From Guitar to Bass

[Bloodtoes]

Yo!

Been playing guitar for years and recently picked up a bass. I learned pretty quickly that they are two different beasts indeed. Some advice I read was that one should finger notes directly over the fret rather than in the dead zone between the frets (which is just fine on the guitar). This has been the most difficult thing for me to overcome as, combined with a much lighter touch of the strings that I would expect to, it feels as though every note I'm playing is going to be a natural harmonic, or that I'm playing with a slide.

Do you guys have any advice that you found useful when going from guitar to the bass?

Thanks!

[kr0n]

Fretting just behind the fret requires the least amount of effort from your hand so try to fret there. You will need more pressure compared to guitar just due to string thickness and tension.

Getting your bass setup properly is a good thing to do if you don't know how yourself. I personally play with fingers and keep the strings as low as I can before I get fret buzz. So keeping the attack low gives you lighter touch (perhaps easier with them weak guitard fingers ).

Also I suggest using your pad instead of tip to fret strings. This way you mute the strings nicely. Most of the time you'll be playing just one string at a time so that helps with the harmonics problem. Just rest your fingers on the strings and press when you need to.

[MalcolmAmos]

Yes it is different. Along with the buzz is also the situation with how you will sound the strings - pick, thumb, fingers, and how many fingers. Plus how you will mute the unused strings. I think everyone just has to work out what is best from them. I vacillate between the thumb and a palm mute and then a two finger style - index for sound middle or ring to mute - I seem to use the ring on the 1 or 2 string to do the muting.

You'll find the way that is best for you.

Good luck.