| Author | Message | ||
| redcloud
New Username: redcloud Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2011 |
Admittedly, I am an absolute beginner at bass, despite being the proud owner of 2 very fine Alembic basses; so I am sure this question is severely naive. I am reasonably proficient at fingerpicking, with my nails and/or flesh when I lose a nail, with acoustic guitars and have begun to play similarly on my electric guitars. I don't plant the "pinky" and use my thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers (p,i,m,a). Why must you use just your thumb or your index and middle fingers depending on technique? I already have developed a certain degree of muscle memory and am finding it clumsy using just my index and middle fingers. Scott | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1941 Registered: 10-2003 |
Use whatever works for you. There really are no rules, as far as I'm concerned. John | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 828 Registered: 1-2008 |
Do whatever works for you. I briefly used a pick before I started using my middle and index fingers. Over time I started incorporating my ring finger and I now use my pinkie as well. In addition to thumping, I occasionally use my thumb to pluck a note on a fast run. Geddy Lee uses his finger like a pick (flicks it up and down)... I hear he's done OK for himself. | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Advanced Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 304 Registered: 7-2009 |
I have found that using 2 or three fingers is preferable to just one. I saw Jamerson doing this when I was young and had it reinforced by several teachers thru the years. Admitably, it is an upright technique, but as I move into a new career as a physical therapist, I am glad I reinforced my fingers in the past. Plus, I think the tone is very nice! Nick | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 980 Registered: 3-2004 |
I'm a guitar player, and I studied classical guitar for a number of years. Flamenco players tend to use all four fingers. To most classical guitarists, this is considered taboo. I don't know that I ever heard a good reason for it other than it was the convention. So many classical methods (Tarrega for instance), are based in this style. Next comes the question of flesh versus nails, and we can consider Segovia's influence upon guitar in his incorporation of both. Who can say that one way, is the only way when such masters might have disagreed (if they had been able to meet). I learned the pima technique, and never felt a lack of fingers to cope with six strings. As of now, I play a great deal of music by hybrid picking (pick plus fingers). Like the others have said, do what works best for you. If you learn from a teacher, you may find it necessary to adapt to that style, and there are often benefits. "Your hands are like dogs, going to the same places they've been. You have to be careful when playing is no longer in the mind but in the fingers, going to happy places. You have to break them of their habits or you don't explore; you only play what is confident and pleasing. I'm learning to break those habits by playing instruments I know absolutely nothing about, like a bassoon or a waterphone." - Tom Waits | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 863 Registered: 6-2004 |
I taught myself guitar and bass. I use a combination of thumb, index, and bird finger,on both. | ||
| redcloud
New Username: redcloud Post Number: 7 Registered: 5-2011 |
Thanks for the comments. I plan to take a few lessons to get started. As re: 6 string guitar, it works best when I do a couple of longer clinics, 3 hours or so, then spend some time, a couple of months or so, working on things. I will probably approach bass in the same way. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 667 Registered: 9-2008 |
There is a legend about Segovia people talk about in Brazil. Some say that the spanish Master asked for a original piece for Villa-Lobos, but when he finally got it, he refused it saying it would be impossible to play. Villa-Lobos explained to him that he would have to use the pinky to get that phrasing, but he argued that a real guitarrist never uses the pinky. And Villa replied: "Oh, so you don't need it? Cut it off!" | ||
| masprino
New Username: masprino Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2011 |
Brazil's last President did it....rsrs | ||
| hankster
Advanced Member Username: hankster Post Number: 257 Registered: 6-2004 |
Use whatever works. One of Canada's finest bass players, David Woodhead, grew up playing banjo and uses a three-finger-and-thumb claw hammer-like technique on bass with astonishing results that have kept him on tour and in studios for 30 years. R. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1694 Registered: 9-2002 |
There are no rules: Every time I think 'can't possibly do it like that', I see somebody that makes it work very well. It's often noted here that Stanley Clarke is a tall man with big hands that plays short scale with a very narrow neck, essentially as small a bass as Alembic makes. As for your left hand, I would caution that while I see lots of guys playing thin necked axes like Rics or Jazz basses or hofners with their thumb over the edge of the fingerboard, this can really put your wrist in a bind on longer-reached (Alembics!) instruments, and is something you'll probably have to UN-learn if you go to 5-string or more instruments. I always advise to shoot for keeping your thumb along the centerline of the neck. It's overlooked that those big strings and longer scales are just a bit more work physically than a guitar, and put your body in longer stretches requiring a bit more leverage. Wait a minute, I'll be right back, this YouTube video just came up of a guy on a 7-string playing notes on the low string with his thumb . . . . . J o e y | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1695 Registered: 9-2002 |
