I was wondering if we could have a collection of general 'bad' bass playing techniques?
I know everyone has their own style and thats totally cool but I want people to post so I and others can check their own playing and improve themselves. This isnt a thread to discourage people, but for improvement!

Post anything from stance, to either hand technique or general equipment setup.. absolutly anything and everything!

I want this to be an advice thread I suppose.

Anything that is generally not a great idea or might lead to bad practise in the long run.

Edit: Please include positive stuff too, anything that people can benifit from (but not specific style/technique related stuff).

Ok well first of all, this is inevitable but picks are not bad technique so please do not start an argument over it.

as for bad technique i can only say using all of your fretting fingers except the pinky can be bad and using fingers is also very bad!!!!.........Im kidding...right?

Here's a starter: wearing the bass so low you have to lift it with your knee to reach the A string.

Dont play with long finger nails! (that is to say, keep them short)

One thing if you are playing with a pick: make sure you're hitting the strings with your pick parallel and not at an angle. It makes a weird sound imo.

One thing if you are playing with a pick: make sure you're hitting the strings with your pick parallel and not at an angle. It makes a weird sound imo.

This is very debatable.

slap :ninja:

No debates about picking, state your advice and let the reader decide whats best (arguing will just put people off reading this tread).

I also found keeping the head of the bass quite high helped, instead of level with the floor.

neck at 30 degree angle

Ok I think the only problem with this thread is that a person could state an opinion that is viewed by some people as "ridiculous" or "idiotic". I think this thread is flammable.

Ok I think the only problem with this thread is that a person could state an opinion that is viewed by some people as "ridiculous" or "idiotic". I think this thread is flammable.

As I said earlier, state all oppinions and let the reader try them out and do what suites them.

Try not to bend the wrist at a 90 degree angle and rest your arm on the top edge of the bass, keep your arm straighter instead.

don't hit too hard. You wear out bass headroom and your endurance.

Don't get very drunk or high . . . ;)

about the pick at angle- if palm muted, it can sound good. if you touch the string before you pluck, it can sound good too. it gives you a whole range of tones with one pick.

Don't hook your thumb over the top of the neck - It'll restrict the movement of your fretting hand.

slap :ninja:

+1 :ninja::hiding:

There are many things beginner players try out in order to see whats most comfortable to them, but unfortunately these aren't always good techniques to use in the long run.

I think instead of asking what you shouldn't do, it would be better to concentrate on what to do. Use the internet, do the research, ask for opinions. There is enough information out there to last you for years.

IMHO, finger/hand/wrist dexterity is very important. Use all 4 fingers on your fretting hand, one per fret, and put the thumb in the back of the neck, not above it. As far as right hand goes, two fingers alternating works really well, and makes it easy to develop your overall technique in the long run.

Here's a collection to start you off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B5kPYCqGC4

Whatever comes from a "Expert Village" video is bad technique.

Whatever comes from a "Expert Village" video is bad technique.

You mean like when they show that hammer-ons can only be played on open strings?

My contribution: sometimes, this funky note you're looking for is just a dead note.

Here's a collection to start you off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B5kPYCqGC4

+1 !!

I think this thread is flammable.

This is the best line I've heard in a while. I gotta use it for my sig!:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIPjaM2tPaM


omg omg

This video is so bad.

Playing like a claw is quite bad u know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIPjaM2tPaM


omg omg

This video is so bad.
oh wow. that is really bad.

oh wow. that is really bad.

I gave it a 1

IMO it's not far off Les Claypool.... :hiding::ninja:

playing with a "claw" aint as bad as it seems just look at billy sheehan he turns his right hand into a double claw..... i think the dude on youtube might be a bit far off being billy sheehan yet though:p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIPjaM2tPaM


omg omg

This video is so bad.

Was he sitting on the mic or something? Couldn't make out half of what he was saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIPjaM2tPaM


omg omg

This video is so bad.

I think I just puked a little in my mouth:hmm:

Play on more than one or two strings.

If you ever dabble on lead guitar and have access to an amp/pedals, try this...

For fun sometimes I play my six string lead through a Roland Lead Cube with a generous helping of of distortion etc. DI'd into my 300W Ashdown bass stack with the subharmonics wound right up! Chords and higher open strings remain unaffected but any single notes below about open G get the subharmonic, the sound is seriosly devastating!

I'm presuming that playing bass on a lead guitar MUST count as bad technique on a bass forum?

Post less in Bass forums :eyebrow:

This thread is far too subjective to really be productive I think. The only bad techniques are ones that are injurious to the person using them. Apart from that any particular technique used in context being good or bad is stictly a matter of opinion.

The only bad techniques are ones that are injurious to the person using them.

I actually figured that was the OP's intention. I was dissapointed to see it treated as a "slapping/picking/shredding SUXXX" thread.

Perhaps "poor technique" would have been a better title?

Too much bend in the wrist on (either hand) was the first thing that popped into my mind, for example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShOkxtPNzvs

!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShOkxtPNzvs

!!!!!!!!!

Wow, I only watched the first 2 minutes and I learned how to strum, slap, and improvise on the bass! Whens my first gig?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShOkxtPNzvs

!!!!!!!!!

It's a joke, right? Right?!


(I honestly feel a whole lot better about my own technique now....)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjMPXKelGGE

This has BAD written all over it!

It's a joke, right? Right?!


(I honestly feel a whole lot better about my own technique now....)

OMG.... the slap technique.... umm...... :eyebrow:

OMG.... the slap technique.... umm...... :eyebrow:

are you kidding me, I think this guy taught Ed Friedland...


(I think he taught him how to vomit, at least...:D )


that video is probably the WORST piece-o-garbage I've ever seen.

Bad technique no. 1:

Thinking you mastered bass technique.

neck at 30 degree angle

*** it isn't that bad. I play with a bit less than 30 degree and hell I think I can play quite well this way.

Bad technique no. 1:

Thinking you mastered bass technique.

+1 Tooshay!

*** it isn't that bad. I play with a bit less than 30 degree and hell I think I can play quite well this way.

ok

I'll keep playing my way.