I'm a one string bassist

[Meyatch]

Originally Posted by lolomgbass4lyfe

It's efficient to me though.

It really isn't.

[lolomgbass4lyfe]

Originally Posted by Meyatch

It really isn't.

Why not?

[Immigrant]

Troll away, dude.

When you are serious about learning how to play bass, you'll get loads of help here.

Are you saying that it all sounds the same anyway? You may be tone deaf. I'm not trying to be a jerk, it's a serious statement.

Here's a test: One of the first songs a lot of players learn is "Money" by Pink Floyd. I know it's not what you want to learn, it undoubtably is something you don't want to hear, and you may never have even heard it. Learn it. Play the whole thing on your (probably out of tune) E string and post a YouTube video.

If you succeed, I may convert.

[lolomgbass4lyfe]

I'm not trolling. I don't really know how to convince you that I'm not, so all I can say is that I'm not. I am very serious about playing bass. I guess you're right, it likely won't sound the same on a single string if you're trying to play something uber-complex and slap-fueled, which I'm not.

[smeet]

There is a precedent for playing on a single string. Sitar players actually play almost exclusively on one (sometimes 2) strings I believe. They also only use two fingers. They manage to play very fast and intricate lines doing it that way. Mark Sandman of Morphine played 2-string bass with a slide, which ends up being somewhat similar. So you can do very musical things just moving up and down a single string.

If it works for the style you want to play, that's fine. But if you ever want to do other styles, you may find it very limiting. For instance, how would you play a fast part that jumped around? For instance, alternating the root and fifth at a fast tempo? Do you really jump your hand up and down 5 frets for each note? Or do you move one string over on the same fret?

I think maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean when you say: "Not just one string, but single parts on one string at a time". Can you post a video of yourself playing? Maybe you have some interesting ways of playing that most of us have not tried.

[NYCbassist]

I used to Play "Never Again" By Nickelback and never leave the B string.

It slowed me down just enough to nail the Groove perfectly. Sometimes hanging on 1 string is More effin fun that you can shake a stick at.

[lolomgbass4lyfe]

Look, I didn't come here to start an argument of any sort. I came here for help. Don't attack me if you disagree with the technique. Hell, if you really think I should be playing more then one string in a single part, nicely politely tell me a good way to shift strings fast. I'd appreciate it and I'll likely take the advice. Thanks.

[Fair Warning]

Going up and down the neck hitting one string is definitely the punk way to go! To be able to pull that off takes special talent in itself. Just be proud that you are getting out there and making it happen.... \m/

[Kenzy]

Originally Posted by lolomgbass4lyfe

Look, I didn't come here to start an argument of any sort. I came here for help. Don't attack me if you disagree with the technique. Hell, if you really think I should be playing more then one string in a single part, nicely politely tell me a good way to shift strings fast. I'd appreciate it and I'll likely take the advice. Thanks.

Please play more than one string. Do scales.

Love, Talkbass

[Immigrant]

It's cool. There are actually bassists who have limited themselves (or lack of ability has) to single string punk playing and made a living doing it.

Arf.

Good luck widdat.

[lolomgbass4lyfe]

Originally Posted by smeet

There is a precedent for playing on a single string. Sitar players actually play almost exclusively on one (sometimes 2) strings I believe. They also only use two fingers. They manage to play very fast and intricate lines doing it that way. Mark Sandman of Morphine played 2-string bass with a slide, which ends up being somewhat similar. So you can do very musical things just moving up and down a single string.

If it works for the style you want to play, that's fine. But if you ever want to do other styles, you may find it very limiting. For instance, how would you play a fast part that jumped around? For instance, alternating the root and fifth at a fast tempo? Do you really jump your hand up and down 5 frets for each note? Or do you move one string over on the same fret?

I think maybe I'm misunderstanding what you mean when you say: "Not just one string, but single parts on one string at a time". Can you post a video of yourself playing? Maybe you have some interesting ways of playing that most of us have not tried.

Yeah, "A single part" is pretty vague. Basically what I mean is that as opposed to going straight across the fretboard for every note in the song, I'll play a single part of the song on one string and the next on another. Like

Intro:
D
Verse:
A
Chorus:
E
Verse:
A
Chorus:
E
Outro:
D

It's not always as simple at this, but the idea is that I'll play certain "parts" of the songs on certain strings depending, as opposed to just going all over the place like most

[Meyatch]

Originally Posted by lolomgbass4lyfe

I'm not trolling. I don't really know how to convince you that I'm not, so all I can say is that I'm not. I am very serious about playing bass. I guess you're right, it likely won't sound the same on a single string if you're trying to play something uber-complex and slap-fueled, which I'm not.

Do you think that you cannot improve? Do you think you are the best bass player in the history of time? Do you think yourself more knowledgeable about bass technique than all of talkbass?

Stop arguing, ask questions, you might learn something.

