Tips for playing chords?

[chrios]

Any bass players have any good tips for strumming chords(without a pick)? Me and my band are covering Primus' "Too Many Puppies" and I cant seem to get through the song without ripping the top of my fingers apart.

[Bread Knife]

I have used two methods. The first is to use multiple fingers to pluck the strings simultaneously, one finger per string. This is probably too slow for many uses, though. More often, I put my thumb and forefinger together as if I were holding a pick and use the nail of my forefinger to strike the strings. It sounds and feels very similar to using a pick, but the upstroke doesn't work well as you will likely catch the pad of your finger on the first string.

[Psycho]

Use your thumb and downstroke.

[OmnitzGarima]

Originally Posted by Bread Knife

... use multiple fingers to pluck the strings simultaneously, one finger per string. This is probably too slow for many uses, though.

I use this technique on the guitar all the time to play 4-note jazz chords. With practise it should be plenty quick enough. I think for me the speed problem would be with the fretting hand, not the picking hand. That said, though, I don't play chords on the bass.

[onionpuzzle]

I flick my index finger on right hand to simulate a pick with my nail, ala Geddy's "flamenco" style. feels very natural after a little practice...and you can flick it back and forth for "strumming" I believe Les Claypool uses a similar technique

[Spaldo]

YouTube - ‪Mark King‬‏

Watch this from about 1.07 (Mark is a bit of a Stanley Clarke fan, as you can see).

[onionpuzzle]

Originally Posted by Spaldo

YouTube - ‪Mark King‬‏

Watch this from about 1.07 (Mark is a bit of a Stanley Clarke fan, as you can see).

yep ! thats what I'm talking about

[chrios]

Originally Posted by onionpuzzle

yep ! thats what I'm talking about

That's what I've been trying to do, but it just kills the tops of my fingers. Maybe I'll just practice it some more.

[onionpuzzle]

Originally Posted by chrios

That's what I've been trying to do, but it just kills the tops of my fingers. Maybe I'll just practice it some more.

start with just the index finger...use just the nail. That might be a better place to start...I don't use the "tops of my fingers" at all, or at least very much. Nails are like picks.

[chrios]

I just seem to catch the strings with my fingers though before they hit the nail.

[Spaldo]

the downstroke is the easy bit...the upstroke is tricky at first, but just keep practicing!

[IronLung1986]

i do it the way stanley clarke does it, like this:

YouTube - ‪Stanley Clark e George Duke "schooldays"‬‏

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by chrios

I just seem to catch the strings with my fingers though before they hit the nail.

A symptom of trying-too-hard-itis. Lighten up your attack and concentrate on only letting the fingernails hit.

Also, no rule says you can't play chords using standard plucking technique as well. You won't get the nail attack but you don't really need it.

[Shakin-Slim]

Also 3rds sound better as 10ths

[Mayers]

The way Les is doing it, you strike the notes with your plucking hand's nails on the down stroke and on the up stroke with the tip of your fingers.

It is easy to do, just need to practice and look how a rythm guitar player do the rythm with is rythm hand ... you'll get it.

[Spaldo]

Originally Posted by Shakin-Slim

Also 3rds sound better as 10ths

.....one step at a time, i reckon

strumming can be hard enough on its own, never mind trying to thwack all 4 at once while muting the middle 2

(but you are right, they do sound better)

[john grey]

Playing the notes individually is often an arpeggio.

[Papa Dangerous]

I had to run and pick up a bass and think about it for a moment. I do not know if the way I do it, is similar to someone else. I kinda just fiddled around with the idea and developed my style. Forgive any confusion in this, maybe if someone knows of a person who does this, they can post a video from youtube.
-First off... I have my hand with palm facing the strings, and fingers bent at 90 degrees
-I alternative (not necessarily 1.2.1.2.1.2...) between flicking the strings with my middle finger and ring (simultaneously) and my pointer. Try to only move your fingers and strike with your nails. You do not have to do it too hard.
-For the up stroke, I just do the reverse.. as if I am clapping with one hand. Just graze your fingers against the strings. A good trick that I use to make sure I get all the strings is that I lead with my ring finger ever so slightly more. (I also tend to lead with the middle finger on the downstroke. It just how my hand natural and comfortably moves for doing this).
-Do the same with your pointer finger.
-Once you get the feel of it, you can start rolling your wrist to the rhythm so your playing style does not feel so stiff and you can really get the groove in.
-Be sure to keep your fingers and wrist relaxed, too much tension will cause discomfort.
-Maybe turn up the volume a pinch to hear the attack clearly.
-When you start to feel it, mix things up a bit with the stroke patterns. You can downstroke three times with just the middle finger and ring finger, then use the pointer, followed by the mid and ring on the upstroke, then a quick downstroke of the mid and ring again. Mess around and have fun with it!
-There is a few cool things to expand on off of this technique.. but I am not sharing those dirty little secrets of mine