Converted Guitarist needs Technique Clarifications

[rootshock]

Hey

Well I've been playing guitar for about 10 yrs, and have recently acknowledged that the low end has always been calling me. I've got a few questions about technique, as I don't want to ingrain any bad habits, but first some background.

I know my scales, modes, arpeggios. I can slap pretty well. I've got good ring, middle, index and thumb strumming and fingerpicking dexterity.

My main question is how should I be holding my wrist to address the strings? Is it okay to rest my forearm on the body, and drape my wrist over? Should I be coming in with the wrist floating, as in not touching the body, or resting my thumb anywhere on the body? Should I just do what's comfortable?

Also, I need to develop more finger strength in the right (picking) hand. It takes a lot more to dig into the bass than guitar strings. Should I be working at really digging in, or should I just focus at fingerpicking at a level that is comfortable and sounds good? Digging in changes the attack tone dramatically, obviously...

Again, I don't want to ingrain poor technique and bad habits.



Thanks!

[jschwalls]

There are endless arguments on this... I tell my students to play what is comfortable to YOU. Even the famous bassists have totally different approaches to the instrument. What works for some may not work for others... I learned how to play bass by watching the 80's shredder videos that my guitarists watched. I didn't even know there were bass videos or schools and such back then.. haha... So, Geddy Lee and Billy Sheehan were my only real visual inspirations until I started lessons with Beaver Felton back in the early, early 90's..

[SC Bassboy]

Go with the approach that is most comfortable to you. Most guys anchor their right thumb on top of one of the pickups, but not everyone. You basically want a hand position that lets you achieve the tone you want with the least amount of wasted effort and hand strain.

[El-Bob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmo8QRNFiTY me on youtube, i'm not really that great of a bassist, but i think that my right hand position is pretty good. keep the wrist straight so you don't get carpal tunnel or something nasty like that. and look for videos of better players than me but make sure they have straight wrists (alot of fantastic players bend their wrists, but the fact that they're better than I'll ever be doesn't mean it's good posture) btw, i use 3 fingers to pick, but from what i gathered from your original post, it shouldn't really make a difference for you (you used 3 + the thumb on guitar?)

[rootshock]

Well in looking closer I've straightened out my wrist angle. I previously had it draped over with my forearm wresting on the body, giving me an almost 90 degree angle in the wrist to finger the strings. It seems this is a no-no, so I've changed elbow position, and now am essentially off the body entirely.

Somewhat different than guitar, but not all that much. I find I can get my fingers going quicker when I've got my hand open and extended, as opposed to kind of a claw like I'd pick T,R,M,I on guitar.

Also, I find the electric bass to be much more responsive than the electric guitar, as far as responding to note attack and picking location. I'm lovin' bass so far!


-Thx

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by rootshock

Well in looking closer I've straightened out my wrist angle. I previously had it draped over with my forearm wresting on the body, giving me an almost 90 degree angle in the wrist to finger the strings. It seems this is a no-no, so I've changed elbow position, and now am essentially off the body entirely.

Somewhat different than guitar, but not all that much. I find I can get my fingers going quicker when I've got my hand open and extended, as opposed to kind of a claw like I'd pick T,R,M,I on guitar.

Also, I find the electric bass to be much more responsive than the electric guitar, as far as responding to note attack and picking location. I'm lovin' bass so far!


-Thx

good to hear that you're enjoying the bass

[Andrew.Glose]

You're going to get a million different people telling you a million different things. What they 'think' works. But there's only one constant that's best for your health: Keep your wrists as straight and relaxed as you can. I'd venture to say that your technique will be in constant change the more you play. You'll naturally pick up on what's 'best' for you.

[chaosMK]

I genearlly put my thumb on the pickup or B/E string. I use a percussive kind of attack.

[Sammy_L_D]

The only set rule I'd encourage is try to keep your right forearm and wrist in line with each other as much as possible, without straining of course.

You'll see tons of players hooking their wrists over their bass, but this is very unhealthy. Avoid falling into this habit.

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by Sammy_L_D

The only set rule I'd encourage is try to keep your right forearm and wrist in line with each other as much as possible, without straining of course.