[lolomgbass4lyfe]

Originally Posted by Meyatch

Do you think that you cannot improve? Do you think you are the best bass player in the history of time? Do you think yourself more knowledgeable about bass technique than all of talkbass?

Stop arguing, ask questions, you might learn something.

Asking questions is what I'm doing. I admit I've gotten a little bit aggressive but that's because others were getting aggressive with me. So naturally, I argue back.

I don't think any of those things at all. I certainly think I need to improve lots. You're all clearly more knowledgeable about the instrument then me. You've been at it much longer. I'm trying to prove that my technique is at least decent.

[Meyatch]

Originally Posted by lolomgbass4lyfe

Asking questions is what I'm doing. I admit I've gotten a little bit aggressive but that's because others were getting aggressive with me. So naturally, I argue back.

I don't think any of those things at all. I certainly think I need to improve lots. You're all clearly more knowledgeable about the instrument then me. You've been at it much longer. I'm trying to prove that my technique is at least decent.

Its possible that the parts of songs that you have written one string at a time are the best possible parts to play, but its not the best way to write every song, and your technique isn't decent.

People have been successful with bad technique, you could too. You could be a great bassist in other ways, but your technique is not decent.

[Mushroo]

Many excellent and highly experienced bassists choose to play certain parts on one string (even if that same part would be "more efficient" to finger across multiple strings). There are multiple reasons why someone might choose to do this such as: each string has a distinctive sound, staying on the same string allows you to slide up and down to each note, the guitarist is fingering that way and you want to match, it is physically more comfortable for you, it looks cool, etc.

[smeet]

Originally Posted by lolomgbass4lyfe

Yeah, "A single part" is pretty vague. Basically what I mean is that as opposed to going straight across the fretboard for every note in the song, I'll play a single part of the song on one string and the next on another. Like

Intro:
D
Verse:
A
Chorus:
E
Verse:
A
Chorus:
E
Outro:
D

It's not always as simple at this, but the idea is that I'll play certain "parts" of the songs on certain strings depending, as opposed to just going all over the place like most

For a song like that (just riding the root notes), I might play it all on a single string also. It gives it a particular sound that might not sound as thick or consistent if you go across strings. I like to pick where I play a part based on how that part of the neck sounds (high on the B for fat dubby, low on the G for snappy and thin). But you would be doing yourself a big favor by learning to move from one string to another in case you ever want to use it.

Start out slow. Play half notes at 60bpm (one note every two seconds) or so. On each note, play the open E, then open A, then open D, then open G. Then go to the first fret. Using your first finger, play first fret on the E, first fret on the A, first fret on the D, first fret on the G.

Keep doing that using different fingers, slowly moving from one string to the next. After just a few minutes I bet it will start to feel pretty easy. The coordination to master is picking your finger off one string and accurately putting it down on another string. Start slow and it will soon become easy for you.

Then, you can play on one string out of choice, rather than because it's hard to do it across strings.

[lolomgbass4lyfe]

Originally Posted by Meyatch

Its possible that the parts of songs that you have written one string at a time are the best possible parts to play, but its not the best way to write every song, and your technique isn't decent.

People have been successful with bad technique, you could too. You could be a great bassist in other ways, but your technique is not decent.

Let me rephrase that: Not that my technique is decent, but that by going out into the world, and calling myself a bassist with my technique, I would not be INdecent?

[Immigrant]

[quote=I'm trying to prove that my technique is at least decent[/QUOTE]

The qualifying word here is "decent".

You are limiting yourself (a LOT) by staying on one string. The example you gave above is either a really bad song or simply playing a constant note because it fits. A little.

Spend a little time watching videos of bass playing. Stay away from slap because it seems as though you're a hater of that. That's OK, TB is full of slap haters. Watch some Primus, some metal, whatever. You'll change your mind.

[lolomgbass4lyfe]

Originally Posted by smeet

For a song like that (just riding the root notes), I might play it all on a single string also. It gives it a particular sound that might not sound as thick or consistent if you go across strings. I like to pick where I play a part based on how that part of the neck sounds (high on the B for fat dubby, low on the G for snappy and thin). But you would be doing yourself a big favor by learning to move from one string to another in case you ever want to use it.

Start out slow. Play half notes at 60bpm (one note every two seconds) or so. On each note, play the open E, then open A, then open D, then open G. Then go to the first fret. Using your first finger, play first fret on the E, first fret on the A, first fret on the D, first fret on the G.

Keep doing that using different fingers, slowly moving from one string to the next. After just a few minutes I bet it will start to feel pretty easy. The coordination to master is picking your finger off one string and accurately putting it down on another string. Start slow and it will soon become easy for you.

Then, you can play on one string out of choice, rather than because it's hard to do it across strings.

Thanks, I'll definitely go over this and practice it

[VinKreepo]

Show me a video of YOU playing this on one string and I'll lick my own elbow...

http://www.911tabs.com/link/?3620000