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Old 03-31-2007, 12:52 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
String Height and Style

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Hello everyone. I have 4 questions here, if you don't mind.

I've been playing bass for about a year now (self taught through internet articles, tabs, and a book). I was testing more expensive bass guitars at a local shop, and I noticed that the strings were significantly closer to the fretboard than what I have, and that it was actually more difficult to play.

However, I did want to change my string height, but I have those little bars on the bridge adjusted for minimal height (I know that they are meant for radius). I still feel that it is too high off the fretboard for me. Is there anything else I can do? I did read the truss rod, but I didn't want to adjust it because I have heard about people breaking it. Is there anything else I can do to lower the strings, or is it time to adjust the truss rod?

My bet is that it has never been adjusted (I haven't, and I have been playing for a eyar and three months), and the bass guitar is more than several years old.

Also, I was talking to my guitarist, and he said that professional guitarists try to slide their fingers from string to string to play faster. I tried practicing this style of playing, but I found that I couldn't do it because the strings were too far apart and too high. Should I persuit this, or is this more of a Guitar playing style rather than bass?

Question 3, when I play, I don't think I am playing right.

What I mean is, is I read somewhere that when you play a note with your index finger on your fretting hand, and you play a note on your pinky finger, when you play the second note both your middle finger and ring finger are supposed to drop also.

Is that one of those preference things, or should I adopt that style?

Finally, I met with a guitarist a month ago (he has 5 years experience), and we started exchanging songs. However, I have come upon the most difficult song he is written, and the only reason why it is difficult is because it is so simple.

The song was the first he had ever written, which explains its simplicity. But, is basically has a 3 chord progression, and on the 3rd repetition, it adds a 4th chord. The song varies its rhythm, so the first time each chord will get 2 beats, and during the verse, 4 beats, and during the chorus 2 beats. But the thing is, is it plays the same 3/4 chords the whole song.

I wrote a super-awesome lick for the first part of the song, but after that, I am stumped.

The first part, I am all over the fretboard playing slap and pop and muted notes and pull offs, but then it switches from 2 beats to 4 beats and I can't really write anything because the chords don't change.

The only things I can think of is pedalling but it doesn't have that special something like the first part does. And then after that, when it switches to the chorus 2 beat, all I can do is play 8th note root notes because then I can't even resort to a style change of pedalling.

When you encounter a song that is chord-repetitious, what what you do to give it flavor?

Thanks for your time.
  #2  
Old 04-02-2007, 08:06 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Birmingham, AL
If your strings are lowered (at the saddles) all the way, they should pretty much be resting on the frets. If they're still high off the fretboard you have too much neck relief. Adjust the truss rod, if you don't feel comfortable get it setup professionally.
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