Lou Barlow style

Whosker Doo · #1 02-17-2011, 04:57 PM

I have taken a huge interest on how amazing Lou Barlow plays his bass, but I honestly don't know how he controls the notes when he just flails his arms around like that.. Any tips?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpf3K...eature=related

mikerophone · #2 02-17-2011, 11:42 PM

It's easier than you'd think, and of course it takes practice like anything. When I play like that i'm muting the other strings with my fretting hand.

Supa Scoopa · #3 02-18-2011, 12:00 AM

I asked him when I met him and he just smiled and shrugged. Learning to play guitar, you can apply the left hand muting skills on the bass, when it comes to chords.

How he plays single note lines like In a Jar while strumming, that I have no idea.

just a side note, you can see as Dino progressed through the 80s that Lou got more and more aggressive in his playing style, he's probably not 100% sober in that video either.

blakelock · #4 02-18-2011, 10:55 AM

in the distant past i played a little like this sometimes. i would use a combination of muting with my fingering hand and fretting octaves or fifths. strumming full chords usually doesn't sound that great but if you're just using octaves or fifths it's fine then just mute the strings you don't want heard. you can also control the strum to not quite rake across all the strings.
by the way, it's a ridiculously fun style to play in...
good luck.

Supa Scoopa · #5 02-18-2011, 06:16 PM

the powerchord thing only really works when you add drive to your signal, otherwise its just muddy bass chords.

using an old tube amp or a sansamp type pedal it can sound absolutely amazing, provided you've got the right kinda bass. i use a rick, so naturally when i started overdriving my amp and added in strumming chords, it sounded great.

Whosker Doo · #6 02-19-2011, 09:09 AM

Sounds neat, but how do I use this left hang muting technique?

RCCollins · #7 02-19-2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whosker Doo

Sounds neat, but how do I use this left hang muting technique?

use the fingers of your left hand to mute the strings that aren't being played. Takes a little practice but is easier than it sounds.

Supa Scoopa · #8 02-19-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

use the fingers of your left hand to mute the strings that aren't being played. Takes a little practice but is easier than it sounds.

yeah, exactly. like i said, if you learn to play guitar you'll learn a bit more indepth about muting strings while strumming. it's tricky at first but after a while you wont even have to think about it.

Supa Scoopa · #9 02-19-2011, 06:25 PM

i'm going to have my in a jar bass cover video up in the next few days... i cant strum it like a madman like lou, but i think ive got the chords and stuff worked out.

Supa Scoopa · #10 02-21-2011, 05:48 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5kefMSgbtI

there it is yalll

JimmyM · #11 02-22-2011, 03:22 AM

wow, that's just begging for chronic hand, wrist and elbow injuries.

blakelock · #12 02-22-2011, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

wow, that's just begging for chronic hand, wrist and elbow injuries.

hey jimmy,
do you say that cuz of the thumb over the top, bunching of the fingering fingers, or what? i'm trying to keep my technique up.

wonderful song by the way. perfect blend of grit, energy, and melody.

martyman5000 · #13 02-22-2011, 07:14 AM

Someone brought up alcohol and its true if you are wired and pounding away with your hand hooked like that it would be tiring...I use muting when needed and if you are pounding away on your strings like that to be heard maybe your amp is not loud enough? I put Lou as my favorite Grunge bassist in a recent thread and found this interview its very interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUONCpDo030

JimmyM · #14 02-22-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blakelock

hey jimmy,
do you say that cuz of the thumb over the top, bunching of the fingering fingers, or what? i'm trying to keep my technique up.

wonderful song by the way. perfect blend of grit, energy, and melody.

i'm saying that because of the way he's overextending his entire arm, using his shoulder to move his arm, and using downstrokes only (at least that what it looked like to me). don't get me wrong...i'm down with puting on a show, but when you reach your mid 40's like he's done, it takes its toll.

i used to not care about stuff like that until i hit 40, and all of a sudden i cared because it was very painful to play with a pick. so i learned carol kaye's pick method and the pain is gone.

Whosker Doo · #15 02-24-2011, 02:47 PM

awesome thread guys, I'm learning some great things here. But I notice that the song only sounds complete with a Ric, and all I got is a ****** music master bass with kinda warped neck.. any one know the best thing to do to get that sound?