Your own versatility

RAM · #1 08-17-2009, 01:49 AM

Since this is completely subjective, let's try to be honest here...how would you qualify your own versatility as a bass player? Do you typically fall back on a single style (e.g.: slap, pick, fingerstyle - playing over the neck pickup or over the bridge pickup, etc)?

I personally don't slap well, never having really learned how to slap. I didn't grow up listening to many slap-style players, and while I have a basic understanding of the technique, I really never developed that skill. It's also one I don't have a deep appreciation for, though it can be fun to listen to someone who does it really well. For the most part, on the other hand, I do play finger-style extensively, and vary my technique from very soft over the edge of the fretboard for an almost upright-type tone, to aggressive between the pickups. A technique that I've tried periodically to master is playing with a pick. While I don't have as many uses for it, when I hear Chris Squire, or listen to John Entwistle on Live at Leeds, I'm amazed at how great these guys were with picks (I'm a huge Entwistle fan, and know he tended to play finger-style more often than not, however). As such, I think a pick-style can be really interesting.

My own favorite style to play is finger-style, but try to learn others to maintain a level of versatility.

How about you?

phatbass · #2 08-17-2009, 02:00 AM

My own main technique is *normally* standard 2 finger anchored on the pickup. I'll also occasionally use a pick, or pluck with the thumb. And I also change where I pick according to the tone I want.

My slapping is "okay", in that I'm no monster Vic Wooten/Marcus Miller/Stanley Clarke, but i can cover any slap needed in a cover band without embarrassing myself. For some reason I never got that crazy about slapping; in fact guys who overuse it (i.e. it's their main "thing") tend to get annoying to me after a while, no matter how good they are..

Akshat · #3 08-17-2009, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

I personally don't slap well, never having really learned how to slap. I didn't grow up listening to many slap-style players, and while I have a basic understanding of the technique, I really never developed that skill. It's also one I don't have a deep appreciation for, though it can be fun to listen to someone who does it really well. For the most part, on the other hand, I do play finger-style extensively, and vary my technique from very soft over the edge of the fretboard for an almost upright-type tone, to aggressive between the pickups.

yea pretty much the same with me.I use the 3 finger technique.I got into bass while listening to Death Metal thanx to Steve Digiorgio.I pretty much use the same technique as him.Over the years i started listening to other sorts of music and got into jazz.
Once in a while I tap aswell,I can slap/pop but never really tried developing it,though i can double thump.

Nashrakh · #4 08-17-2009, 06:54 AM

I'm a pretty old school player myself.

Means I mainly use 2 finger technique, no fancy slapping or tapping stuff whatsoever. Wouldn't sound too great on flats, I suppose.

Once in a while I play with a pick (because my fav. band has picked bass), but that's just a gimmick most of the time...

Mr. Mig · #5 08-17-2009, 07:05 AM

I myself use the two finger tecnique, but can also use a pick quite comfortably. Some of my basses I acutally like using a pick only on. I am developing my slap and I need to start looking into tapping.

bstringkyle · #6 08-17-2009, 07:15 AM

Most of the time I just play with 2 fingers. I sometimes gallop with 3 fingers or slap. I also like to play chords.

Vendele197 · #7 08-17-2009, 08:34 AM

I almost exclusively use two fingers, thumb anchored on the neck pickup. I started playing bass in a jazz scenario, so developing my picking, slapping/popping/, tapping technique wasn't horribly important. IMO, BG is a hybrid instrument. I approach it more from the bass side in that I stick to traditional rest stroke finger picking (as opposed to pizzicato). Picking and tapping seem like their more on the guitar side of the instrument. Slapping/popping seems a little overused all around, IMO.

rarisgod · #8 08-17-2009, 08:44 AM

I've tried becoming more versatile. I started with a pick for almost 2 years, then went exclusively fingerstyle (originally anchoring my thumb on the pickup but now using floating thumb). In the last year or so I've started really getting into slap, looking at Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten as examples...

As for styles, I try to vary it up. I'll go from playing Jaco and Weather Report stuff to playing Dream Theater to Rush and other classic rock, etc. I won't often play new stuff like Green Day but that's just because I don't enjoy it. I appreciate all music and won't say "these guys suck" much anymore, but I don't enjoy listening to or playing those songs.

