Bass Power Chord Help

[HoosierBassist]

I need help regarding power chords on bass. Right now, I am into pop-punk music, I play with fingers and pick. Anyway,

For example..

Josie (Blink-182) and Always (Blink-182) use bass power chords. For single notes when I pick, I use alternate picking. However, for powerchords, a friend who plays guitar and my bass teacher both told me that downstrokes are better for these songs.

I am fine with using downstrokes, but sometimes I only hit one string and not both, and also I need to get faster with downstrokes. I just got my second bass a few months ago, and have been playing bass for 2 years. The newest bass is a Sterling RAY34 Silverburst. Awesome bass. Mark Hoppus used Stingrays before he went to Fender. I would consider a hoppus bass maybe but not for 800$.

2 questions

1. How do I hit both the strings on the chord consistently?
2. How do I make my downstrokes faster?

Austin

[Skabasskid]

Originally Posted by HoosierBassist

I need help regarding power chords on bass. Right now, I am into pop-punk music, I play with fingers and pick. Anyway,

For example..

Josie (Blink-182) and Always (Blink-182) use bass power chords. For single notes when I pick, I use alternate picking. However, for powerchords, a friend who plays guitar and my bass teacher both told me that downstrokes are better for these songs.

I am fine with using downstrokes, but sometimes I only hit one string and not both, and also I need to get faster with downstrokes. I just got my second bass a few months ago, and have been playing bass for 2 years. The newest bass is a Sterling RAY34 Silverburst. Awesome bass. Mark Hoppus used Stingrays before he went to Fender. I would consider a hoppus bass maybe but not for 800$.

2 questions

1. How do I hit both the strings on the chord consistently?
2. How do I make my downstrokes faster?

Austin

1. The finger advocate in my heart says if you use two fingers, you'll always be consistent.

2. Practice. Practice slowly to get consistent, then build up speed to get the chops to get faster. Chops are only built by building your chops. N way around it,

[Recamier]

This is how I do it. It works for me, but YMMV.

A) Tilt the pick upwards (downwards on an upstroke)
B) Don't strangle the pick. It sort of has to hang loose.
C) Don't mash the strings. Just let the pick glide over them.

I don't listen to Blink-182 but I do play a lot of double-stops. I would adivse you learn to strum in both directions. doing only down strokes will blow out your wrists. You don't have to do a strict down-up alernation, you can do down-down-up for example, to add accents to your basslines.

[DasClyde]

While we're here, anyone have any advice on picking 2 string consecutively that are a string apart? for example, an octave type of thing...I feel like I can't reach it very well. Of course fingers is not problem.

[VincentSalizeri]

For double stops separated by a string I usually treat it like a three note chord with my right hand, and mute the middle string with my left hand. The muted string isn't really that audible in comparison to the other two.

[escaraBAJO]

Originally Posted by VincentSalizeri

For double stops separated by a string I usually treat it like a three note chord with my right hand, and mute the middle string with my left hand. The muted string isn't really that audible in comparison to the other two.

Same here. In general i start hiting more than i need and mute the rest. With practice I can identify what to correct so I can just hit the two strings I need.

[JimmyM]

All downstrokes are very damaging to your pick hand, whether playing single notes or chords, especially when playing fast stuff like punk. I've seen how a lot of these punk guys play nowadays, and I guarantee you all of them either have hand and arm trouble or they're going to have it. Ya, I know I sound like Grandpa, but you're not going to be 20 forever either

[DasClyde]

Downstrokes are damaging? What about alternating pick use? I don't want to damage my wrist!

[fryBASS]

Originally Posted by DasClyde

Downstrokes are damaging? What about alternating pick use? I don't want to damage my wrist!

Well they can be, if you right hand is all tensed up ( this happens when playing close to the bridge, for the most part). Generally speaking, do not imitate your guitar player's right hand for chugging on downstrokes.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by DasClyde

Downstrokes are damaging? What about alternating pick use? I don't want to damage my wrist!

Do some study on Carol Kaye's pick method. Hers is the very best way to prevent damage to your hand and arm while playing with a pick. There's some info on here, there's some on her website The Official Carol Kaye Web Site , and you can check out her playing on Youtube vids to get a better idea.