lownote Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) I suspect I may get sent to the headmaster for this but [whispers] I actually like the idea of bass as a melodic rather than a percussive instrument. So booked on Mark Smith's chords course at TalkingFace.net so I can do Ralph McTell impressions with me Hohner. Blimey, it was like being 16 again with the agony of soft flesh on guitar strings trying to bend my fingers into positions. Sevenths shapes aren't too bad but basic triads are a nightmare to achieve, esp on a six string bass with a wide fingerbored (sic). Not a 'I've got asthma and I've just developed a cough and fever' nightmare obv, but very, very painful by pre-Covid standards. Anyone got any advice other than 'practice for six hours a day and it'll come right eventually'. Edited May 3, 2020 by lownote12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Quite the opposite; don't practise for six hours a day..! The quickest way is to take it steady. Do a decent stint, then leave it (or practise something else...), then come back to it after a break. Make each session a little longer each week and you'll be up to speed in no time. The fastest way is to do it slowly, in increments. You might try trawling t'web to obtain a big bucket of Patience; that's the key ingredient here. Good luck with it (and there's nowt wrong with chords, or even {gasp..! } music..! being played on a bass..! Yes, even a sixer..! ) 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 I remember a few years ago watching one of Bruno Tauzin’s videos where he used quite a few chords, it sounds really cool 🙂 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 I learned to do this a while ago. I just know that you'll like it @Reggaebass!? I can't do the singing part though... 😬 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 5 minutes ago, Ricky 4000 said: I learned to do this a while ago. I just know that you'll like it @Reggaebass!? I can't do the singing part though... 😬 Yeah, I’m liking that Ricky, it’s on my , to try , list 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Have a look at Steve Lawson’s Instagram page. He’s been doing a series of tuition videos, one of them was based on chords. He taught me a lot of the chord shapes that I use. If you’re playing a 6 string then they shouldn’t be too difficult, certainly not as difficult as on a 4 string. I voice chords quite differently on a 6 than I would on a 4. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 If you like later I’ll TAB some of the shapes I use? Here’s a very brief video. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Hopefully you can make this out. It’s my voicing for a major chord. The lowest note is the root, then the 7th, I put the 3rd on top which makes it sound clear and open. Bass chords can sound muddy if the notes are too close together. You can move this anywhere, the lowest note like I say is the root. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 This is my fingering for a dominant 7, the 7th has just dropped down one fret, I’m playing it with my 2nd finger rather than 3rd. Root is still the lowest note, the major 3rd is the highest note still. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Minor 7. All in a row. Again the root is the lowest, then the 7th and the 3rd has dropped a fret so it’s now a minor. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lownote Posted May 3, 2020 Author Share Posted May 3, 2020 star m8... really appreciated 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Must admit I prefer melodic lines or maybe a counter melody, I had a baritone uke kitted out EADG as an experiment, I really like it as well as complementing a standard uke nicely IMO. Fretting some chords can be a bit awkward but they don't sound muddy and I can transfer stuff I work out on that to a normal bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 26 minutes ago, lownote12 said: star m8... really appreciated My bass is tuned E to C by the way, though it doesn’t really make a difference. Check out Steve’s videos though, they’re on his Instagram page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineweasel Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 47 minutes ago, ambient said: It’s my voicing for a major chord. The lowest note is the root, then the 7th, I put the 3rd on top which makes it sound clear and open. These are the sort of minimally voiced shapes used by jazz rhythm guitarists. That first one is really a major 7th chord - the plain major chord wouldn't have the 7th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lownote Posted May 3, 2020 Author Share Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) 15 minutes ago, ambient said: My bass is tuned E to C by the way, though it doesn’t really make a difference. Check out Steve’s videos though, they’re on his Instagram page. Sorry to be a total muppet but I'm not au fait with Instrugram. All I can find on his page is a series of 11 micro courses on right hand technique. Edited May 3, 2020 by lownote12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 13 minutes ago, pineweasel said: These are the sort of minimally voiced shapes used by jazz rhythm guitarists. That first one is really a major 7th chord - the plain major chord wouldn't have the 7th. Yeah, it contains just the main parts needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 53 minutes ago, lownote12 said: Sorry to be a total muppet but I'm not au fait with Instrugram. All I can find on his page is a series of 11 micro courses on right hand technique. They seem to start here. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7EbQLn6Tr/?igshid=1lzi40qfmurc7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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