Bass practice

Neutral_bob · #1 12-10-2007, 10:32 AM

I recently started playing bass. To be honest the bass was the first instrument I ever felt comfortable with. My friend told me that he knew that I could have great potential if I just tried and gave me an old first act bass and an amp (the patch cord wasn't included). I really digged the sound it made even without the amp and I was set on trying to learn how to play funk and jazz bass. Long story short I practiced plucking the frets using the two finger method for a few days until my friend took me to Guitar center. Their I met two guys who were street performers. He showed me how to play pluck the bass using a four fingered method, assigning a finger to each string starting with the thumb on the top and the ring finger on the bottom. The style felt alot more natural and I've been practicing scales ever since then. I'm still very green however I would like to hear any tips regarding how to properly play jazz and funk bass. Sorry if I missed any forums regarding this but I'm replying from school and I only have so much free time.

Thanks in advance-
Neutral_bob

Geezerman · #2 12-10-2007, 10:34 AM

Play however you feel comfortable, there is no "right" way IMO

Neutral_bob · #3 12-10-2007, 10:44 AM

I appreciate the help. I guess I'll stick to my style then. Another question I'd like to ask though is regarding music. Around my house music books are scant and I have no tabs whatsoever. Keep in mind that I was never really good with instruments of any kind. I really want to play the bass but I can't seem to emulate the funk and jazz bass I hear to any extent. I can get close, but they are able to make sound I can't identify. Since I don't have a patch cord I haven't had a chance to even test if they are made by some sort of distortion or not. The sound I have the most trouble with is when the pull a string and let it ring out then, shortly afterwad, the seem to tap a string or something. It sounds like a string without tune. I've tried emulating it via muting however it doesn't have the same effect. Any tips?

tZer · #4 12-10-2007, 10:58 AM

It's great that you are taking an interest in bass. Any reason you aren't pursuing lessons from a decent bass teacher?

You can obviously do what you want, but there is nothing like having a good teacher help you get started so that you don't develop any really bad habits that could impair your ability to improve. Plus, seeing that you have the desire, a good teacher will get you up and running a heck of a lot faster than taking advice from random dudes at GC...

Neutral_bob · #5 12-10-2007, 11:06 AM

I wish I could. I don't have much money though. And the money I do have is going towards college. I have about two and half years of school left until I get out. Until then I have to put all of my monetary resources into college...and maybe a new bass. The only teacher I had was a guy named Turbo who taught me how to use the four-finger method. He said that he learned by ear. I've tried and I can get close, but I can never truly sound like the real deal. I'm hoping practice and the application of scales will fix that, but their are still alot of bass effects I would like to emulate but just don't understand how they do it. A good example of this is a trick that Les Claypool does where he sounds like he pulls one of the strings and hits a series of frets before the vibration fades, hitting it again after he has hit the highest note, then going back down again. I've tried it and the vibration fades way too soon. I don't know if this is because I don't have a patch cord, or just because I am missing a vital part of the trick. Keep in mind that all of the musical information I have is from scrounging around my younger brother who is a guitar prodigy, if not a bit ignorant on technique. All the stuff he knows he learned from Esteban. The only thing is that my brother plays a southern style electric guitar, whereas I'm trying to play funk bass.

Bass-kid · #6 12-10-2007, 11:24 AM

watch vids on youtube, u can find all the legends there, and copycat their tricks. There's also a lot of people that post free lessons.

tZer · #7 12-10-2007, 11:29 AM

It seems you are trying to put the cart ahead of the horse here. In other words, it's a little nutty to jump from "A friend said I should play bass and gave me..." to "How does Les Claypool do what he does?"

The short answer to the Les Claypool question is; He learned the basics first (probably from a teacher - but I don't know), practiced a LOT, then developed his own unique style and approach after many years of hard and smart work.

There are no short-cuts, bro. Rather than seeking the magic pill that suddenly makes you Les, you should be getting the basics down first. If you cannot afford a teacher now and you are going to be using the Internet to get your knowledge, you'd be well served looking for beginner info - proper left/right hand technique - how to get good, solid and consistent sounding notes, etc...

Expecting to get a junker bass from a friend and be experimenting with Primus licks shortly thereafter is a little nutty.

As for your "teacher", Turbo... Unless he's going to make himself available to you regularly and elaborate on the cute, four finger technique he turned you on to, I'd suggest you abandon that for now and do a quick search on good picking/plucking technique and start putting in the time learning the basics.

You may be one of the amazing few on this planet who get handed an instrument and are suddenly a prodigy, but if you are more like the rest of us, you need to spend a few hours actually working on some less-than-thrilling stuff - like whole tone, alternating finger exercises - major and minor scales - good fretting technique, etc...

TrevorOfDoom · #8 12-10-2007, 11:30 AM

Practice is for the weak!

Jaco didn't practice the drums!!

