Picking/ Strumming technique.

[ThatOneGuyOver]

Okay, I just picked up the electric bass Friday, and i'm pretty good on the fretting part. Thats simple, since I play lefty style, but I'm right handed. But I have issues with the picking of the strings. My thumb is the easiest, but overusing it makes it sore and it's less versatile. Any suggestions on how to learn to hit the strings when playing lefty?

[JimmyM]

The soreness goes away once it rubs into a callus. Just got to keep at it. Play at least once a day for a week, and stop doing it right before you turn it into a blister, and it should turn into a callus soon.

[ThatOneGuyOver]

Shouldn't I learn to use my fingers to pick at the strings as well?

[JimmyM]

Of course! But I figured you're using the thumb for now, so I answered it that way. Thumb technique is a very valid technique. Barbara Mandrell used to kick butt on the bass with her thumb. So does Sting.

[ThatOneGuyOver]

And is the fact that I play like a lefty when I'm right-handed an issue?

[JimmyM]

It'll make finding basses harder and possibly more expensive, but if that's how you want to play, you certainly wouldn't be the first nor the last. I'm righty and when I started fiddling around on guitar, my parents and older brother (a lefty who played righty) kind of forced me to play righty even though it felt more comfy playing lefty. I'm glad they did, but I think I could have played lefty and been just fine. Maybe I wouldn't have as many basses and maybe they'd cost more, but from a playing situation, it doesn't matter.

[BullHorn]

Uh... callus... Can somebody post a picture of fingers with calluses? I've been playing bass for a year+, at first my fingers got sore, but now they don't. Still, my fingers look the same as before. I think. O_o

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by BullHorn

Uh... callus... Can somebody post a picture of fingers with calluses? I've been playing bass for a year+, at first my fingers got sore, but now they don't. Still, my fingers look the same as before. I think. O_o

They won't look any different, but they'll be more leathery feeling.

[Deacon_Blues]

Being left handed and playing righty, I thought I should say something on this subject.

I would recommend you to start over with a right handed bass instead for a lefty. That is because:

- I had problems the first few years with playing (plucking) tightly
- I have always been rather slow on my plucking hand. 16ths @ tempo 100 is my maximum nowadays if I have to keep steady 16ths a whole song (fingerstyle playing)
- There are a lot of slapping stuff that just seem impossible for me to learn with my right hand
- Left-handed basses are harder to find and might be more expensive

This (except from the last statement) is only my own experience of course and it's not necessary true for you too. But I think you would be less limited in the long run playing right-handed basses than lefties.

I would also recommend you to learn alternating fingerstyle playing as an addition to using only the thumb. You will get much faster that way and you won't feel limited when you have to play songs that require a faster picking.

[K2000]

Originally Posted by ThatOneGuyOver

And is the fact that I play like a lefty when I'm right-handed an issue?

In my opinion I think it is, but maybe you want to try to reinvent the wheel.

There is a ton of free information on the internet, on how to play the bass (look up beginner bass lessons). You'd be well-advised to take a few lessons, with a teacher, too... because IMO you're already off on the wrong foot.

That's just my impression.

[ThatOneGuyOver]

Okay, I decided to switch over to the regular way of playing. It seems a lot more confortable. And after about a day of practice, I can mostly play Uno by Muse. I still haven't quite memorized the notes for the verse part. The rest is easy.