Bass Play

EliteOne1 · Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2003 6:38 am Post subject: Bass Play

I just started playing the bass but my fingering is kind of slow. What is a good way to improve my strength and speed?

Pyke · Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2003 12:29 pm Post subject: Bass Play

best way... keep playing...

all those finger weight gimmicks that say your playing speed will increase are probably a waste of money. and I say probably because I've never used them, theres enough to worry about with carpal tunnel and tendonitis to worry about before putting one pound weights on your fingers.

something that will help though is stretching your figners before playing... this will also reduce the risk of injury

PYKE

SteveJazz · Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2003 11:14 am Post subject: Bass Play

Here's a great finger exercise that will make you a Killer, fast and strong:

Position your fretting hand in first position
(forefinger over first fret) of the E string. (Assuming a 4 string bass)
In tab it looks like (all on the E string):

-0--4--3--4--2--4--1--4--0--5--4--5--3--5--2

--5--0--6--5--6--4--6--3--6

Play this pattern all the way up the E string until you play 0--15--14--15--13--15--12--15

Then move your fingers to the A string, and start down the neck from the 12th position:

0--15--14--15--13--15--12--15--0--14--13--14--12--14--11--14 all the way back to the nut, or first position. Then up the D string, and down the G string.

Don't stop (Heh-heh). When you can play this entire exercise up and down the neck without screaming in pain, you will be strong and fast, with gig stamina! If you are picking with your fingers, play by alternating your fingers each time you pluck a note. With a pick, play one downstroke, then one upstroke, etc.

Play it smooth, with sustain on each note, make it go dooomm-dooomm, not dit-dit.

If you are over 35, be careful about injury, don't overdo...

SJ

[This message has been edited by SteveJazz (edited January 14, 2003).]

jescanlon · Tadpole Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 18

when doing this exercise, do you try to play the notes all with your forefinger? i guess i am just a little confused. also, i don't play much tab and i want to make sure that when reading 5--1--5--2 and so on, that the 5 stands for the fret you are playing the E string. is this correct? thanks in advance.

jescanlon

Sojhen · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 3:43 pm Post subject:

It means which fret to play it on.... And what he said was about alternating between your index finger and middle finger .. unless using a pick of course...
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SteveJazz · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 3:58 pm Post subject:

Jes---Sorry, this is a little harder to explain than I realized.

As far as the tab: On the first line above, I am referring to the E string, and 0 means the open E, 4 means 4th fret, etc.

Let's talk about proper playing technique. When I mention the "first postion" above that refers to the position of your fingers on the neck. When playing in the first position, your forefinger is resting on (or hovering over) the first fret, your middle finger on the 2nd, ring finger on the 34d, and your little finger over the 4th. This is the proper position to play an F major scale, F minor scale, and the F# major scale.

You alternate your fingers. So to begin, you play the open E, then you fret the 4th fret using the little finger, then, 3rd fret using the ring finger, etc.

So, only talking fingers now----Open--4--3--4--2--4--1--4

However, in the first position, it works for the frets, too

Play--Open---4th fret, 3rd, 4th, 2nd, 4th, 1st, 4th

You have completed one cycle. Slide your fingers up one fret, to the second position, and play the cycle again, starting with the open E,----the fingering stays the same, the frets change as you move up the neck, and later, down the neck.

The idea is also to play it smooth and as legato as possible. Funny, if we were sitting together, it would take about 5 seconds to show this to you. Hope it makes sense.

SJ Cool

jescanlon · Tadpole Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 18

thanks steve. i got it now. i just wasn't familiar with first position i guess thanks anyway. ill try out the excersise as sometimes my hands get really tired. at least when i have been playing a while. thanks.

jescanlon

jescanlon · Tadpole Joined: 01 Mar 2003 Posts: 18

i meant first position

jescanlon

bluesrocker · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 1:28 am Post subject:

Steve:

You advised me to do this when I first started. It was good advice, although killer on the hand. Ha!

SteveJazz · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 8:51 am Post subject:

Heh, heh, yeah, this one gives meaning to the old saying---That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger...

SJ Cool

bluesrocker · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 10:24 am Post subject:

Right! Now they call me The Claw. Ha!

Good exercise though.

flaviu · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 6:45 am Post subject:

Hey! Great exercise!, really pushes through the left hand
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Rufio · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 12:41 pm Post subject:

I don't know if my fingers are weird or if I'm doin something wrong here....but it's not hurting my hand.

kantkeepup · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 12:02 pm Post subject: Basic basic question

Hi, I recently bought myself a Bass, about a week ago now, it's something that i've always wanted to do. I've been working on my fingering, and practicing a couple of hours (at least) a day, and that aspect is improving nicely. The only question that I have is when i'm playing, do I play the strings over the pickups, or do i play closer to the neck or bridge?
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kantkeepup · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 1:34 pm Post subject:

Forget it, i saw my answer down in another section. Thanks anyways.
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