3 finger & thumb "tremolo" right hand technique

[bassicmelodies]

I think that would be the right title. I started classical guitar recently, played bass for 9 years. Decided to adapt the classical technique to bass with the whole Wooten concept of the thumb, but for all fingers. I was curious as to if anyone has dabbled into this. G. Willis has gotten close, he pointed out a flaw in my right wrist technique, working on being more aware of that bend in the wrist (Progressive Bassics [instructional video].) I thought this would have a lot of potential if mastered, especially in cross beats (two fingers in different meters at the same time.) I just wanted some feedback, "worth your time, not... whatever."

Right now I'm on a four, but I'll be moving to a six string, so I guess my question is, should the thumb follow classical guitar technique and handle the B E and A string and the fingers cover D G and C, or should I create multiple positions, and let the hand move about as a whole? The advantage to multiple positions would be muting in the right hand would be handled by the finger that played the string, where as "classical position" would require left hand muting.

The one thing I've noticed is that I have to keep finger nails really short in the right hand, otherwise there is this huge contrast between the down stroke and up stroke, which is kinda convenient, because I tend to bite my nails anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xhYgPTA-UE



Thanks for listening.

[TheBasicBassist]

You may want to check out Matt Garrison. He has a four/five-finger approach that you may find interesting. Personally, I think using the same finger to attack the same string multiple inhibits speed and "disrupts" my groove but if it works for you then it works. I'm sure that Vic was asking the same thing when he was perfecting his double thumbing technique - if it works for you then keep at it, sir.

[bassicmelodies]

I've never heard of him until today, I'm checking him now. Thanks!

[stratovani]

Isn't Geddy's flamenco technique similar to this?

[bassicmelodies]

I searched around on youtube briefly looking for an example, I found a bass solo where he goes into a technique using thumb, index and middle. Is this what you're referring to?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dptj4...eature=related

If so, a branch off the same tree, but slightly different. Once again, I never noticed that he used that technique.

This posting thing sure does reveal a lot of info. I'll have to do this more often.

[TheBasicBassist]

When playing fast passages Jamerson used to also alternate using the pass of "The Hook" and coming down w/ the nail. Granted, he only used one finger and your using all of yours. Just a tidbit of history. =]

[bassicmelodies]

Still trying to find a used for that dam*ed pinky. Useless I swear!

[Fergie Fulton]

Any guitar technique is adaptable to bass, but then the reason for it needs to be looked at. We are bass players we deal in playing bass and the duty we have to a piece of music as bass players. The furthering of the instrument as it gets called seems to be putting in realms it was never intended to be in, using techniques from guitars.

Now i see nothing wrong with this, and actively encourage players to explore the full capabilities of the instrument, but i would question not the validity of some of it, but the justification of it.
There is the possibility that say a guitarist like Steve Vai, Paul Schofield, Albert Lee, John McLoughlin does there stuff on a bass it would sound amazing, virtuoso even, but is it bass playing?
If he is playing a bass then... yes, but his skill sets, and how he developed them has nothing to do with bass playing, he is simply playing guitar techniques on the bass guitar. It is the word guitar that likes them, if it is a guitar then any guitar technique can be applied.

Bass to be bass has a duty to operate in a specific frequency, move out of that range and you are not playing bass, even if it is on a bass guitar, orchestral arrangement of instruments shows us that.

By all means explore and push the bounderies of what a bass guitar can do, but don't forget a bass has duty to the music, and that is to play bass.

[HaVIC5]

Check out Dominique di Piazza, very influenced by p/i alternation in classical guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq-TT0i5uTc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIQImp6hSsw

[Mayers]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Any guitar technique is adaptable to bass, but then the reason for it needs to be looked at. We are bass players we deal in playing bass and the duty we have to a piece of music as bass players. The furthering of the instrument as it gets called seems to be putting in realms it was never intended to be in, using techniques from guitars.

Now i see nothing wrong with this, and actively encourage players to explore the full capabilities of the instrument, but i would question not the validity of some of it, but the justification of it.
There is the possibility that say a guitarist like Steve Vai, Paul Schofield, Albert Lee, John McLoughlin does there stuff on a bass it would sound amazing, virtuoso even, but is it bass playing?
If he is playing a bass then... yes, but his skill sets, and how he developed them has nothing to do with bass playing, he is simply playing guitar techniques on the bass guitar. It is the word guitar that likes them, if it is a guitar then any guitar technique can be applied.

Bass to be bass has a duty to operate in a specific frequency, move out of that range and you are not playing bass, even if it is on a bass guitar, orchestral arrangement of instruments shows us that.

By all means explore and push the bounderies of what a bass guitar can do, but don't forget a bass has duty to the music, and that is to play bass.

Well ... I don't think we ( bass player ) should limite ourselves to play a 4 strings and at max 5 frets.

Just listen to classical music ... the upright bass sing like everyone else. I don't see the interest of only playing the root while the guitar player plays 100 000 notes.

Is it more guitar to play chord or play melody ???

I good bass player should be able to take the lead and hold the groove. Like everyone else in the band.

[bassicmelodies]

Dominique di Piazza is fantastic! I haven't heard of him either. Thanks for the reference.

[Beginner Bass]

Sticky.

/thread