What's your right hand technique?

Gyoon · #1 08-05-2006, 09:37 AM

You play really clean and even, like all those scary cats do. Are you just going index/middle index/middle all the time or are you doing something else. You mentioned in another thread that for the Hanon piano exercise book you can the metronome up to 400 bpm. If you're doing eighth notes at that tempo I will hang a poster of you up on the ceiling of my bedroom.

Creepily yours,

Glenn

janekbass · #2 08-05-2006, 09:46 AM

Glenn,

For playing lines, I do just use my index and middle fingers. And I can wind the metronome up to 400 and play lines pretty cleanly like that.

No need to hang a poster on your bedroom ceiling though..... first of all you should have a poster of Carmen Electra, Selma Hayek or Jenna Jamison..... someone REALLY inspiring.

Second of all, just hang a few pages of the Hannon next to those chicks and make sure you work on it every day, and that stuff will come naturally enough.

Easy,

Janek

jzucker · #3 08-05-2006, 09:49 AM

Good message Janek. Folks get too hung up on the mechanics. If guarantee if you practice 4-6 hours a day for a year you will achieve scary-good technique.

ninnlangel · #4 08-05-2006, 09:51 AM

Janek,

When you say 400bpm, you're playing 8th notes at that speed ? Hitting every note with the right hand ? Or does it involve some hammering-on to be faster ?

Thanks,

Ninn

janekbass · #5 08-05-2006, 10:42 AM

Well for the purpose of the exercise, I will hit every note with the right hand index and middle fingers. And they will be 8th notes. But for playing lines and being musical, there are all sorts of legato slurs and hammers etc... that's what gives a line shape, even at that tempo.

Please note that I don't just start out at 400bpm. There's a slow methodical way to get to that tempo by working those Hannon exercises up from about 60bmp to 400bmp. Start really slow so you give your hands a chance to aclimatize to the routine. Then you can be fully warmed up and lose by the time you hit those faster tempos. Also, and this is even harder in my opinion, try coming back down from 400 all the way to 60. This will increase your control over the instrument more than you can imagine. It will teach you not to rush slower tempos when you've been playing fast.

Easy,

Janek

thebassclef · #6 08-05-2006, 10:47 AM

Can't hit the 400 mark, and it's probaly due to my technique. I generally use just my index finger (Ala Jamerson). I started as a guitar player before I fell in love with bass. When I started playing bass, I used a pick exclusivley (Comfort factor). when trying to develop finger style, I just naturally used one finger. I can hit the 220 mark with this playing 8th notes, and am currently trying to break this habbit and use index/middle.

janekbass · #7 08-05-2006, 10:51 AM

well hitting the 400 mark is not really the mark of anything musical, purely technical.

And most of the stuff I like listening to as a human being involves James Jamerson playing with one finger, quarter and eighth notes at 120bpm.........

I have this technique so as not to come across a situation where I can't get out a musical idea I have due to technique deficiency. The music is beyond the technique, so please don't feel it's something that is 100% essential, being musical and original are the two things that are 100% essential.

Easy,

Janek

thebassclef · #8 08-05-2006, 10:55 AM

I agree that it is purley for technique. Most music worth listening to does not goe past the 200 mark, anyway.

fr0me0 · #9 08-05-2006, 12:53 PM

hey i've never heard of hannon can somoene tell me what that is?

janekbass · #10 08-05-2006, 01:20 PM

It's a book of piano exercises called "Hannon - The virtuoso Pianist"

It really doesn't matter what the book is, or the exercise. Just as long as you have something that evenly spreads you technique across your instrument and developes strength in your fingers and hands, as well as muscle memory in the brain so you know your instrument inside out.

These things will lead to effortless technique.

Easy,

Janek

jzucker · #11 08-05-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebassclef

I agree that it is purley for technique. Most music worth listening to does not goe past the 200 mark, anyway.

There's a zillion bop tunes that go way beyond 200.

Bassist4Life · #12 08-05-2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fr0me0

hey i've never heard of hannon can somoene tell me what that is?

I've seen this book in 2 volumes, but I have a version from Alfred that is in one volume. It's really affordable and a great addition to your music library no matter what instrument you play. My copy cost me $6.50, but I've had it for several years so it's probably a little more now.

Look for:
Hanon
"The Virtuoso Pianist In 60 Exercises - Complete"

Thanks for mentioning this collection of exercises. It made me go drag mine out. I'm gonna work through the 1st one next time I sit down to practice. I can do it on the piano, but it might be a little tricky on the bass.

I also remember seeing these exercises used in George Vance's book "Vade Mecum" for Double Bass.

Joe

Bassist4Life · #13 08-05-2006, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

There's a zillion bop tunes that go way beyond 200.

A zillion?!?!

Joe

jzucker · #14 08-05-2006, 05:42 PM

Think about it. 200 is a medium tempo.

Bassist4Life · #15 08-05-2006, 06:09 PM

A zillion???

Joe

thebassclef · #16 08-05-2006, 06:27 PM

Gues I am an old foggy when it comes to my taste in music. Even when I am writing a song with someone, If the tempo is above 200, I tend to slow the bass line down. Kinda like "Lost Girl" in the music link of my Sig.

jzucker · #17 08-05-2006, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebassclef

Gues I am an old foggy when it comes to my taste in music. Even when I am writing a song with someone, If the tempo is above 200, I tend to slow the bass line down. Kinda like "Lost Girl" in the music link of my Sig.

I think some of you are confused. Janek's not talking about 200bpm at 16ths (metronome on 2 & 4). He's talking about 8ths at 400bpm.

janekbass · #18 08-05-2006, 09:58 PM

I'm not actually trying to talk about speed at all.

I don't care what tempo a song is at. Having a flawless facility throughout the range of sonic and technical possibilities on your instrument is what I was trying to get at. Just having a seamless route from your brain to the listener through your instrument is important. If it comes out at whole notes @ 40bpm, or 16th notes at 220bpm, it doesn't matter. As long as it's musical, original, heartfelt, and open..... then who cares?

Easy,

Janek

thebassclef · #19 08-05-2006, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

I think some of you are confused. Janek's not talking about 200bpm at 16ths (metronome on 2 & 4). He's talking about 8ths at 400bpm.

That's what I thought he was talking about, but when the discussion came up of a Zillion songs over 200bpm, I over thought it.

thebassclef · #20 08-05-2006, 10:01 PM

Janek, I think the focus got away from technique and into being musical at that speed. If I contributed to that confusion, I am sorry. But, I get what you are saying.