bass_ferret Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Just wondering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 All three? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I'm a lazy twat and use a [i]huge[/i] amount of compression to mask my pathetic attempts to keep to a consistent level. If I want more or less noize there's a knob behind me that will sort that out, and I'm not talking about our drummer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 (edited) I'm not sure I'd refer to it as 'playing like a girl', but I know a couple of players who just tickle the strings a bit and to be honest they look like they are going to doze off! Generally I like to 'give it a bit of welly' as the technical term goes. AND I'M NOT REALLY ONE FOR STANDING STILL EITHER (oops, bloody caps lock!) I never practice sitting down. EDIT: SteveO - LOL'd at your last sentence! Edited March 20, 2009 by Golchen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh3184 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 i play like its done me a horrible wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 i voted the middle one, but the keyword in it was "can". i "can" change volume up or down by playing harder or lighter. i dont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 My cousin plays like a girl. I always take the mick out of him for it. But I play a bit too hard really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyonbass Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Interesting one this, I always used to play way too hard, caused by years of practising without being plugged in. Consequently I needed a higher action to stop the strings "clacking" against the frets. I now have a Tascam thingy to practice with, which has really helped, but I think the main reason I can play lightly now, is that since building my BFM O10.5 cabs, I can hear myself perfectly on stage and I dont need to "dig in" to hear myself. Unless I want to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='andyonbass' post='440820' date='Mar 21 2009, 05:37 AM']Interesting one this, I always used to play way too hard, caused by years of practising without being plugged in.[/quote] Just the same with me. As a result my right hand fingers land so hard on the next string up from the one I've played that insted of just damping it it makes a quacking,clicky sound. Pity because with a lighter touch it would form a brilliant natural damping technique. In my earlier playing days , too , I often had (what I now realise to be) inadequate power on stage relative to my play mates and that made me hit harder too , to be heard. I'm better practising or recording - though my playing's probably not as 'exciting' if that's the word. Once I get a gig sweat on though - back to bad habits. Heavier guage strings help - they're tighter and the problem reduces a little. Having said all that - I don't worry about it too much. I just crack on. Sure there's plenty of craftsman joiners hit a nail too hard , plenty of chefs chop a carrot too hard etc etc. You do the job - warts and all - make the cupboard,cook the casserole,play your gig - draw your wage - say thankyou and goodnight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Like an animal. I've got enough to worry about hitting the right strings without varying how hard I hit them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I play lightly. I'm a lover, not a fighter ;0) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I don't understand what the difference is between the first two options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Ham-fisted, unsubtle bludgeoning. If I want any of your your so-called "dynamics" I stomp on the overdrive or break out the plectrum. Or both. Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Very light, which increases facility considerably. I can dig in for certain sounds if necessary and being an upright player too I'm used to using a variety of dynamics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='BigRedX' post='441006' date='Mar 21 2009, 12:03 PM']I don't understand what the difference is between the first two options.[/quote] I assume the first option means playing so gently that you can't play a quiet passage any more gently. I voted for the middle option but i certainly used to be the third option which I blame on too loud guitards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='Adrenochrome' post='441018' date='Mar 21 2009, 12:20 PM']I assume the first option means playing so gently that you can't play a quiet passage any more gently.[/quote] That was the intention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
small_lump_of_green_putty Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 you know what? if I was a girl, I wouldn't feel ashamed of playing like a girl. with threads like this, is there any wonder that female bass players don't hang around the forum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
small_lump_of_green_putty Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 there's some crass wording used here, and noone's noticed yet. any reason for choosing those words ferret? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odub Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I have a soft touch, me band reckons on that I always sound tentative and not forceful enough, so it's something I'm trying to work on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='small_lump_of_green_putty' post='441024' date='Mar 21 2009, 12:30 PM']you know what? if I was a girl, I wouldn't feel ashamed of playing like a girl. with threads like this, is there any wonder that female bass players don't hang around the forum?[/quote] Absolutely +100. Maybe we could poll the female subscibers to see if they can make stupid comments like an ignorant male? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='dood' post='441037' date='Mar 21 2009, 12:46 PM']Absolutely +100. Maybe we could poll the female subscibers to see if they can make stupid comments like an ignorant male?[/quote] Where does that leave the Animals then...? Garry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I play like a bloke, who plays very lightly. Haven't voted as there doesn't seem to be a catagory for this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I'd be perfectly happy to play like Yolanda Charles or Rhonda Smith. As for dynamics, I try to play lightly. I don't really like any clank or clicks unless I choose to put them in. Cheers Alun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 [quote name='lowdown' post='441044' date='Mar 21 2009, 12:58 PM']Where does that leave the Animals then...? Garry[/quote] In a house, in New Orleans.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AM1 Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 How one plays the bass, or the degree of attack, has nothing to do with gender specificity. If you rephrased the question, it would better demonstrate that the real query is about dynamic control as a function of intensity of attack. Playing through inadequate ampage/too low volume and attacking the bass to be heard is NOT dynamic control. In this scenario there is effectively no means by which to create an effective dynamic range (using fingers). If you are digging in like an animal just to be heard, that's a function of inefficient integration of bass volume/tone in a band context and has no relevance to dynamics whatsoever. Playing with volume at an appropriate level whereby the bass can be heard with the lightest touch, affords a huge range of attack and dynamic control options. Regards AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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