New to Rockabilly, Right Hand Technique / Fatigue?

[nonfatmatt]

So I got an invite to play in a friend's band and I thought I'd learn to play Psychobilly style upright. I have a flatback Czech bass which I've strung with weedwackers, and it sounds okay (I'll probably switch out the bottom two at least). I also picked up that Pete Turland video because it seemed like the best of the bunch (and Lee Rocker annoys me for some reason). I've learned the single slap which I'll need to play at pretty high velocity to satisfy the requirements of the band. My question is about technique - I need tips for playing fast and avoiding fatigue in the right hand. I have fibromyalgia which complicates matters, meaning that I have muscle pain and weakness problems as it is.

All the rockabilly players I've seen on the tubes seem to have really poor left hand technique so I'm wondering about the ergonomic implications of their right hand. Is there a definitive way to hold your right hand? Should the muscles be loose or tight, how much force should be applied? Any tips on economizing playing and getting the same sound (triple slap instead of fast single, for instance)?

For reference the band is at www.myspace.com/plasmacannon2012 - the song "Black" on there is about the normal speed I'd have to play at.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Bass]

There is no definitive right hand technique - everyone does it slightly different I'm sure. Some people pull the strings with 1, 2 or 3 fingers - everyone using different fingers. Some people slap the fingerboard with different parts of their hand.

But I would suggest that very little effort is required. At a show last weekend some guy said that I make it look easy (how nice of him). But it should look easy.

You can economize motion by avoiding flailing your arm around, the technique mostly comes from the wrist. And by all means relax the muscles. Sometimes when I start getting fatigued I concentrate on relaxing.

One tip on the triplets - you can go a little faster if you think about pulling your hand across the fingerboard towards yourself, rather than up and down the length of the fingerboard.

There's a good thread on right hand technique over at RABB.com.

http://www.doublebasschat.com/forum/...ead.php?t=8105

[Sugarskull]

Your right hand should be loose, no tension so it bounces off the fingerboard more easily. Your whole body should be completely loose for that matter.

The open handed version with the thumb up is going to spread out the impact across more fingers, so I would suggest that. Plucking with 2 or 3 fingers and making sure the impact hits your middle knuckle. Keep your touch light. You don't have to smash your hand into the bass. So many psychos over play and injure themselves for no good reason.


For your left hand Keep your elbow on the outside (left) of the heel of the bass. It will allow you more movement. (I keep mine tucked in because my shoulder dislocates if I let it out- Don't do what I do. my technique sucks.) Start taping the tip of your pinky to the tip of your ring finger, that will force your hand to curl properly and it is way way faster to play. Your thumb should be at the back of the neck. Loose loose loose. When you tense up thats when you injure yourself.


Good luck, have fun. You can totally do this.

Cheers