| I've noticed that throughout my years of playing, Tool has been a great way to practice fingerpicking. Granted, I am biased towards Tool and love everything that they've written, but even so. I'm always warming up with either "Lateralus" or "Schism." Easy bass lines that get the fingers moving. When I started, I began on "Mudshovel" by Staind. There are some different notes in there that you may hear that are played differently from time to time. Rhythmically that is.
For slapping; Korn. Incredibly easy. Once from there, you should be able to move up to Mudvayne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and what all the people who don't play bass tell you "Hey! Play the Seinfeld theme song!" Slapping entails at the basics of using your thumb to strike the string so it gives a nice *ping* sound. Popping, even easier. Using one, two, or three fingers (index, middle and ring) pull on the string and let it go. Ta-daa! Popping. Flea and Ryan Martini are quite notorious for slap. Tapping, look into Billy Sheehan or Les Claypool. Fret a note, and tap, say, the 15th to the 18th fret with your index or middle finger. You should be able to hear two distinct tones. And that would be tapping. If you're up to it, practice Jaco Pastorious. Busy jazz bass. That's quite the work out. Triplet the strings also. So...
G|-9-8-7--------------------|
D|-------9-8-7--------------|
A|-------------9-8-7--------|
E|--------------------9-8-7-|
Then go up that scale. Technique first, then speed. Sure, you can play 12 notes in three seconds, but what does that mean when it sounds like you dropped your bass? Technique technique technique!
On the other hand, literally, you can get those fingers moving faster practicing with Metallica's "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)". Particularily the solo. Don't use a pick, not even your right hand. Hammer-on those notes.
This is how I learned how to play bass, and I'm not all too shabby, but this may not be the way for you. Experiment with everything. Always practice, even without your bass in hand. Fingerpick your steering wheel, slap and pop it too. Slap and pop your hip while you're hanging out doing something. Tap everything in sight. That's about the most advice that I can give you. But practice! Always practice!
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Want to jam with others!
Last edited by CaffeineTripp : 05-26-2006 at 05:55 PM.
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