Punk Technique

kibbles0515 · #1 11-14-2011, 01:05 AM

When I strum fast and hard, I notice that I am using a lot of wrist, instead of moving my arm up and down (bending at the elbow) that I notice is common when others play punk. Also, I sling my bass kinda low, but then have trouble fretting certain notes/intervals (my pink won't reach!). Lastly, my pick is scratching against the strings, and it is annoying. I know that punk is about not being perfect, but I'm trying to recreate the sound, not just play my own style. Any tips?

PatQ · #2 11-14-2011, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kibbles0515

When I strum fast and hard, I notice that I am using a lot of wrist, instead of moving my arm up and down (bending at the elbow) that I notice is common when others play punk.

Isn't that common to every sort of music when using a pick?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kibbles0515

Also, I sling my bass kinda low, but then have trouble fretting certain notes/intervals (my pink won't reach!).

The solution is obvious, isn't it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kibbles0515

Lastly, my pick is scratching against the strings, and it is annoying.

Uhm, what? Could that be one more problem caused by "slinging your bass kinda low"?

sonic assassin · #3 11-14-2011, 01:17 AM

the wrist thing isnt an issue. readjust your strap. comfort before looks. and scraping your pick isnt a bad thing. its a specific sound that some people like. if you dont, get your bass up higher and angle your bass so it doesnt happen. i tilt my neck up a little, even though i play with fingers.

what sound are you going for?

kibbles0515 · #4 11-14-2011, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatQ

Isn't that common to every sort of music when using a pick?

Well it isn't uncommon. I'm just seeing a lot of punk bassists strum aggressively with their whole arm, but I can't pull it off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatQ

The solution is obvious, isn't it?

You're funny. Again, I want to know how they pull it off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatQ

Uhm, what? Could that be one more problem caused by "slinging your bass kinda low"?

My pick isn't hitting the strings exactly perpendicular, so the pick slides down the strings (toward the bridge) and it is icky.

kibbles0515 · #5 11-14-2011, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

the wrist thing isnt an issue. readjust your strap. comfort before looks. and scraping your pick isnt a bad thing. its a specific sound that some people like. if you dont, get your bass up higher and angle your bass so it doesnt happen. i tilt my neck up a little, even though i play with fingers.

what sound are you going for?

Nothing too specific I guess. I'm just not hearing the tone that I expect is all. I spose it'll come with more practice. Thanks!

Mokebass · #6 11-14-2011, 01:48 AM

[quote=kibbles0515;11749755]When I strum fast and hard, I notice that I am using a lot of wrist, instead of moving my arm up and down (bending at the elbow) that I notice is common when others play punk. Also, I sling my bass kinda low, but then have trouble fretting certain notes/intervals (my pink won't reach!). Lastly, my pick is scratching against the strings, and it is annoying. I know that punk is about not being perfect, but I'm trying to recreate the sound, not just play my own style. Any tips?[/QUOTE

Good quick wrist movement is the key to "punk" because its quite fast.....really not a lot of arm movement needed although some arm movement is also important to cover the fretboard. However you can always take a quick break on the open strings and open the left arm and enjoy.

I dont use picks anymore but obviously you need to hit them hard and precisely. I suggest you keep working on your finger style.

kibbles0515 · #7 11-14-2011, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mokebass

Good quick wrist movement is the key to "punk" because its quite fast.....really not a lot of arm movement needed although some arm movement is also important to cover the fretboard. However you can always take a quick break on the open strings and open the left arm and enjoy.

I dont use picks anymore but obviously you need to hit them hard and precisely. I suggest you keep working on your finger style.

I prefer finger to picks, but sometimes I want that hard attack and those fast notes.

Psycho · #8 11-14-2011, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kibbles0515

I prefer finger to picks, but sometimes I want that hard attack and those fast notes.

I'm sure with some EQing, lower action, and nice hard hitting you can get the attack and growl you're looking for.

Finger speed takes practice, and a lot of it. Don't give up.

jabsys · #9 11-14-2011, 05:11 AM

It took me ages to get comfortable strumming with my arm without hitting any other strings, you just need to keep practising until it becomes natural, start off with short movements and gradually get bigger. I get lots of pick scrape but it's hardly noticeable playing through an amp, you'd never head it in a band.

Keep working on playing with a pick, punk doesn't sound right fingersytle & you'll never get the same sound from fingers that you'll get with a pick.

kibbles0515 · #10 11-14-2011, 12:43 PM

Thanks for all the great tips!

Passifid · #11 11-14-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kibbles0515

When I strum fast and hard, I notice that I am using a lot of wrist, instead of moving my arm up and down (bending at the elbow) that I notice is common when others play punk. Also, I sling my bass kinda low, but then have trouble fretting certain notes/intervals (my pink won't reach!). Lastly, my pick is scratching against the strings, and it is annoying. I know that punk is about not being perfect, but I'm trying to recreate the sound, not just play my own style. Any tips?

using your wrist is normal at high speed and when you pick single notes you should only use your wrist, however this is the reason probably for the string scrape sound. i rehink you are getting this because then you finish your strum your pick is changing angle and the last two strings are geting picked and scraped. you need to use your elbow for strumming or a combo if you play a couple of strings. and the not bieng able to reach thing is just because of lowness :L haver fun

FaithNoMan · #12 11-14-2011, 06:11 PM

It's too late!

Making this thread = ~~Punk~~

j/k

kibbles0515 · #13 11-14-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaithNoMan

It's too late!

Making this thread = ~~Punk~~

I knew this would come up eventually.

FaithNoMan · #14 11-14-2011, 07:38 PM

It was a joke..

What everyone said about having the bass at a comfortable height is good. Who knows if those players you see are slowly crippling themselves.

bassbombs84 · #15 11-14-2011, 07:43 PM

drink a brew and suck it up

::vomits in thread::

NKUSigEp · #16 11-14-2011, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatQ

Isn't that common to every sort of music when using a pick?

Not at all. You should get a clean and crisp attack on the note but what happens when it scratches is that you're doing more of a pick-slide than actually striking a clean note. It's all about the angle of attack...either adjust the bass or adjust your playing to it.

kibbles0515 · #17 11-14-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaithNoMan

It was a joke..

What everyone said about having the bass at a comfortable height is good. Who knows if those players you see are slowly crippling themselves.

I know! It was a great joke.

kibbles0515 · #18 11-14-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

Not at all. You should get a clean and crisp attack on the note but what happens when it scratches is that you're doing more of a pick-slide than actually striking a clean note. It's all about the angle of attack...either adjust the bass or adjust your playing to it.

Seems like my main problem is bass height. I've been trying to get it right; I'll find a good height eventually. Thanks!

NKUSigEp · #19 11-15-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kibbles0515

Seems like my main problem is bass height. I've been trying to get it right; I'll find a good height eventually. Thanks!

What you'll find is that if people just wanted to hear you, they'd d/l your tunes off the internet or buy the CD. But playing live, 99.999999999% of the world's population doesn't care at all about the subtle nuances in your bass tone. They just want to see some dude strumming away on some sort of instrument and making noise that doesn't make their ears bleed. So you might notice a little scratching here or there, but in a live situation, a lot of that is lost in other noise. When you record, you can hold the bass however you want to get whatever sound you need.

hernameisrio · #20 11-15-2011, 08:02 AM

I know Joy Division/New Order is not punk, but, close enough...FWIW, Peter Hook has a bad back now due to his technique of wearing the bass around his knees and bending over it to play. You're better off playing in a way that keeps you comfortable and lets you move around without requiring back surgery later on in life...since back braces are not very punk...