Neutral_bob · #9 12-10-2007, 12:02 PM

Don't have the internet. I'm using the web at school. I know it was alittle nutty in retrospect, however I've never really gotten into instruments before and since I can't afford much I felt that doing scales and fret drills and trying to learn a few tricks on the side would help my playing, or at least give me a good idea of what direction I wanted to play bass in. I know I have to practice, and practice I shall. But as it goes I don't have much in the way of direction and I take what I can get...which turned out to be an advanced technique. I know it seems a bit silly, but I was curious on how he made the sounds, y'know? I kinda wanted to learn bass by ear and learn some tricks that would help with my technique. I know I can't have a "magic pill" as you put it. But I am just a novice, and without a good teacher I just kinda went wit hthe flow. Oh well, I'll just keep tryin' alone. I have no teacher and I can't afford one either. Maybe that'll prove to be a blessing in disguise.

tZer · #10 12-10-2007, 01:06 PM

Sorry for coming off heavy handed. The substance of what I am trying to explain still holds true. I appreciate that you are intrigued by Claypool and that someone also turned you on to an interesting plucking technique, but my point is simple - start simple and work your way into it.

Are there any other players or groups that interest you who are not freaks of nature, like Claypool? How about some straight up blues? Nothing like the blues to get your fingers moving and introduce you to some good, solid fundamental bass skills - all of which translate into helping you understand what Les and Jaco and the rest of the freaks are doing.

As for not having a teacher being a blessing in disguise - well, not having a teacher who sucks is a blessing, but not having a teacher = longer time to deploy. You may want to hit your local music store and ask someone behind the counter for some beginner books since you seem limited to self-study.

I am not trying to discourage you. I am trying to offer tips from my experience that will help you actually learn to play bass. Being inspired by killer chop-meisters is a fine thing... But just like anything, trying to do "expert stuff" prior to "novice stuff" is almost a guaranteed recipe for frustration and bailing on it altogether.

Good luck!

Neutral_bob · #11 12-10-2007, 01:17 PM

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. I'm not really inspired by Claypool, his technique just intriguiged me. I would really like to learn that hip lazy bass is heavy in soul music. That's what really inspired me. They could play this cool poppin' lazy tune then go all out when they felt like it. I was hoping to learn the basics of funk bass. My friend once mentioned something about a bass program at the college I'm enrolling in. Maybe that'll help. I do appreciate the advice and thanks for the reccomendations. I'll get this bass thing one day. As for now all I can do is practice, and I'll do just that.

Snerek · #12 12-10-2007, 01:23 PM

this thread is weird

whizack · #13 12-10-2007, 01:38 PM

Do a search on "floating thumb" technique. I just started playing about 6 mo ago and have found that technique extremely useful and comfortable.

elpelotero · #14 12-10-2007, 03:48 PM

there are about a dozen different ways to pluck the strings on a bass. I'm no pro, but I recommend that all beginners first learn the most standard technique--2 finger alternating, wherein you alternate your index and middle fingers up and down the strings. After you learn this, you should explore other techniques such as 3 finger or 4 finer. This is not a hard set rule, but rather just my opinion.

As per the fretting hand, there is only way to do it correctly, and a hundred ways to do it incorrectly. This is where a teacher would be most beneficial. Otherwise, try getting a really good book or watching videos of professionals online. The most important thing is to keep the wrist staight and learn to stretch the fingers to one per fret.

Jim Breece · #15 12-10-2007, 04:17 PM

I can't completely agree w/there being only one right way for the fretting hand. Carole Kaye, who had probably the most popular bass method book in the 60's, said your thumb should point toward the headstock and be on the centerline. Tell it to Stanley Clarke, whose thumb comes over the top. The "right" way depends on the size of your hands. I play one finger per fret (with my thumb on the B or E string sometimes) but there also seems to be a "four fingers for five or six frets" school. I absolutely agree that it's better not to get bad habits early that you have to unlearn later, but if you want to learn and a teacher isn't in the budget right now, it's better to play than not to play IMO.
As far as one finger per string plucking, doesn't that make playing two or three notes on one string tougher than a two fingers on any string method?
Some of the "hard to figure how he does it" stuff may work better cranked through an amp than it does quiet or unplugged. My own feeling is that the stuff that will get you furthest quickest can be practised unplugged. Regardless, keep playing and good luck.

Jim Breece · #16 12-10-2007, 04:20 PM

Oh, I would say that you'll like yourself better if you start using your fretting hand pinky now.

RepublicanJeepr · #17 12-11-2007, 08:49 AM

I think you should get a cord so you can use your amp. I understand that you don't have much money, but even Walmart carries basic instrument stuff like this for pretty cheap. Also, since a teacher is out of the question, either while at school or go to a library and print out lessons and stuff that will help you that you find on the internet.

Akami · #18 12-11-2007, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elpelotero

there are about a dozen different ways to pluck the strings on a bass. I'm no pro, but I recommend that all beginners first learn the most standard technique--2 finger alternating, wherein you alternate your index and middle fingers up and down the strings. After you learn this, you should explore other techniques such as 3 finger or 4 finer. This is not a hard set rule, but rather just my opinion.

As per the fretting hand, there is only way to do it correctly, and a hundred ways to do it incorrectly. This is where a teacher would be most beneficial. Otherwise, try getting a really good book or watching videos of professionals online. The most important thing is to keep the wrist staight and learn to stretch the fingers to one per fret.

+1

There is a lot of room for individualism as a bass player, but basics will get you into a band (if that's what you want) and are what pays the bills.

Neutral_bob · #19 12-11-2007, 09:59 AM

Actually I'm playing bass for personal enlightenment in the world of funk and musical instruments. I'm going to get an associate of science in Bussiness and employ myself as an owner operator. Thanks for all of the tips people, I appreciate it.

jackthestripper · #20 12-14-2007, 01:23 AM

Walmart has cords?