Is this playing technique bad for my bass?

[Neel]

I'm pretty new to bass, and I am teaching myself how to play (with the aid of online lessons and such), but there are certain things that you can't really learn from online lessons, so maybe you guys can help me out.

Ive been playing maybe two months (and have had my own bass for just over a month), and Ive recently started striking the strings in such a way that I almost give it a little bit of a downward slap. It definitely hits that bottom fret, and it gives it a little bit of a twangy sound (almost a slaplike sound, which is a technique I have not yet delved into). I'm honestly not even sure how much of this sound is present in the single and how much of it I can hear because my face is right above the bass, but I like the sound and the feel.

Anyways, I was telling a friend about it, and he told me that he didn't think he was good for the bass or the strings (he's a guitarist ).

Can you guys weigh in on what I'm doing? I'm not sure if I am describing it adequately, but I am still playing with my index and middle fingers, but I am almost pushing the strings downward so that they hit that highest fret to give it some flavor. It's not really something that can be done quietly, unfortunately.

[SOA_bassist]

its good if that is the tone you are going for.
your friend is stupid, you can smack it all day and it will be fine.
I do suggest you do learn to strike the strings so they vibrate sideways and not up and down, so you can play without a smack sound. Not that its bad, but sometimes if you want to play something smoothly and soft you will find the clack to be annoying.

=-p =-)

[moopants]

I'm trying to imagine what you're doing without seeing it, but from the way it sounds, I think you're using too much of an attack on the strings. It's bad for the strings, and it's also bad for your tone and speed. You need a lighter touch to the strings to be able to pick up your speed. If you've ever heard of people wanking on the bass, you almost can't hear the individual notes, because the faster you get, the softer you should play, usually. Playing too hard will sharply decrease string life. If you like the tone of the strings hitting the highest fret, try slapping. For fingerstyle, you don't want to do that. I hope this helps.

[Neel]

I do play smoothly most of the time, but I find that sometimes I can get this weird rough sort of energy by giving it that smack.

I don't know if you're familiar with the song Reflection, by Tool, but it is an example of where I feel like this sound fits. If I just play the strings normally, it doesn't really seem like anything special (still a sick bassline, of course). When I play it with this smacky twang (that just might be my new band name), it gives it this weird "dirty" energy and grit that I feel fits the bassline.


I play most of my stuff normally though, especially hand exercises that I have been working on to increase my reach/speed and whatnot.

[moopants]

I understand what you're saying. Depending on the bass and/or song, I will play harder than necessary. On some basses, it sounds terrible. On others, like the J bass for example, it sounds great. But, too much will kill your strings. As long as you do it modestly, it's okay.

Steve Digiorgio comes to mind, and nobody's stated that his technique is flawed. That said, you should also learn to play with a more sideways finger motion, as said, to increase your flexibility. FWIW, I do the same thing quite a bit on my bass, actually developed out of a punk band which told me that I didn't play with enough attack, and the technique hasn't held me back.

[steveb98]

Not too much info to go on. First this is sounds like you might be playing too hard. Once you are more skilled you will understand more about when to play hard versus light. Also could be a left hand problem I have seen with students. They didn't realize unused fingers were laying on the adjactent string and when they played the note it caused the finger to click the adjacent string against the fret. Also I think your angle you are striking the strings if off, shouldn't be down like you described. Try curling your plucking fingers a tiny bit so you pluck in a slighty upward motion. First learn to play more traditionally then if you like the sound your getting then add it in as an extra technique.

As for your guitar play friend he is right to a certain extent. Guy's who are heavy slap bass players to start wear frets on the end of the fretboard that normally see little wear. It really is no big deal. Also slappers besides wearing strings out fast (they want that new zing in general) they do start nicking string from all the slapping against the frets at the end of the neck. Again no big deal, just wearing out strings faster. I would say trying and find a bass teacher and take a couple lessons to get you started, or another bass player willing to give you some tips to help get started. Don't get bad habits you will have to break later.

[JimmyM]

+1 for Steve B. You may like that sound, but a lot of people you will work with will find it irritating. On the other hand, Dusty Hill of ZZ Top has made a career out of that sound so it's good to have in your arsenal.

As for possible damage to your bass and strings, who cares? I once asked Victor Wooten about the damage on his main Fodera, and he said, "-I- play the bass, not the other way around. You can't let the bass play you."

[enigmabass]

Wooten is an enigma to me, Sometimes I just don't understand where he is coming from but then I think "wait he is not a bassist...he is a musician". But in essence he is right the bass should not control you. It is made to be played and that is just what you should do.

[user101]

About the playing light vs playing hard, doesn't necessarily mean that the faster you play the lighter you play. When you develop enough strength in your right hand and practice playing fast and hard, it comes naturally. Also depends on the bass you have. But like everyone says, it's personal taste. For example i like the P-bass only when it's striked hard and gives that fuzzy deep humming tone. So I'm almost always getting all that fret noise (but my compressor fixes that pretty well). If the song requires a change of tone, then i change bass.

But as already been said, you should be able to play hard and light when the need arises. And both slow and fast too. As for damage on the bass....i don't see any on mine....

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

As for possible damage to your bass and strings, who cares? I once asked Victor Wooten about the damage on his main Fodera, and he said, "-I- play the bass, not the other way around. You can't let the bass play you."

That's ok for [b]HIM [/B to say. He probably gets his guitars free through endorsements. Some of us have to buy ours with our hard earned money, and want to treat them as best we can.

[PrimusNut]

I do everthing from open hand slapping (not thumb slapping), to playing just hard enough for a bit of "clank". I would say only be concerned about the strings and frets, but strings are replacable, and frets are replacable too, just not as easily as the strings. I play a Ric 4003, and I don't worry about any of this stuff damaging my bass. I guess you could say I play a bit like Cliff Burton (big influence, and where I got some of my techniques from).

If it sounds good, and you enjoy playing like that, than do it. Just remember that hard is not always good, especially when speed is concerned (altho that really didn't seem to affect Steve Harris :-P).

Hope this helps.

[Yayboogers]

im suprised noone mentioned Steve Harris throughout this entire thread
you should search him up
he's currently the bass player for Iron Maiden, and your playing style sounds alot like his (and mine).

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by fearceol

That's ok for [b]HIM [/B to say. He probably gets his guitars free through endorsements. Some of us have to buy ours with our hard earned money, and want to treat them as best we can.

Dude, Vic got that beat-up Monarch in the mid 80's long before the Flecktones hit. When they released their first album, it was already beaten up pretty much as bad as it is now. I'm sure he gets free ones now since he singlehandedly put them on the map, but he used to beat up his bass just as bad when he was a struggling musician like the rest of us.

[user101]

Yea +1 to that. If you play it, it's bound to wear and tear. The only way to avoid that is to put it in the corner and dust every now and then. I don't know, but if i had enough cash for a fodera it won't be sitting in the corner very often.

[73jbass]

Sounds a lot like the Geddy/ Steve Harris techinque.

[Mark Perry]

As many people have said strings and frets are the only things which are likely to get damaged by the way you're playing, and both are replacable. It's probably best to learn to play with the more traditional technique, where you pull youre fingers into the string below or youre thumb. Also see how softly you can play while still getting a note. Learn how to play dynamically, in between those two extremes, and find a sweet spot or two where you get the best sound.