Help Improve my technique. Incl gig Vids

[Bennetsgreen]

Hey guys I have some videos of our band at a gig and I'm just wondering if you could give me some tips to improve my technique. Any help will be greatly apreciated! Cheers!
Here's the link
http://m.youtube.com/index?gl=AU&tsp...BM&view=videos

[RiddimKing]

"Media Not Found"

[Porkbun]

I think this is right
http://www.youtube.com/user/BirdwireSound
Looks like you play pretty close down to the bridge. I think you are supposed to play in the middle of the section between the bridge and start of the neck. Not sure if its the same with a pick though

[EZ9R]

What kind of player to you want to be? A virtuoso , 2 hand tapping, Wooten slapping, pyrotechnic acrobat? Or a musician who serves the song? Looks good for the latter. You're playing the song well.
I'm a jazz/rock player who likes to take solos and don't play with a pick. But, I rather hear a good song than someone showing off their technique. And I have nothing against pick players. Check out Chris Squire and Andy West.

[shadow_FIX]

First off I dig everything about your setup. I'm a fellow Stingray player, as well as a fellow Markbass user. Nice work in that department XD

I see a lot of guys playing with a pick that do all down strokes like you are using. Perhaps it's a personal preference thing, or maybe a specific sound that you're going for. Personally I'm all about economy of motion...trying to achieve the sound and the groove that I want with the least amount of effort possible. Under this philosophy, I would alternate down up down up strokes as much as possible, especially when you're riding the roots. With practice, you can and will be able to get the same attack and sound with both strokes, and this will also increase your endurance by, well, x2. Even when you do your string crossings, it sucks at first but it pays off in the long run, and you'll open yourself up to more options this way.

It's a step that fingerstyle players have to work on as well...getting a consistent tone and attack by alternating index and middle fingers. It takes time and practice, but you'll get it.

That's all I've got...otherwise you guys have a solid ensemble and a good sound. I think you accomplish what you're trying to convey quite well, but there's always another step forward to take!

Cheers!

[BuffaloBass]

Nit picky, but I'd try and not wrap my thumb around the neck, but othewise your left hand postion is good!

As above comment about up and down strokes; be aware that down strokes have more attack to they go on the 1/2/3/4 beats or whatever the accents should be.

You might find that later on, more intricate work requires the bass to be a bit higher, which will also alleviate some wrist stress, but not a big deal now,.

Otherwise its all good! Nice sound and nice work!

[Bennetsgreen]

All very helpful guys, thankyou! My goal isn't to go crazy and show off with tapping and solos, just do what is best for each song. Even if I play 2 notes for the whole song I just wan to learn how to make the notes dominate and free flowing but still have a good consistency and attack. And just to let you guys know it's a sterling not a stingray cheers guys!

[shadow_FIX]

Sterlings are still cool man

Like I said, I figured there may be a reason for all downstrokes, but it's just never been my thing. Then again, pick has never been my thing, so you may be better off not listening to me

[Bennetsgreen]

Originally Posted by shadow_FIX

Sterlings are still cool man

Like I said, I figured there may be a reason for all downstrokes, but it's just never been my thing. Then again, pick has never been my thing, so you may be better off not listening to me

Nah man I wanna listen to everyone, Its how music evolves, I don't believe the is any wrong/right way to play your own music. I just wanna improve my sound

[bassman4d521]

as has been mentioned - work on alternating pick strokes... there's no reason an upstroke can't sound the same as a downstroke... just takes practice.

[PopaWoody]

Originally Posted by Bennetsgreen

Nah man I wanna listen to everyone, Its how music evolves, I don't believe the is any wrong/right way to play your own music. I just wanna improve my sound

Best thing I have read on here today. As mentioned pick attack could be more fluid or accented on key beats. 1,3 when playing 1/4 notes. Nice sterling too I just traded a black maple with black hardware for a Stingray 5.

Good luck, good sound.

M

[Rudreax]

Originally Posted by EZ9R

What kind of player to you want to be? A virtuoso , 2 hand tapping, Wooten slapping, pyrotechnic acrobat? Or a musician who serves the song? Looks good for the latter. You're playing the song well.
I'm a jazz/rock player who likes to take solos and don't play with a pick. But, I rather hear a good song than someone showing off their technique. And I have nothing against pick players. Check out Chris Squire and Andy West.

