does techniquematter

[KickingBass]

What benefit exactly do you gain by doing this?
.

Street cred.

 

[KickingBass]

bet half you english critics have not even graduated high school i type what i want im not being graded online so i dont care View attachment 870393

I have a degree too yaaay... Something university is meant to teach you is that grades are not the reason why we learn what we learn.

 

[quickfix]

Is this the musical misinformation forum? You are incorrect.

Get bent.

 

[Woolber]

Get bent.

Good defense of your position. TB at its best.

 

[quickfix]

Good defense of your position. TB at its best.

My position doesn't really need defending. It's one of the precepts of good teaching.
Demonstrate by using your own techniques, but never expect the student to emulate your technique. To expect that is to crush their own style and very possibly stymie their potential. That very potential which may be greater than the teacher's own potential.
Most here on TB are confusing skill with technique.

 

[Woolber]

My position doesn't really need defending. It's one of the precepts of good teaching.
Demonstrate by using your own techniques, but never expect the student to emulate your technique. To expect that is to crush their own style and very possibly stymie their potential. That very potential which may be greater than the teacher's own potential.
Most here on TB are confusing skill with technique.

Sounds more to me like you're confusing style with technique. I agree with you about style. I completely disagree about technique.

From 2 different sources.

Musical technique is the ability of instrumental and vocal musicians to exert optimal control of their instruments or vocal cords in order to produce the precise musicaleffects they desire. Improving one's technique generally entails practicing exercises that improve one's muscular sensitivity and agility.

1. the manner and ability with which an artist, writer, dancer, athlete, or the like employs the technical skills of a particular art or field of endeavor.
2. the body of specialized procedures and methods used in any specific field, especially in an area of applied science.

By mastering technique, one can ultimately be free to express themselves and their style.

While I agree that you don't need to master technique to express yourself or your style, mastering technique opens up more possibility in expression and style.

I'm sure that we've all experienced style changes as we have become better players. That is technique facilitating style.

If you have music in your head ( or soul ) that you don't have the chops to get out then lack of technique has limited you.

We may just be arguing semantics.

 

[quickfix]

Sounds more to me like you're confusing style with technique. I agree with you about style. I completely disagree about technique.

From 2 different sources.

Musical technique is the ability of instrumental and vocal musicians to exert optimal control of their instruments or vocal cords in order to produce the precise musicaleffects they desire. Improving one's technique generally entails practicing exercises that improve one's muscular sensitivity and agility.

1. the manner and ability with which an artist, writer, dancer, athlete, or the like employs the technical skills of a particular art or field of endeavor.
2. the body of specialized procedures and methods used in any specific field, especially in an area of applied science.

By mastering technique, one can ultimately be free to express themselves and their style.

While I agree that you don't need to master technique to express yourself or your style, mastering technique opens up more possibility in expression and style.

I'm sure that we've all experienced style changes as we have become better players. That is technique facilitating style.

If you have music in your head ( or soul ) that you don't have the chops to get out then lack of technique has limited you.

We may just be arguing semantics.

That is all absolutely correct.
Yes, I know it's semantics.
The techniques employed by anyone displaying a particular skillset are how we present our music.
My techniques will be different from yours, and yet we may have the same advanced skillsets required to perform. We will sound a little different but equally proficient.
Techniques are things we all develop as we grow in our skills. They enable the Wootens to sound different from the Jacos.

As an example
Skill...effective muting.
Technique...just a bit of pressure with the right hand little finger, perhaps floating thumb, perhaps movable anchor, perhaps left/fretting hand fingers, or something else equally effective like using all aforementioned.
To demand that a student use floating thumb only would be imposing your own technique on someone else. Floating thumb and fretting hand muting are what I like to use. Others may get equal or better results with movable thumb anchor.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I know what you meant. What you basically said however is it doesn't matter except it does. You even contradicted yourself in your explanation. Of course technique matters. In any endeavor. Great QB's and pitchers obsess about mechanics. Average ones do not. Proper technique brings economy of motion, fluidity, repeatability and consistency. That's not to say that new techniques can't be developed tapping in guitar and bass playing and the 2 handed backhand in tennis are new techniques that come to mind.

Anyone that says it doesn't matter is either content with where they are ( not necessarily a bad thing but one shouldn't encourage others to be mediocre as well ), doesn't know any better or is just lazy.

That's true. Yes, I think my post was a little confusing as I used 'do' and 'does not' at the same time..

Victor has a way different technique than Flea when it comes to slapping and popping, and there are many more examples. I guess there's no one proper technique of playing the bass right, that's why I said it doesn't matter.

However, there's improper ways of playing the bass that might lead to serious injuries. If that's the case, it does matter.

 

[tfer]

Like it or not, at some point music becomes a competitive business.

Good technique will allow you to grow and get better as your band or gigs improve. If your technique inhibits your ability to get better, be prepared to be left behind and get replaced.

Any good musical situation, whether it's a band, recording session, orchestral pit, etc. has eliminated its weak links, and if that is you, you only have yourself to blame. You can post your misery in the Band Management forum and look for a shoulder to cry on.

But by all means, be too prideful to adapt. It just means better gigs for those who will.

 

[matty4string]

I think you are missing the point here. My interpretation of the language/typing/bass playing/ points being made in this thread is that you seem to apply the same careless and lazy approach to your bass playing... i.e... " it'll do....it's good enough..." as you do when you are typing. Discipline and attention to detail are what's required to progress with your playing.

This...coming from someone who initially sprang to your defence and was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt....until I found out the truth.

If you are simply just going to do what you want, why did you feel the need to post a question in the first place ?

i will type whut i want becuase after all i was asking about bass technique not english technique

 

[Mushroo]

There are a few bass players who have had successful careers with that attitude, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Sid Vicious comes to mind. Best of luck to you on your chosen path.

 

[fearceol]

i will type whut i want

Yes...I think we all know that at this stage.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

I've seen excellent bassists with flying fingers, others holding the bass with so much neck dive that the body is higher than the neck, lefties playing righty basses without changing string order, people that only play with their thumb or index finger, all kinds of "improper" techniques that work just fine for them. Play with whatever technique is most comfortable for you, just make sure you're not setting yourself up for injury.

On a side note, I teach English to Spanish speakers. So many are embarrassed to speak English because they think people will make fun of the way they speak. I tell them that it's okay, most people in English-speaking countries don't speak English properly anyway just try and people will understand

Edit for below post: I'm sorry I don't understand the meaning of "academic" in this case but I get the general idea, "of little relevance" I think. I still have more to learn hah!

 

[fearceol]

.
On a side note, I teach English to Spanish speakers. So many are embarrassed to speak English because they think people will make fun of the way they speak. I tell them that it's okay, most people in English-speaking countries don't speak English properly anyway just try and people will understand

The above is academic as far as this thread is concerned, because for reasons known only to himself, the OP chose to pretend that he was not a natural English speaker.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Confessions of a technique hound:

I observed upon returning to my bass after seeing to my Life (TM) and Career (consult a doctor before taking this medicine) I brought with me a sizable number of pessimal (the opposite of optimal) techniques. Some of these are the result of doing whatever it took to reach the notes I wished to play. Altogether my conclusion is these habits inhibit my ability to play cleanly. The more cleanly I play, the better my band sounds. Also my wish to prevent repetitive strain injuries brought on by poor technique.

The flying pinky was my first habit to reshape. I found links to spider exercises here and these are a great help — especially as the exercises are for all fingers.

Reprogramming new habits into muscle memory totally pays off, IMO. My body wants to please and she rewards me for the patience I afford her as she learns new ways on the strings. My practice is a sort of tai chi that comes out as music!