PBass101 · #9 08-17-2009, 09:15 AM

I play fingerstyle mostly, some pick, and have dabbled in the Entwistle typewriter tapping style but I need a bass that can handle a lower, more even action before I can really develope that.

dvh · #10 08-17-2009, 10:30 AM

My preference for "versatility" is to be able to play well in many styles: blues, folky, jazz, funk.

My technique is almost exclusively two fingers, floating thumb, a little slap and pop for accents here and there. Plus I'm working on upright bass now.

That covers all the territory I need to concern myself with.

fullrangebass · #11 08-17-2009, 10:45 AM

Technique-wise, I love finger-style playing, I can use all 5 fingers of my right hand (when needed), pretty handy with a pick too, chords, tapping and harmonics are part of the game; slap-wise I am just a run of the mill guy (apart from nice fills, I never found myself attracted to playing songs that were thumping & popping all the time; my bad taste probably). Fretless I play, but nothing like Jaco (closer to Mick Karn)

Styles I play: Pop, Rock, Heavy, Prog, Latin, Reggae, Jazz, Ethnic, Folk. I am always keen to learn new styles and ways (I am still young at heart)

Akshat · #12 08-17-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvh

My preference for "versatility" is to be able to play well in many styles: blues, folky, jazz, funk.

I completely agree with you there.Thats what i thought the thread was initailly about when i read the title.I can play a few styles,I started out with playing old school and thrash metal,moved on to progressive and then to death metal to brutal DM (if that gets counted as a sepearte genre).Offlate ive been playing alot of Jazz,fingerstyle Funk,blues,i can play some reggae aswell.

Rip Topaz · #13 08-17-2009, 11:03 AM

I'd like to think I'm pretty versatile. I play in a rock band but also play at church, so many different styles happen all the time. Mainly 3 finger, but some slap if I have to.

serein2j · #14 08-17-2009, 11:06 AM

I can cover most of the Church music (CCM)

TheVoiceless · #15 08-17-2009, 11:25 AM

I consider myself well rounded when it comes to techniques. Finger style is my main one. And how and where on the bass is usually determined by the bass, music, tuning. Right now for my current band I play near the bridge with a fast 2 finger/sometimes 3 finger technique.

Though I can play melodic slap/pop/with harmonics I really prefer not to like most players. I can use a pick but I get terrible cramps in my hand. I think either my technique is bad or my hand is trying to tell me to PUT THE PICK DOWN

I can do some elaborate tap stuff. But to me that is just showing off and really is not worth my time to get better at.

agreatheight · #16 08-17-2009, 11:27 AM

I play fingerstyle and pickstyle.
I can play slap and pop, but very rarely do.
I play fretted, fretless, 8 and 12 string double courses.
I can play five and six string bass, but I no longer own any.
I listen to lots of genres, but really only play rock and associated styles with any real authenticity. Jazz, reggae and funk are stretches for me.

I'd give myself a 6 out of 10.

lowregister · #17 08-17-2009, 12:08 PM

+1 to Phatbass

pamackie · #18 08-17-2009, 12:19 PM

I have 9 years of guitar experience and 3 days of bass. I'm probably about a 5 for flexibility.

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #19 08-17-2009, 12:45 PM

I play fingerstyle (standard index-middle technique), thumb plucking + palm muting (mainly for reggae), standard slap (no double thumping), tapping and also carry a pick in my wallet that I use on occasion (but I don't consider myself a pickstyle player). For instruments, I play four-five string fretted and fretless basses. Also double bass with German bow.

One thing I have for sure is that I'm one of the most "crossover" players in my town: I play with tropical bands, rock-pop bands, the local symphony orchestra and have also played with jazz bands (mainly large ensembles as a support player since I'm not much of an improviser). Not trying to say that I'm a super-talented guy. Just that most musicians I know in my town are so narrow-minded that aren't able to switch between styles. As an example I can say that aside from myself, only ONE tropical music player knows about rock music and can talk about it showing good knowledge and authority. Same for rock players: Don't know anything about tropical music (unless it's sort of stylish Latin jazz or something like that). That's so sad.

Jazz Ad · #20 08-18-2009, 04:55 PM

I would say I'm quite versatile in the sense that I can play pretty much any kind of music with decent results. I have problems with reggae or salsa sometimes but I can jump in and play with other guys without sounding too dull.
Now, my set of skills and bag of tricks aren't very large. I do what I do and like how it sounds but there are many areas in which I'm not too proficient.