What are the things you had trouble with on the bass?

[Samthebassist]

What are some of the things you either really dislike about the bass, or things you had trouble with while learning the bass?


My biggest troubles were switching from treble clef to bass clef. And getting my finger strength up.
But i eventually did fix those problems...

[JTE]

My biggest problem was truly understanding what Duck Dunn, Jack Bruce, Jamerson, Leland Sklar, Emory Gordy Jr., Jack Cassady, Billy Talbot, Jaco, David Hood, Berry Oakley, Mike Mills, Sting, Paul McCartney, and Freebo were trying to teach me.

It ain't about the bass, it's about the song. No matter how many notes you play, the bass' function doesn't change. You don't have to fulfill that function in the normally prescribed way, but you HAVE to fulfill that function. Playing a lot of notes or playing fast doesn't make you sound as good as Jack Bruce or Jack Cassady. Playing simple lines doesn't make you as good as Duck Dunn or Emory Gordy, Jr. Playing bass like Berry Oakley while in a traditional country music band isn't a good idea. Playing like Bee Spears in a funk band is also not a good idea.

jte

[lexxmexx]

Originally Posted by Samthebassist

My biggest troubles were switching from treble clef to bass clef. And getting my finger strength up.

I have exactly the same problems and still trying to overcome them, plus I can't slap to save my a$$.

[lonestarwings]

Getting the fingers on the left hand to fret the strings at the proper place without looking every time.

Plucking too hard and getting fret buzz.

Reading music with 3+ ledger lines above the staff (High G and above).

Playing consecutive notes on the same fret but different strings, especially going from a thinner string to a fatter string with sixteenths (left hand technique).

Dialing in EQ settings to get a good sound with a band.

Keeping rhythm consisntent when string jumping.

Transitioning from fingerstyle to slap seemlessly within a song.

Playing pickstyle period.


Wow, I have a lot of problems.

[knarleybass]

Meeting girls at the gig.

[prizefighter]

playing pick style for sure

using my pinky(left hand/right hand)

[BassplayerBrian]

my biggest problem has probably been getting my hands at the same speed, for awhile my left hand was faster than my right hand, at the moment it's flip flopped, I'll figure it out one day though haha

[Rattman]

Reducing and hopefully (someday) eliminating fret 'clank' and occasional buzzing when digging too hard.. I know.. I know.. Its all in "the touch".. Words WELL worth heeding and living up to.

Using the thumb LESS and first two fingers MORE.. what a poor habit I've developed.. but am watching myself in the mirror lately to bring attention to that lazy 'default' of mine.

[ysand]

Playing the low C D E on my 5 string in one position.

[JPaulGeddy]

Evening out volume levels between strings. I still compress the hell out of it when I'm playing rock.

[51m0n]

Working out which end to blow through.........

[lovernotfighter]

Triplits. I cant do Triplits. It drives me crazy.

[joelc1319]

Stamina

Setting up my bass (ha-ha)

Playing Havona (still not even close yet)

[JimmyM]

Keeping my left hand's ring finger curved. It always wants to flatten out and it costs me dexterity and speed when it happens.

[dxbass]

Sorted out using my pinky on my fretting hand. Next to sort out (in a long list) will be digging in too hard, which is difficult to do when you get carried away on stage.

[steve66]

Getting my pinky finger to fret the high B on my 5 string.

[mambo4]

It's a toss up between reading notation and making enough damn time for it all.

[fdeck]

My biggest problem was frets. I started on 'cello, and the frets on the electric bass just messed me up. Then I heard about fretless bass, and yanked the frets out of my Fender Mustang Bass.

In hindsight, I should have learned to play with frets, so I would be more versatile. But it's too late now.

[winstonthecat]

A lot of the usual stuff:

Fret buzz and clanck when getting excited and digging in.

Keeping fast runs on time.

Being creative when improvising, and not falling into the same old patterns.

I never learned to read music, so that is a struggle. I'm getting better at reading the rhythm, but not even close to being able to read the notes.

Can't slap (though I tend not to play slap-style music)

[Elsebet]

I've been playing for about a year.

Can't slap very well, but I want to improve. I'm still learning and working on it.

At first my fretting wrist got sore very fast, but that is over.

I didn't understand scales and chords very well until I started learning songs because I learn better when I can apply theory and abstract concepts. It's interesting the day you realize the one famous part of "My Girl" is a pentatonic scale or that "Brown Eyed Girl" can be played all in the G Major Scale.

At first I was terrified to play in front of others but being in a band and practicing once a week with them improved that and I made some new friends!

Still having trouble muting strings and I want to learn floating thumb technique.