Will learning Simandl-style screw up Electric Bass technique?

[CamMcIntyre]

I use Simandl more on electric than i use 1 finger per "fret" on upright. I was an electric guy first, but i did an overhaul on my technique my first two years of college [i'm in my 3rd year].

I agree with the sentiment that it's best to learn as many fingering systems as you can and be able to switch between them seamlessly.

[MingusAmongUs]

Originally Posted by CamMcIntyre

I use Simandl more on electric than i use 1 finger per "fret" on upright. I was an electric guy first, but i did an overhaul on my technique my first two years of college [i'm in my 3rd year].

I agree with the sentiment that it's best to learn as many fingering systems as you can and be able to switch between them seamlessly.

Ditto.... but I think my situation is unique because I played upright before I started on electric. So now I switch between the 2 techniques as needed, and teach the same thing to my students, regardless of DB/EB, making sure I allow them the flexibility of choosing the best technique for a particular passage/situation.

[Alun]

As others have said, I treat the two pretty differently. I've only recently started playing upright seriously and have been using Simandly predominantly, although I do sometimes slip into four fingers above the 5th "fret".

On EB, I generally use one finger per fret although sometimes use Simandl in the first few frets on the B and E strings.

If anything, I find that playing upright has improved my EB playing - EB is so much easier to play in comparison and I find my position shifts are much cleaner too.

Cheers,
Alun

[bankerwithabass]

I started out on electric bass back in '87 and took lessons from a person who taught both electric bass and upright. So I chose to play in an upright fashion on the electric by using my first, second and pinky.
Now that I have been playing upright for about 7 years I use the same fingers until I get into the upper register then I don't use my pinky and just use my first three fingers and of course thumb in thumb position. It was an easier transiion I think.

[willroland]

Although my technique is now refined, when I first started playing DB, I didn't know better and played it pretty much like a guitar. I could play a lot of notes, but not always in tune. The big issue was muscles. I actually injured my left arm with all the stretching during a 3 night a week gig over the course of a year. After a trip to the doctor and treatment for what was becoming a serious injury I took lessons with a jazz bass DB pro, learned Simandl technique and became a better, more mature player. Now, I combine Simandl and Rabbath with what is often referred to as "open hand" technique depending on the demands of the music. Today, I am a better, more complete player and my arm is healed.

[jgregpegleg]

I learned Simandl at a university for DB. I use it exclusively when I am sight reading. I never have to glance off the page. Simandl really helps with efficiency and is a great system for learning the neck. When writing my own lines and playing electric I use 1 finger per fret.

It is not that far off to hurt you in any way that I could see. Like I said, I only use it for sight reading but it definitely did not hinder or hurt me.

[JayR]

The only problem I have, in regards to this, is with sightreading on electric. In my high school years, when electric bass was my primary instrument ahead of double bass, I would play in a much more across-the-strings fashion when sightreading. Now, however, I find myself instinctually using simandl-style fingerings when I sightread on electric, which is pretty absurd to watch and somewhat inefficient, but I guess it still gets the job done. When I am playing music I already know, however, I have no problem playing conventional across-the-strings electric bass and I'd say on the whole that any work I do on one instrument translates as a benefit on the other in some way or another.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by fingers

Nope.

I'd try to approach the DB as a different instrument than the EB though. There is enough different about both the left and right hand technique that it is almost like learning another instrument.

Oh, and DOC. The string length is considerably longer and the notes further apart than on the EB. Doing a 4 finger method down low is inviting injury and bad intonation. Lotsa folks (including me) use 4 up higher.

+1

I treat electric bass and upright as completely different instruments - especially when I'm playing the left-handed upright I inherited from Pop!

On electric I routinely switch back and forth between Simandl-style fingering, one finger per fret, and a flatted palm method similar to Rocco Prestia; it all depends on the song and the kind of sound I'm trying to achieve.

On upright, I use traditional Simandl fingering most of the time, but occasionally use one finger per semi-tone when I'm a little higher up the finger board.

[phaneo]

[quote=fingers;4877725]I'm looking anything I can do to minimize injury.

Yeah, I just bought an UB and am in the proccess of trying to learn on my own. After 15 years on EB I thought it would be easy.

My right thumb has been "killing" me for a month now. It's even effecting how long I can play my EB. Those 4 hour gigs are really painful now.

Hope it's not permanent

[Phil Smith]

[quote=phaneo;5032446]

Originally Posted by fingers

I'm looking anything I can do to minimize injury.

Yeah, I just bought an UB and am in the proccess of trying to learn on my own. After 15 years on EB I thought it would be easy.

My right thumb has been "killing" me for a month now. It's even effecting how long I can play my EB. Those 4 hour gigs are really painful now.

Hope it's not permanent

Stop pressing so hard with your thumb, you need to use more of your upper body and arm to provide the force to stop the strings. If you can take at least one lesson with a teacher they can help you with that if you can't figure it out for yourself.

[envika]

i'm learning electric bass with simandl right now. as long as you're willing to stretch the technique a little you'll be okay.