Hard vs. Light playing

[HELLonWheels187]

When I first started playing I didn't really use my amp to much so i started playing quite hard and i guess I never really grew out of it. I have been trying to play softer because I like my action low and its better for slaping and DTing. Should i raise my action or try playing with a softer touch.


How do you guys play? Light or aggressive?

Brandon

[moogboy]

Aggresive or a Pick. i prefer Pick because after learning the intro to Heart Of The Sunrise, my Pick speed has gone from 0 to 60 in less than four bars of music. Aggresive is also lots of fun if you are playing a Hendrix or other highly awesome song.

[HELLonWheels187]

I put a pick there for carrots really.

[Audiophage]

All of the above man.

[doctorjazz]

I usually play really lightly, but I leave myself some space to get quieter if I need to. When things start getting really heavy and intense (e.g. the "shout" chorus of a swing chart) I'll play hard to match the rest of the band and get that added energy, but generally I prefer a light touch.

[werbo1]

It depends. for soloing I love digging in and getting the real raw snappy tone.

Light for more subtle playing. I come from a jazz/funk background mainly but I do mostly Jam band stuff now.

[HaVIC5]

Lighter is definitely the way to go, theres no doubt about it. You have far much more dynamic control, you get less tired, you can play faster, and your tone is much cleaner. Playing agressively should be for effect, not for general usage.

[fivestringgecko]

I started out playing pretty hard and then discovered the benefit of running my equipment louder. I think I read an interview with Gary Willis [Tribal Tech] and he mentioned how he runs his equipment quite loud and controls the volume with his fingers.

So, I turned up my equipment, eased off with the fingers and the lightbulb came on over my head. It took a little getting used to, but I discovered that it's a really expressive, dynamic way to play and I haven't looked back since.

[Silver Hammer]

Why is there only one option for pick? I play hard finger style and hard with a pick. Only really use a pick for punk though.

[BellBottomBlues]

I play a magical thing called a P-Bass where picking dynamics control you're tone much more effectively than an amp. Therefore I use an alternating hard and light touch depending on what passage I'm playing.

[agreatheight]

Finger or pick, light or hard... dynamics and tone control are where it's at.

[Silver Hammer]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

I play a magical thing called a P-Bass where picking dynamics control you're tone much more effectively than an amp. Therefore I use an alternating hard and light touch depending on what passage I'm playing.

When playing along to songs (haven't been in a band yet) I do this also. But by myself I play hard. By itself it just sounds cooler but to songs I play what fits that part I don't pull at the strings like they killed my father playing along to a soft tune.

[HELLonWheels187]

Originally Posted by Silver Hammer

Why is there only one option for pick? I play hard finger style and hard with a pick. Only really use a pick for punk though.

pick is for carrots. I only want to know how people play fingerstyle. Pick I understand.

[ShirazBop]

I like to set passive bass on max, outboard pre-full on, Amp gain to just under where the light comes on during hard finger attack and master to reasonable stage level and trust the sound guys are doing their job in the house... Lighten up on the fingers when the song lightens up...less fiddling with volume knobs the better...

[ShirazBop]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

I play a magical thing called a P-Bass where picking dynamics control you're tone much more effectively than an amp. Therefore I use an alternating hard and light touch depending on what passage I'm playing.

+1. P basses all the way!!!!

[Mudfuzz]

I say find a balance, not one extreme or the other.

[Deacon_Blues]

I would love to play more agressively, mainly because of the sound, but the endurance suffers so much so I've found it's better to play as soft as possible and have more volume instead and use a compressor/limiter to even out eventual volume differences. You also have better control and a cleaner sound when playing softer.

I put a tick in the two first boxes. I never use a pick except if I have been playing too agressively and by fingers don't keep up anymore....

[meev991]

I play with carrots

[BullHorn]

I play very lightly, I just hated clicks and noises, so I'm doing everything accurately.

I only hit hard if I want to get fast fingerpicking that sounds like slapping (Like Tony Choy did on some Atheist songs in their last album, Elements ).

[dulouz]

You have to find a balance between agressive and light. Too light and you have no definition. Too hard and you buzz. I actually practice without an amp and play much harder than I actually would in a gig. It is easier to build and maintain my calouses this way.

On the job, I rarely touch my volume knob at all. I control it all with my right hand attack. Same with tone. If I need it mellow move up towards the neck. If I need it bright I go to the bridge.

The sound is in your hands!!!