If you don't feel any discomfort in your wrist/forearm then you're probably not doing any damage. Concentrating on keeping your wrist and forearm dead straight might just mean you stress them all the time and trash them quicker.

More important is economy of movement. Only pick as hard as you need to, pick above a pickup (or ramp) so your fingers don't have as far to recover after the downstroke, move your whole hand to play upper strings rather than stretching over from the position your hand is in for the lower strings, etc. If you're relaxed while you're playing - and you're not genetically predisposed to joint problems - you'll be fine.

[Cy_Miles]

the main advice I would give a guitar player coming to the bass side is...

Do not overplay. Find and define the pocket. Always hold a little something back, keep a little in reserve.

This will not only help you solify the bottom, but it will always give you something to draw on when the dynamics call for something more.

As much as I love the Jacos and Wootens of the world, I feel I am best at doing creative solid lines. But that's just me.

When you woodshed, pull all the stops, but when you rehearse or play out with a band, even if is complex and fast, focus on creating a pocket and you will have no shortage of work.

this advice is in part culled from Robbie Shakespeare and Vic Wooten

[rootshock]

Originally Posted by Cy_Miles

the main advice I would give a guitar player coming to the bass side is...

Do not overplay. Find and define the pocket. Always hold a little something back, keep a little in reserve.

This will not only help you solify the bottom, but it will always give you something to draw on when the dynamics call for something more.

As much as I love the Jacos and Wootens of the world, I feel I am best at doing creative solid lines. But that's just me.

When you woodshed, pull all the stops, but when you rehearse or play out with a band, even if is complex and fast, focus on creating a pocket and you will have no shortage of work.

this advice is in part culled from Robbie Shakespeare and Vic Wooten

Good advice there, thanks! One of the reasons I've switched to bass is to find more opportunities to play. There are 100 guitarists for every bassist, and a lot of bassists I've encountered aren't really creative, they just double whatever the chord roots are = boring. imo.

Keep the suggestions comin'!


-Thx

[MarkTAW]

"If you don't feel any discomfort in your wrist/forearm then you're probably not doing any damage. "

Sorry, I have to disagree with this. Repetitive Stress Injuries aren't always obvious until a few years down the line, you've got pain in all the wrong places.

[Cy_Miles]

Originally Posted by rootshock

Good advice there, thanks! One of the reasons I've switched to bass is to find more opportunities to play. There are 100 guitarists for every bassist, and a lot of bassists I've encountered aren't really creative, they just double whatever the chord roots are = boring. imo.

Keep the suggestions comin'!


-Thx

Scales Scales Scales

See how many positions you can play each scale.

Each position will unlock it's own set of licks.

See how much you can do with:

1 3 5

1 5 7

any part of any scale is there for the choosing, but I am amazed how much your can do with just your basic chord 'apreggios'.

woodshed an a hour or so a day

play with other people as much as possible

you of course will, and probably already are, listening to influental bass players from a variety of eras and genres,

3 of my favorite bass player role models Duck Dunn, Robbie Shaekspere and Tony Levin.

and all those anonymous session players

It is also good idea, when you listen to music, to really listen to the keyboards, guitarists, horns.

The more you listen to what they're doing the easier it will be to find ways to support the otherinstruments. And after a while you will be able to start adding your own fresh melodic nuances to your bass lines....

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by rootshock

a lot of bassists I've encountered aren't really creative, they just double whatever the chord roots are = boring. imo.
-Thx

Even if you're not into the same music, give a listen to James Jamerson and Peter Cetera (with Terry Kath).

You can get a great intro to Jamerson on Youtube.com by looking up Jason Long. Jamerson played with his index finger, known at "the hook". Check out the first Chicago album to hear some interesting jams with Cetera and Kath going at it. Cetera played with a pick.

Paul McCartney has some great melodic bass lines as well.

Since you're a guitar player you have a advantage of know chord structure and can put it to good use. If you get a bass with a thin type neck (like a Fender Jazz), it can be played almost like a guitar as far as quick, fast moves (like a lead player) when needed.

Good luck.