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does techniquematter

matty4string

matty4string

Inactive
May 11, 2016
380
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#1
I been playing bass for years. Im self taught i have never sat down and took a bass lesson ever. Being self trained makes me think about my technique is it proper. i dont feel like i have any issues playing,but i do notice people attack and fret the bass different than . Im sure even after all these years if i sat down with a teacher id be to comfortable doing it my way to start fresh his way. so i guess im saying if you make the note sing and your tone does not suffer from your attack/technique then does your technique really matter at all. After all slap, pick, slide and all other techniques besides fingers were thought of at one point as being not proper someone just had to break out and try something different Matty
 
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#2
Im the same way. This may not be you, but from my experience, i sat down for my first bass lessons with a local bassist, and within two lessons, my playing became faster, cleaner, and my bass playing felt effortless really. Everything felt easier. Then again this is personal experience and im sure there are some who argue to do whats comfortable, but proper technique made everything a lot easier for me. :bassist::)
 
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#3
matty4string said:
if you make the note sing and your tone does not suffer from your attack/technique then does your technique really matter at all.
Click to expand...

If you are happy with your sound/tone, then fair enough. However, consider this... Are YOU going to suffer in the future because you did not take the time to work on good (note I did not say "proper" or "correct"..) technique. For example, playing with the wrists permanently bent is asking for trouble IMO. Over stretching on the lower frets (1-5) can (granted some can do it ) also lead to injury problems. Grasping the neck too tight is another problem people often encounter.

Learning good technique never hurt anyone...in fact...quite the opposite. ;)
 
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#4
Yep, if you have played as long as this and they still ask you back, enjoy the moment and have fun playing those songs you like.

I bet if you look around there are a lot of the people you play with that take different ways of doing things. On bass I use my thumb instead of a pick or fingers. Works for me and they ask me back. How many thumb players do you know?

I two have thought about getting some bass lessons, but, there is no one giving bass lessons near me and the bass musicians I play with (play rhythm guitar also) have as many different ways as I do. I'm still in the 20th century and believe knee to knee is the best way to work on technique. So long story short.......

Would good technique help your playing? Sure. Probably slow you down for a month or so, but, in the long haul we all would be better off using "good" technique. Question is do we really want to change bad enough to do it.
 
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#8
Matty, there are many spelling and punctuation errors in your writing. If your goal is simply to communicate your ideas, you did a pretty good job, I understand what you are trying to say. If on the other hand, your goal is to convince me you are a good writer, you fell short of that goal.

Music is the same way.

I'm not saying this to be mean :) only to prove a point, which is that music is a language, and people who are fluent in that language can tell when someone's playing is sloppy and full of errors. If you want to be good at anything (whether it music, writing, or playing basketball) you need to practice attention to detail and how to correct (not repeat) your mistakes.

I hope that was a helpful pep talk?
 
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#10
I believe that you need to know the rules before you can break them. I spent a good amount of time with a teacher that taught me technique. Then I spent a greater amount of time on stage, bass slung low enough that I could not comfortably use the pinky on my fretting hand without rotating the bass for those moments. If you're hitting the notes on time, every time, and you are not uncomfortable or in pain... YMMV.
 
#11
Mushroo said:
Matty, there are many spelling and punctuation errors in your writing. If your goal is simply to communicate your ideas, you did a pretty good job, I understand what you are trying to say. If on the other hand, your goal is to convince me you are a good writer, you fell short of that goal.

Music is the same way.

I'm not saying this to be mean :) only to prove a point, which is that music is a language, and people who are fluent in that language can tell when someone's playing is sloppy and full of errors. If you want to be good at anything (whether it music, writing, or playing basketball) you need to practice attention to detail and how to correct (not repeat) your mistakes.

I hope that was a helpful pep talk?
Click to expand...
English is my second language so sorry if im not as well as you
 
#14
MalcolmAmos said:
Yep, if you have played as long as this and they still ask you back, enjoy the moment and have fun playing those songs you like.

I bet if you look around there are a lot of the people you play with that take different ways of doing things. On bass I use my thumb instead of a pick or fingers. Works for me and they ask me back. How many thumb players do you know?

I two have thought about getting some bass lessons, but, there is no one giving bass lessons near me and the bass musicians I play with (play rhythm guitar also) have as many different ways as I do. I'm still in the 20th century and believe knee to knee is the best way to work on technique. So long story short.......

Would good technique help your playing? Sure. Probably slow you down for a month or so, but, in the long haul we all would be better off using "good" technique. Question is do we really want to change bad enough to do it.
Click to expand...
I agree if you can play the song right and stay in the pocket then its all good. Can proper technique help..sure. Its up to the player. I don't come from the school of you have to do it the proper way or its wrong. Hendrix played a strat upsides down, Richards took a string off his guitar and that old famous concert pianist (who's name escapes me) played the piano flat fingered not arched....THE HORRORS!
 
#17
matty4string said:
English is my second language so sorry if im not as well as you
Click to expand...

We all know that. Not a problem.

Proper technique applied to what you write would mean that nobody would be able to tell English was your second language - we would all think it was your first.

That's what proper technique is good for.

Works the same way for playing an instrument. Anyone can play. Playing well...proper technique makes that happen.
 
#18
Technique matters to me, I like being able to pull from a variety of techniques to make the instrument sound the way I want it to sound and reproduce what I want it to reprtoduce. As far as sitting down with a teacher, that can be good as long as it is approached with an open mind and a want to learn something new. If that's not your bag, then keep doing what you are doing.
 

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