technicques is essential. I struggle to see anything bad in someone who is trying to create music - this music may not be for me, but that's a different issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1432195527' post='2778989'] I suspect the above list of 'difficulties' reflects that fact that most of the things we have 'difficulties' with are not bass playing but party tricks. [/quote] Definitely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I,m not too bad with laid back reggae but I struggle with Ska. I had to learn Too Much Too Young and Nite Klub and couldnt nail those quick runs smoothly. Also slap. I am with Bilbo on that, I have no interest with playing that type of music, so dont bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Pick playing for me... I've never quite managed to find a comfortable way of picking on bass. I'm fine on guitar but it feels very odd to me on bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 16ths or anything fast. My fingers just don't move quick enough. And pick playing, absolutely useless at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1432195527' post='2778989'] Fopr instance, I don't slap particularly well and double thumbing is weak. The reason for this is primarily that, whilst the techniques in question undoubtedly turn heads, I DON'T LIKE THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED USING THEM AND NEVER PLAY THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED USING THEM. So, in short, the techniques are of no real use to me. Hence, I do not practice them, hence, I am not very good at them. [/quote] Very much in agreement with this Mr. B. Edited May 21, 2015 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samBolshy Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Anything with consistent 8ths that's faster than 220bpm, and anything faster than that. Which is quite a lot of stuff I want to play I think technique wise I'm slowly building up my chops, just taking it really slow with a metronome (working on thumb+pop triplets, they're a real b*stard for me at the moment) But mainly playing with a pick is what i struggle with, I just can't get the articulation I'd like to be consistent. Gonna be practicing though cos I'm filling in for my mates in a week or so and need to use a pick for that to get that skatepunk rattle/clank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='samBolshy' timestamp='1432199956' post='2779039'] ...and need to use a pick for that to get that skatepunk rattle/clank [/quote] I had an involuntary shudder when I read this... I understand if your filling in and that's what they are going for But why on earth anyone would want rattle and clank in their bass sound is beyond me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Firefly Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Rockabilly drag triplets with the upright....but then again, I havent put the necessary hours in either..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Classical bowing teqhniques. I mainly used the upright for Jazz, and some pop, country and some shows that required minimal bowing. But I am happy with how it is coming along, and for a double whammy, it's helped my teqhnique no end for sawing down trees and branches in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I play with a pick. For the past 18 months or so I have been trying to get my fingerstyle playing to the same standard but I am struggling. Just don't get the same control or speed using my fingers. I am ok for some bass lines but nowhere near as good as I want to be. Better than I was, so guess keep plugging on! Double thumbing? I can't even play single thumbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='anaxcrosswords' timestamp='1432127347' post='2778383'] (if I’m wrong in the terminology, what I mean is moving to the same fret position but one string down, eg C on the A string to G on the E string). [/quote] [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1432127540' post='2778390'] That's actually a 5th. [/quote] Nope, it's a fourth. [quote name='seashell' timestamp='1432158424' post='2778810'] Playing with a pick. [/quote] Yep. I started off playing with a pick, moved to fingerstyle, and now I can't play with a pick any more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1432204158' post='2779084'] Nope, it's a fourth. [/quote] Depends which way round! He was going from C to G, which is quite common to do over a C chord, where G would be the 5th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anaxcrosswords Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 OK, a 4th but that's my final offer The technique I've been trying to use - and it's the only one that brings any semblance of success, though still not great - is having middle and index finger in parallel, my hand pointing almost directly up the fretboard. It's not as uncomfortable as it sounds, but still a touch unnatural, especially if I have to move quickly to a more conventional position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1432204521' post='2779088'] Depends which way round! [/quote] Yep - he's going down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='anaxcrosswords' timestamp='1432204573' post='2779090'] OK, a 4th but that's my final offer The technique I've been trying to use - and it's the only one that brings any semblance of success, though still not great - is having middle and index finger in parallel, my hand pointing almost directly up the fretboard. It's not as uncomfortable as it sounds, but still a touch unnatural, especially if I have to move quickly to a more conventional position. [/quote] What about using your middle finger to fret the notes and laying your forefinger across the strings to damp any open ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anaxcrosswords Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 That’s a technique I have used, and is probably still the default. For some reason it just sounds a bit messy – I’m particularly prone to the forefinger ringing out harmonics instead of damping. Doesn’t help that I prefer 40s string sets; heavier gauge would be less lively but I’ve never liked them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1432205802' post='2779104'] Yep - he's going down. [/quote] Says he's alternating, but I'd have that as a 4th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I have a decent grasp of most things (weirdly I find myself using double thumb as a standard picking technique quite often). But I struggle with any form of walking bassline and I can't say I'm great at reggae style laid back lines. With practice I'm sure I could manage though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Depends on the key of the section being played. If playing in 'C', the 'G' is the fifth (whether or not it's the octave above or below matters not...). If playing in 'G', 'C' is the fourth, again, independent of the octave being played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Ah, but the context is the interval between two notes, not position of either note in a scale. Dropping from C to G is a fourth, and going back up from G to C is also a fourth, no matter what key you're in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Try fretting the G on the E string with your ring finger and the C on the A string with your pinky - gives total control over damping and note duration and doesn't require a change in hand position (for me anyway my pinky is quite short). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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