Has anyone ever completely changed the way they approach the fundamentals?

Groovecenter · #1 03-10-2007, 12:07 AM

I hadn't been playing much bass over the past year or so. I still picked the bass up nearly everyday, but a once nearly lustful passion for bass had been quelled.

I stumbled upon a few Gary Willis videos on youtube; I'd seen him play before, numerous times in fact, but I had never listened to him explain his technique, nor had I bothered to look into it.

I went onto his website and discovered what I had thought would be a standard three finger technique was actually predominantly two finger with use of the third generally only when ascending or playing intervals. The technique spoke to me, and while I struggle daily with re-coordinating paths I've spent years concreting, I find I actually enjoy even the mundane drills.

Perhaps it was the lull in my playing that sparked the need for a change in technique; perhaps the technique renewed my interest in playing once again.

Have those people, having played for a relatively long period of time, ever experienced a drastic upheaval in their approach to "basic" bass technique? Specifically rethinking or reevaluating fundamental right and left hand technique; not, however, the institution of a completely new technique.

thewanderer24 · #2 03-10-2007, 05:02 PM

yes. For me, at least, this reevaluation of technique is an ongoing thing. I've totally revamped my right or left hand approach every year or two, when I got to a point where I felt limited.

Rakie · #3 03-11-2007, 05:06 AM

For the longest time when i was bass fishing id only use Jigs and other lures, now after years of being a stubborn asshat i now use tons of plastic worms, i've really fallen for them.

Hope this helps.

fullrangebass · #4 03-11-2007, 05:22 AM

Although I have my own bag of tricks (good to impress others as well as a mark of individuality), I always try to learn new ways to approach the instrument (Willis, Davison, Zuzo Mossauer are few examples of uniqueness with great taste and melody)

wulliebass · #5 03-11-2007, 06:25 PM

over the last year, i've fallen really lazy with my technique mostly from gigging the same songs in the same band and not really practisin as much as i should, i get bored quite quickly because i don't really like learning other peoples bassline and i haven't worked on any new material for a while and that's always when i tend to try and bring new methods to the fore.

i've always had a basic comfort zone which involves a lot of twiddlin up high, i can zoom around the upper register with ease but do get fed up of it.

i'm now going back to the start with regards my fretting, i've never really used my 3rd finger because i've never needed too however, i've also become aware that a lot of my basslines would be easier if i was fretting with 4 fingers and a better stretch rather than moving about all the time. mostly when playing major scales down the bottom end.

it's definitely helping and i'm actually having to concentrate again which is making me respect the bass again and the rigid importance of the fundamentals. mind you, it also makes me sweat more!

it's great being able to find a sense of achievment when playing lines i've had committed to muscle memory for years!

OrangeSun · #6 03-13-2007, 02:10 AM

I've had to change up the way I slap to adjust to using left hand tapping in some of my slap bass lines / solos. You haveto have a really clean style to do it, and before i was just smacking away at the strings with my thumb. I find if I do that now, I run the risk of muting strings or possibly hitting two strings because of an errant tip of the thumb. So I guess I had to learn a new level of control, if that counts for what your talking about. Also, learning to slap by sliding the tip of the thumb across the top of the string as opposed to bouncing the knuckle off was a challenge for me, but now I can throw out both and its a nice way to mix up the slap sounds.

Deacon_Blues · #7 03-13-2007, 03:33 AM

The only thing I've changed drastically is my right hand fingerstyle technique, and that was after I learnt the exercise I described in the thread "How do I get even plucks?". I was doing way to big movements with my fingers before that.

The floating thumb is something I've always used. I haven't been aware of that being a s"pecial technique" until recently when I saw the sticky thread about it here on TB and wondered "what's that?"

Concerning the left hand technique, I have never made a change in it that have improved my playing drastically. It has just improved in a normal way over the years.

All_¥our_Bass · #8 03-13-2007, 03:58 AM

When I get a job and have money. i'm gonna buy a guitar (six string) and tune it in fifths (F#[same as 2nd fret on bass low E]-F). So I'm gonna have to learn to deal with a larger interval gap between strings, different fingerings, unusual chord shapes, etc.

Christopher · #9 03-13-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groovecenter

I hadn't been playing much bass over the past year or so. I still picked the bass up nearly everyday, but a once nearly lustful passion for bass had been quelled.

I stumbled upon a few Gary Willis videos on youtube; I'd seen him play before, numerous times in fact, but I had never listened to him explain his technique, nor had I bothered to look into it.

I went onto his website and discovered what I had thought would be a standard three finger technique was actually predominantly two finger with use of the third generally only when ascending or playing intervals. The technique spoke to me, and while I struggle daily with re-coordinating paths I've spent years concreting, I find I actually enjoy even the mundane drills.

Funny, I've started doing exactly the same. Willis' right hand technique is idiosyncratic, but it's consistent, ergonomic and well thought out. There's a reason behind every single thing his right hand is doing. I'm not sure if I would use it in every situation, but I find it worth exploring for single-note lines.

lowphatbass · #10 03-13-2007, 11:20 AM

There have been times in the past where a lull in playing time has pushed my to break-down aspects of my technique and modify them. These days I often find myself experimenting with technique while I'm on the gig playing less challenging songs. I try to switch up techniques a lot when I can too, I think it reduces the risks of injury and fatigue.

Franko Relaxo · #11 03-13-2007, 06:17 PM

I was quite fuzzy on my technique during my first few years of playing. I then came across a book by a guy called Peter Murray. That really helped me in several ways, mainly with my right hand.

In the last year or so I've been working on getting rid of index/middle finger dependancy. I think everyone adds new aspects now and again.