Question about sliding and endurance...

Methodis · #1 10-22-2008, 05:12 PM

I've been self-teaching myself bass lately for about the past 3-4 months on a lack of living in the boonies with only guitar teachers around, and one thing i'm not entirely sure that I have done even half way decent is the slide. Is this supposed to be killing my fingers so much?

In particular, i'm trying to play Thela Hun Gijeet, which has many variations but the one that's sound best so far is the one that incorporates the slide from D down to Eb/D# on the D string, then C up to B. That's the main "riff" of THG, and it's also the slide that's giving me massive pain.

Perhaps i'm pushing down too hard? I'm pushing down when sliding like I was fretting the note, which makes the noise I want until I get exhausted with that hand and it just makes a light version of the note but with the same amount of strength pushed down.

I don't mean to use you great guys here as my private instructor, but this has been bugging me lately

. Thanks in advance for the answers!

OliverH · #2 10-22-2008, 05:43 PM

Many possible causes:
* fingers aren't calloused enough yet
* strings are old and crappy, which increases friction
* action is too high, which means you have to press harder than necessary

Try a new set of strings, lowering the action, even string lubricant spray. At an extreme you could change to flat wound strings but that's going to change your tone.

About the only song I can say I have to do the same on is Come Together, but I don't find that to be a problem... but if I didn't have callouses on my fingers I'd say it would cause a bit of pain.

Methodis · #3 10-22-2008, 05:45 PM

yeah i'm putting it up to callouses hopefully heh. These strings were bought about a month ago, and were quite expensive because I was stupid and went under the mentality that expensive = better, so hopefully they aren't just crappy

Thanks for the help.

OliverH · #4 10-26-2008, 12:42 AM

I think generally if you pay more for strings they will be better, but at the same time they might not be the ideal string for you. It doesn't hurt to experiment with different strings, if you have cash to blow on them.

mst3k · #5 10-26-2008, 05:51 PM

I'm playing Sweet Emotion and my index finger is burning like nobody's business. Sort of satisfying though

I always just assumed it was par for the course until the callouses come.

BillMason · #6 10-26-2008, 06:18 PM

Try boosting your volume and then slightly boosting treble.

Ely · #7 10-26-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OliverH

At an extreme you could change to flat wound strings but that's going to change your tone.

I actually found that sliding heavily on flats wears away at my skin more than rounds.

Your action is probably too high, I thought I sucked at bass until I took my bass to a shop and got a proper setup. Made playing a whole lot easier.

EADG mx · #8 10-27-2008, 12:53 AM

Flats have more friction generally

Sounds like an issue of any combination of setup, technique, and efficiency.

check out Gary Willis, specifically his book "101 Bass Tips". He is the master of efficiency and this book will change the way you look at playing bass.

Deacon_Blues · #9 10-27-2008, 01:04 AM

The strings does matter a lot. Some feels like sanding paper. The fastest ones I've played are elixirs nanowebs, feels almost like they're oiled. DR's have been pretty nice too. Warwick strings are the worst I've tried in this sense. Now I'm a flats guy...

Fun Size Nick · #10 10-27-2008, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ely

I actually found that sliding heavily on flats wears away at my skin more than rounds.

Me too - I found it a little strange when, after reading people talking on here about how much easier flats were on the fingers, I played my first gig with flats and carved a nice trench across my left index finger during a night of blues-rock sliding. Maybe it's just a result of greater surface area touching the fingers, hence more friction? I really dig my flats, but being easy on the fingers is not one of the reasons why I like them.

On your question, I'd echo the comments about making sure the bass is well set up. If you're playing regularly, your callouses should develop well, but be aware that if you have a break from playing for too long (say a few weeks, depending on how quickly your skin grows out/regenerates), your callouses may 'grow out' as the layers of dead skin fall off (ew gross

).

On the other hand, if it's an issue with your finger strength and endurance (being unable to push down hard enough after playing for a time), you may just need to gradually increase the periods of time that you play for, while taking appropriate breaks. Don't overdo it though! If muscles, joints or tendons are sore, take a break and come back later.

BillMason · #11 10-27-2008, 05:41 AM

Seriously - try practicing with your volume turned up more, and using a lighter touch. You shouldn't find flats harder on your fingers than rounds, but you might find that they don't "cut through" as well on your bass, so you might be playing harder or with a firmer touch (both hands) as a result, trying to get more volume out of it.

Methodis · #12 10-27-2008, 09:00 AM

I'm going to try all of these tips tonight; I'm positive it's not because of the playing time, because I put in atleast a hour a day for the past four months on the bass.

I just think it might be a mixture of the volume and treble, or the strings.

Thanks for all the help guys!

DudeistMonk · #13 10-27-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

The strings does matter a lot. Some feels like sanding paper. The fastest ones I've played are elixirs nanowebs, feels almost like they're oiled. DR's have been pretty nice too. Warwick strings are the worst I've tried in this sense. Now I'm a flats guy...

+1 to the elixer nano-webs. Sliding would destroy my fingers on normal strings, the nano-webs work wonders, the finger I wind up sliding with the most (my ring finger) still gets sore if I play too much, but nothing like it used to be.

Also there is this stuff called "fast fret" that I've seen guitarists use all the time...I put a little on my bass once (its like a glue stick that makes your strings slippery)....It makes your strings really slidy to the point where I was sliding up and down the neck for a little while just for the novelty of it.

Lastly for the poor mans solution, you can get a little grease from your forehead and then play, I'm sure its not good for your strings, but it does help when your fingers are sticking mid song and you need a quick fix.

Methodis · #14 10-27-2008, 11:26 AM

Those were the strings I put over the stock ones that came with my Bronco Bass. I still don't know which strings to buy, so I just grabbed those because they were the only short scale my local store had

Rhythmron · #15 10-27-2008, 11:56 AM

Personaly I use Carvin steel rounds (made by LaBella) also I've found useing a good hand lotion daily helps my fingers from callousing up and hurting, I'm diabetic life's an experiment so experiment. good luck

HEADLE · #16 10-27-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhythmron

Personaly I use Carvin steel rounds (made by LaBella) also I've found useing a good hand lotion daily helps my fingers from callousing up

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theshadow2001 · #17 10-27-2008, 01:42 PM

sounds like your pushing down too hard and general fretting hand technique. You generally don't need a lot of force for a note to sound. Unless your setup is really out of whack

oldrocker · #18 10-27-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OliverH

About the only song I can say I have to do the same on is Come Together, ....

What do you on come together?