Incidentally, a great study method 'for all ages' is Roy Vogt's TEACH ME BASS GUITAR. http://www.teachmebassguitar.com/ Roy is a professor here at Belmont University here in Nashville, and is a pro's pro, with lots of miles under his belt. I was fortunate to take a few private lessons from him ('gee, Roy, do I really need to learn these Bach cello studies?), and this DVD method is terrific. J o e y | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1843 Registered: 5-2009 |
Joey is right ____, there are no rules HOWEVER keep that fingering hand on the neck with your thumb " along the centerline of the neck", for most cases. If you do not want to hear fret rattle and just clean notes finger right behind the frets with enough finger pressure to hear just the note. For your legato playing sometimes nice finger vibrato adds to the delivery. If your a guitar player my suggestions might be superfluous but this is what I have been taught as a Bass player picking up Bass right from playing Brass instruments and never having been taught Guitar pedagogy , just Bass and Brass ( although I had lots of support from Guitar player in the beginning because they wanted a Bass player to jam with) Joey , Cello staff notation seem like it can be demanding, having to jump around in Clefs and so on . | ||
| redcloud
New Username: redcloud Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2011 |
I never use my thumb to fret bass strings on a 6 string guitar, electric or acoustic. Thanks for the continued guidance. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1696 Registered: 9-2002 |
Wolf, it is a bit busy (Roy advised to just play it an octave lower than it's written, just like most bass parts are), but as a back-slidden piano pounder, I can read both clefs, so I was OK. But GEEZ it's been a LONG time since I had to sight-read ! ! I invented clams with rust on the spot (I just know 'clams with rust' just has to sound better in Italian . . . . ) J o e y | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1845 Registered: 5-2009 |
Joey, yes , real sight- reading ,different from memory aid reading ; like when you already know a little tune that you are reading can be so much more susceptible to "clams with rust" interpretation. I can deal with Bass and Treble clef OK , BUT , that TENOR CLEF can take me to the" Clams With Rust" whole note rest ! and stare and think; LOL _______! | ||
| redcloud
New Username: redcloud Post Number: 9 Registered: 5-2011 |
One last question; How long or how proficient need I become before you guys let me in on the "secret handshake"? | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 453 Registered: 5-2007 |
What secret handshake? How come I didn't get the memo???? | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 982 Registered: 3-2004 |
I'm still waiting myself. . . | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1847 Registered: 5-2009 |
Never heard of it. | ||
| hifiguy
Advanced Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 291 Registered: 10-2006 |
Yeah, Joey, the Stanley thing has always left me puzzled, even more so after seeing him live from very close to the stage. He is a BIG dude, and could probably palm a basketball; for pete's sake he played 44" scale upright bass for the first half of his set!! And then he plays electric on about the shortest scale bass you can find. Vic Wooten,who I saw on the same night, is a really SHORT guy, and he plays the standard 34" scale on all of his Foderas. ??? Whatever works for ya is what works for ya. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7330 Registered: 6-2000 |
Well, there is always the secret order of the 3th arm according to Paul TBO. A great piece of advice I received for bass playing was "it's OK to play the wrong note, just play it at the right time." Thank you, Trevor! | ||
| seventhsunbass
Junior Username: seventhsunbass Post Number: 16 Registered: 4-2011 |
Mica, just read the above thread and I am still laughing! I must spend more hours pouring over the many bits of sage wisdom these pages have within. I also have the 'hobbit hands' so I feel the need to work a little harder on some pieces due to reach. I use all but the 'pinkie' on my right hand (too short) but I use my thumb a lot for picking through chords. | ||
| djmckaytx
New Username: djmckaytx Post Number: 8 Registered: 4-2007 |
I too have used everything BUT the pinky all my playing life (going on 35 years now). I've used them to pick, pluck, hammer, and intonate (something I particularly like my Alembics for). But as many have said here, there is no magic formula or technique - whatever you do that gets you the sound and tone you need is the right thing to do (if you're actually playing and not miming, that is). :D | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 968 Registered: 10-2006 |
My son used a good bit of his college years working on finger-picking guitar like Townes Van Zandt. A couple years ago he was here & had his high school band over to jam. The bassist was unavailable, and the other guitarist is better than David, so he played bass - and played it like Townes Van Zandt playing guitar. Really pretty amazing sound. Which is, as others have noted, the one true criterion - if it sounds good, it's right. Peter |
