Having some trouble with upstrokes

[JWiss]

Hey all,

I'm fairly new at playing bass, having been playing for only a few months, and I'm having some trouble playing upstrokes with a pick.

I'm probably going to get slammed for even mentioning Mark Hoppus here, but I'm attempting a lot of blink 182 songs, and he always plays really fast with upstrokes. I used to cheat and change the rhythm and play all downstrokes, as I was used to doing, but recently I decided I should try and play them properly. I found that when I try and play upstrokes, I always sort of "trip over" the string which causes me to stop for a second.

It's quite frustrating, and seems to be somewhat of a sticking point for me in learning how to play bass. I would appreciate any tips anyone has in being able to play upstrokes with a pick quickly and accurately for a beginner.

[Oza]

DON'T USE PICKS, IF YOU HAD LEARNED TO PLAY WITH YOUR FINGERS THIS WOULD OF NEVER HAPPENED

[que-ever]

Originally Posted by Oza

DON'T USE PICKS, IF YOU HAD LEARNED TO PLAY WITH YOUR FINGERS THIS WOULD OF NEVER HAPPENED

Oh hush, he can use a pick if he wants to.

To the OP- if you raise your hand higher off the strings, so less of the pick is hitting the strings, you might find a steady up-down stroke easier to do. I don't know if that's a good techniques at all, but it works.

[Demon]

Just alternate between down and up. Imo itll be more useful learning that way.

[fryBASS]

Bah, don't listen to the pick haters.

I personally don't use a pick ( its just not my style...), but I don't care, look at my sig.

I'd suggest just practicing slowly and then speeding up going up and down, alternating strings and notes. Scales could help, arpeggios, actuall songs, playing an open G for 15 minutes going up and down, whatever works for you.

[JimmyM]

Parctice slowly and try to get the best sound you possibly can alternating down and up strokes at a slow speed, then gradually increase speed. Upstrokes will sound great in no time.

BTW, Oza is actually a spammer and doesn't even play bass.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

BTW, Oza is actually a spammer and doesn't even play bass.

What's he selling, fingers?

Make sure you use just the tip of the pick. There's no need for the point to even go all the way past the end of the string.

Also make sure that the pick approaches the string the same way from both sides. If you're pointing the tip up at your face then you've basically formed a hook when you do upstrokes. In other words, you've got to keep the pick normal to the line in which you're moving it. I actually do tilt the point of my pick up a little, but since I tend not to move the pick straight up and down (downstrokes start farther from the bass than upstrokes) this is the right thing to do. You don't need to imitate it, of course. When I do pick parallel to the body of the bass I hold my pick flat.

Now is a good time to get in the habit of alternate picking. If you follow every downstroke with an upstroke and vice versa you'll get the hang of it. Also practice starting with upstrokes.

[Poop-Loops]

Hold the pick like this:

http://www.guitarprinciples.com/Guit...ique/Slant.htm

However for bass, don't slant it, as it will cause a horrible scratching noise.

To actually move the pick, use your shoulder and upper arm to get the pick into place, and use your wrist to pick, as if you were openning a door. So just twist your forearm basically.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

However for bass, don't slant it, as it will cause a horrible scratching noise.

To actually move the pick, use your shoulder and upper arm to get the pick into place, and use your wrist to pick, as if you were openning a door. So just twist your forearm basically.

+1, although slanting the pick may sound fine depending on your EQ. If it sounds fine, go ahead and slant. For the record, this is not the same kind of slanting that I mentioned above.

[jsbass]

Originally Posted by Oza

DON'T USE PICKS, IF YOU HAD LEARNED TO PLAY WITH YOUR FINGERS THIS WOULD OF NEVER HAPPENED

Idiot.

[JWiss]

Okay, I gave upstrokes a go after playing for 3 months using soley downstrokes. Here's the result:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh-3-WK8A0Q

[Poop-Loops]

Ewww....

You're using your elbow to pluck. Don't. Use your elbow to get to the string you want, and then use the twisting motion from your forearm (as if you were opening a door) to pick the string.

[MarkTAW]

I'm sure that ergonomics guy will jump on this thread, but I agree with poppedy loppedy, you get much finer control if you're not moving your whole arm, and you can move around more because sleight movements in your body won't throw your aim off.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Ewww....

You're using your elbow to pluck. Don't. Use your elbow to get to the string you want, and then use the twisting motion from your forearm (as if you were opening a door) to pick the string.

+1

You've embarked on a short journey to elbow problems. Best to turn around and go back. Pick using the "key turn" style instead. Small movements are key.

Also you're slicing across the string at a funny angle. You'll get a better sound with less scraping if you pick in a line perpendicular to the string you're playing on.

This song would probably be easier to play if you used the D string rather than walking up the A.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by jsbass

Idiot.

+1...



- georgestrings

[georgestrings]

I don't know if this will help or not, but I use wrist bands for playing while standing, and not using them makes my picking a little more difficult... It doesn't seem to affect seated playing, but sure makes a difference while standing...

The others have given great advice, btw...



- georgestrings

[BullHorn]

Could you explain how wrist bands help? I never used one.

[Poop-Loops]

Probably keeps the sweat out of your hands. Not as steep an angle when you pick sitting down I guess.

Or something. I don't use one so I don't know.

[vindy500]

Originally Posted by BullHorn

Could you explain how wrist bands help? I never used one.

i use these sometimes so my arm doesnt rub against the bass body