Let us all be aware that there is a huge difference between technique and chops.

Raise your bass a little bit. It will help you to avoid any angles in your wrists. Angles in wrists = bad.

You might want to try picking closer to the neck. The way your picking hand is now is extremely limited, since you can only reach the bridge. Position the bass and your arm so that you can easily pick anywhere on the bass at any time, again making sure there are no angles in your wrist.

As has been mentioned, keep the right hand thumb behind the neck, and spread your fingers more. You're very limited again in range since your right hand is currently like a baseball grip and you have to move the entire hand to play a different note.

Try to incorporate economy picking into your playing. Economy is different from alternate picking (where you do a downstroke on 1 and 3 and an upstroke on 2 and 4) as you are not following a strict pattern but move depending on whichever is best for the situation.

As you said there is not real right or wrong way to play bass. But, I find that following these things will decrease your chance of injury by a very large amount.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Rudreax

Raise your bass a little bit. It will help you to avoid any angles in your wrists. Angles in wrists = bad.

I play with a similar technique as the OP except I wear my bass higher, anchor my left hand on the bridge, pick hand more over the bridge pickup and use alternating pick strokes. I also play with my thumb around the neck.

IME, If you raise the bass and play with your thumb around the neck, there is less of a wrist angle.

I did notice that in certain parts of the tune, your hand position changes and you play more over the bridge pickup.
P.S. see my avatar pic

I think learning to alternation your pick strokes will reduce the amount of motion you have to make with your left hand. In the long run, it will cause less strain on your wrist, reducing possibility of RSI.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by bassman4d521

as has been mentioned - work on alternating pick strokes... there's no reason an upstroke can't sound the same as a downstroke... just takes practice.

absolutely. and doing all downstrokes by the bridge can be very damaging to your hand eventually. learn carol kaye's pick method...guaranteed to have no pain ever.

[RiddimKing]

Good songs.

[JohnDavisNYC]

You and the drummer should style the singer... His jeans aren't skinny enough.

I would echo what others have said, but don't raise the bass too much. It looks cool where it is.

Practice and study alot so that playing rock is super easy so you can move around and exude more energy on stage.

Nice song.

J

[Deathblade Eric]

Good stuff & there isn't much that I'd pull you up on...

The picking thing has been well covered in previous posts, so I won't dwell on it overmuch except to add in the idea that alternate strokes lead to better timekeeping with less work, as you're not (redundantly) moving your hand back to the start position. I saw you alt picking on the 3rd number, so you're no stranger to it.

As to positioning, that's been well addressed too. Personally I'd raise your strap a tad, but adjust the angle so that most of the raisingness happens at the bridge - you may find that this will automatically shift your hand a bit nearer the neck and also allow for playing with a bit more attack (as the strings will flex a bit more). I'd certainly find your stance uncomfortable if I were to adopt it... but then that's to be expected as my body geometry is different to yours (& probably everyone else in this thread - & vice-versa).

The one thing I will slap your wrist over is the start of the second video (Let Your Body Go). Audible tuning up and the inevitable little noodle that follows it are Very Bad Things Indeed and should be stopped.

Seriously, Stop it.

Stop. It.

Get a tuner pedal that has a mute/bypass option, same goes for your guitarist. It looks & sounds that bit slicker.

Keep it up, I reckon you're doin' alright & most things will just fall into place of their own accord as you go along.

Pete.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by JohnDavisNYC

You and the drummer should style the singer... His jeans aren't skinny enough.

I would echo what others have said, but don't raise the bass too much. It looks cool where it is.

+1. i totally can't understand the faction of bassist who tells everyone the bass should be sitting up on their chest or exactly where it's positioned when you sit. i so can't get comfortable with that and it actually hampers my playing. maybe if i was spending lots of time playing the 15th-24th frets i would want it up higher, but since i just grab notes up there occasionally, waist level is what works best for me.

[Rudreax]

The best way to look at it is that you should just put in the position where you're most comfortable, right?

[Bennetsgreen]

i love you all!!! ive been doing bits of what everybody has been saying and its helped me and extraordanary amount! il have a new video soon so you can all make judgements wether i have improved or not....thanks again anyway!