Am I cheating?

[Joe Gress]

Wow, my first post in a long time. I've been praticing, I swear!

Recently (actually a few weeks ago), I watched a few Motorhead clips on youtube and decided that instead of trying to learn total finger style techniques, I would add a pick. Well, playing with the pick just brought me troubles, and it didn't sound to great. What I did do was use my fingers, like a pick, back and forth, back and forth. I started just using one finger, just for real fast tremelo type stuff. But as time wore on I started using my whole hand ala Claypool like strums, exept back and forth on one string. At first it was all real loud, sutible for only rock sounding. But I can get fairly accurate, fast notes if I try real hard. And playing chords and double stops are a breeze.
I guess my question is, is their something wrong with doing this? Will it damage my hand? Should I really try again with a pick, or can I improve this "method" if I keep practicing at it? Can it be improved to be able to play say, quieter, but still as fast songs? And does any body else do this? Thanks.

Joe

[envika]

I have a friend who does what you described, and gets decent tone out of it too. It's only cheating if it sounds worse.

[Marcury]

As long as it's not causing you pain and it is useful to play what you want then it's just another technique. Practice it like anything else to get control over dynamics and timing.

[Foxworthy925]

Ya if your getting the results you want from this technique (sound and technicality), then keep practicing it. It's unique. but I'll also say that you should practice all other techniques too, like pick and fingerstyle, just to be a versitile player.

[jollygiantchris]

Is that kind of like what Jack Bruce is doing here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb_Uu0eTNWk

They show it good at 1:22...

[coolrunner989]

usually, if you have to ask if you're cheating, then you are

oh wait, this is talking about basses...nah, you're fine

[Joe Gress]

Originally Posted by Foxworthy925

Ya if your getting the results you want from this technique (sound and technicality), then keep practicing it. It's unique. but I'll also say that you should practice all other techniques too, like pick and fingerstyle, just to be a versitile player.

Yep, I'm tryin' to learn em all. But mostly with this technique it was the speed and accuracy I was looking for.

[debassr]

Originally Posted by coolrunner989

usually, if you have to ask if you're cheating, then you are

oh wait, this is talking about basses...nah, you're fine

lol!

[elpelotero]

I've seen the ex-bassist of incubus do it as well. I think it's a valid technique. There's no rule book

[Muss]

could you post a video?

[elpelotero]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FheR322VaKM

at the intro of the song

[projectMalamute]

Yes, you are cheating. You will be penalized three units of bassist cred and a pack of strings. Don't let us see you do it again.

[cheapbasslovin]

Picks suck!!!! I did this in a song with my last band for two years. I tried it with a pick, but anything that takes my hands off the strings makes me feel out of touch with the instrument. So I guess I'll be turning in my bass cred as well. Can I give up a set of guitard strings instead of bass. Won't hurt my pocketbook as bad.

[Jeff Martinez]

Any technique you use is valid if it produces the sound you intend. If a goat humping your bass gets that special tone you crave, then go with it. <---- Not speaking from experience.

[Joe Gress]

Originally Posted by jollygiantchris

Is that kind of like what Jack Bruce is doing here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb_Uu0eTNWk

They show it good at 1:22...

Kinda. It looks as though he's holding the chord and just playing the rythm though. I'm kinda doing that, just with only one string.

[Diddii]

well first when i started playing bass, i always used pick. Then later on my brother told me it makes bassist look cooler if he plays with his fingers, well i started playing with my fingers. I can still remember how hard it was to get the rythm but in the end, it was worth it, i approved alot over a 4 month. I'm still training

[Joe Gress]

Originally Posted by cheapbasslovin

Picks suck!!!! I did this in a song with my last band for two years. I tried it with a pick, but anything that takes my hands off the strings makes me feel out of touch with the instrument. So I guess I'll be turning in my bass cred as well. Can I give up a set of guitard strings instead of bass. Won't hurt my pocketbook as bad.

As much as I hate to say it, in my case, I agree. I tried my hardest to use a pick in order to be versital, and have fun, but doing anything but strait eights was kinda more difficult than I was hopeing for. I guess my last question is is this a sutible alternitve to a pick, or should I keep trying?

[ysand]

My opinion is to find a good teacher to show u how to learn to use the pick or/and play fingerstyle.
If u keep doing this, it may limit your bass playing forever.

[NKUSigEp]

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

Wow, my first post in a long time. I've been praticing, I swear!

Recently (actually a few weeks ago), I watched a few Motorhead clips on youtube and decided that instead of trying to learn total finger style techniques, I would add a pick. Well, playing with the pick just brought me troubles, and it didn't sound to great. What I did do was use my fingers, like a pick, back and forth, back and forth. I started just using one finger, just for real fast tremelo type stuff. But as time wore on I started using my whole hand ala Claypool like strums, exept back and forth on one string. At first it was all real loud, sutible for only rock sounding. But I can get fairly accurate, fast notes if I try real hard. And playing chords and double stops are a breeze.
I guess my question is, is their something wrong with doing this? Will it damage my hand? Should I really try again with a pick, or can I improve this "method" if I keep practicing at it? Can it be improved to be able to play say, quieter, but still as fast songs? And does any body else do this? Thanks.

Joe

If your hand turns green and falls off, you'll know you been doing it wrong.

[the_fonz]

pfffff.
i do this all the time
it's a perfectly legitimate technique