Are You a Soft or Hard Player?

[dbsfgyd1]

Entwistle played very lightly with both fingers and pick, at least he did in 1999. I stood ten feet in front of him twice with him on a 2 foot stage. When he did his triplets he barely touched the strings.

Live at Leeds was recorded in the later 60s maybe. Players due change their technique from time to time. I know I have a much lighter touch than I had in the 70s. I’m sure The Ox changed his a bit in those 30 years.

Now if we have somebody that saw him play in the 60s or early 70s. Good grief, are you guys going to make me watch Woodstock again to prove a stupid point? LOL!!!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Both

Both here too, but mostly I try to let the amp do the work. My action is low, so I have to be careful when using a pick otherwise is buzzzzzz city.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

There is no sound like bouncing the strings off of the frets, but you have to know when to play with dynamics too.

Steve Harris SOUNDS like he's beating the snot outta the strings, but it's super low action with the treble cranked and heavy roto 77's

 

[zontar]

Both--depends not he song--although I do like really digging in and hitting those strings.

 

[Billy Bob Bass]

I’m so much ‘harder than Thor’s hammer’ - sometimes *this* happens
(Roto SS rounds)
View attachment 4331418

Yeah, a proper gorefest. Lick the blood dripping strings clean on stage!

 

[bobyoung53]

Live at Leeds was recorded in the later 60s maybe. Players due change their technique from time to time. I know I have a much lighter touch than I had in the 70s. I’m sure The Ox changed his a bit in those 30 years.

Now if we have somebody that saw him play in the 60s or early 70s. Good grief, are you guys going to make me watch Woodstock again to prove a stupid point? LOL!!!

No you're right, he could have played more softly over time, I've always thought the solo in My Generation played on the Jazz sounded like he was really digging in, especially since he bent a few notes. I actually liked his tone better back in the 60's when he predominantly used P bass.

 

[WG Plum]

I don't think we know each other well enough to have this conversation.

 

[Beeflin]

I dig in to make the string growl, so I'd have to say hard, especially when I use a plectrum. But I don't slam it like some rock stars do. If I try, I miss the strings and hurt myself.

 

[Possum Willy]

I tend to attack my strings with my plucking hand, like Geddy. Love the popping, here is the note sound. If, as I get older, I have to change, then I'll change. Until that time, Bonsai!!!!

 

[GTHintz]

Lots of cool stuff in this thread! So I definitely attack the strings and lately I've been trying to understand why I like the sound I like and what makes it all happen. To the Geddy fans that's me too. I hammer the strings with my index finger just like he does. That punchy growl sound in the lows and the high mid zing is so awesome. I figured out how to play with dynamics as I've gotten more experience and it's nice to be able to play some light touch stuff too. I also have made the effort to work on being able to pluck strings with 2 or 1 finger and alternate so I can have more sound options. Sometimes a back stroke pluck with the index finger sounds great and sometimes it's nice to have the 2 finger walk. Even throw in some 3 finger flamenco picking is fun and only helps you be more diverse in your playing style.

 

[Clank Plank]

I can do hard or soft with aplomb, which is just as well being in a covers band playing songs by dozens of different artists.

 

[Nedmundo]

Both, which is required in many playing situations like cover bands and musical theater. I like the light touch/cranked amp sound for some stuff, especially reggae. I've mostly played in original rock bands though, and when left to my own devices I usually play fairly hard.

My last band had a few tracks that required a light touch, but for the most part it was fairly heavy and I let it rip. Due to a finger joint problem I usually play with a pick, and I generally don't hit or strike the strings, but pluck with lots of force using heavy picks. I like the punch and growl. Oddly, on that band's EP, my most aggressive playing with the dirtiest, nastiest tone was on the brightest, most "pop" song. It just worked.

 

[NoiseNinja]

Somewhere around the middle I'd say, both with fingers and pick.

Sounds better in my opinion and leaves more room for dynamics in both directions.

 

[Billyzoom]

The older I get the softer I get.

 

[dalkowski]

My right hand technique is way way way way way way way way way way way too hard, which I attribute to too much playing electric basses unamplified over the course of decades. I remain in recovery.