Building left hand independence and strength

[TheBassBetween]

So basically, I wanna learn how to do this first riff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTccxM4SxHc&NR=1

But my left hand is totally not strong enough. What are some exercises I can do to improve independence and strength?

[Audiophage]

I don't know why you'd want to play that, but the usual answer to this is practice.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Audiophage

I don't know why you'd want to play that, but the usual answer to this is practice.

+10 on all counts.


Practice is the only real answer. Best things to practice are things you play. Slow them down, play them precise, and let the speed and endurance build up on their own.

Practice is the best of all instructors - Publilius Syrus

That statement goes back hundreds of years but is a true today as it was then.

[ROON]

Originally Posted by Audiophage

I don't know why you'd want to play that, but the usual answer to this is practice.

+1 to why you would want to play that.

and +1 to practice... come back to it in a few months and give it a shot.

[Chipsonfire]

What I've started doing for strength training is playing simple songs using only hammer ons. Yes, I know it doesn't sound quite right, but it's good for getting the strength up in the fingers.

[theshadow2001]

Strength has nothing to do with play bass. Nothing. You need almost zero force to slap and almost zero force to fret.

The only way to get better is to practice the instrument. Start slow and small and work your way up. Its not a quick way round but you'll get there eventually.

[steve66]

Originally Posted by TheBassBetween

So basically, I wanna learn how to do this first riff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTccxM4SxHc&NR=1

But my left hand is totally not strong enough. What are some exercises I can do to improve independence and strength?

I took a look at the link and the dude doesnt impress me. You build strenght and independence by practicing. Scales are a good to practice. play them on one string, then 2 strings, 3 strings, 4 strings. Learn the modes, use the whole fretboard. Work on technique and getting a clean sound from every note. Work on your right and left hands. Start using your left hand for things like opening a door knob. squeeze a tennis ball. It takes more pressure to squeeze a tennis ball than to fret a note.

[TheBassBetween]

First off, I really feel that the technique used in the video can, if used correctly, be very cool, and a great way to add a little flavor to a bass line, and left hand independence is more than just that, it's with tapping as well.

Also, there is a bit of strength involved, and my left hand isn't used to fretting notes as hard, so yes, I will need to practice a bit.

[MacNilly]

+1 to everything said.

I just like to add that trying to learn that riff at that speed is gonna be extremely difficult just from watching the video and trying to play it on your bass. If you had a tab or a notation, you could practice it slowly until you built up.