I never understood why guys would do that unless they have really long digits. It strikes me as depriving yourself of a great deal of leverage/strength in the fingers.
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Great players w/ terrible technique
- Thread starter socialleper
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Yep, I've seen lots of guys do it. I can see how it gets you notes on the top string. But what about the other four fingers? Seems like it shortens their reach.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I do it ... I have to intentionally stop myself from doing it ... they teach guitar players to wrap their thumb around as good technique ... I picked it up from a guitar player back in the 70s. I also fret notes with my thumb, which is bad technique. But when ever I get hand cramps I make myself use good technique and the cramps go away.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Also sometimes I will use really bad technique to make an easy part harder to play when I am bored. Like I will bring my hand around from the top of the neck to fret notes, or just use one finger only to fret notes. Or not use my right hand and see if I can keep the bass line going.
Well, a guy with a totally unorthodox fretting hand approach is Rocco Prestia. He turned it into a signature style--one I've enjoyed very much and learned a lot from--but it's limiting, for sure.
I have to say I really like this couple and they are very cool on Youtube. The girl plays bass on many songs and does a great job but...I like the songs and when I watch her hands its very distracting...poor technique?
http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic#p/c/F125407272F3C1A4/7/LNpwBpZUrzk
http://www.youtube.com/user/PomplamooseMusic#p/c/F125407272F3C1A4/7/LNpwBpZUrzk
Just want to give my $0.02 about technique...
I think the teachers who really stress "good" technique to their students are doing them a favor. "Good" technique is generally a very safe starting point. That being said, if you have a sound in your head and you want it badly enough, you will find it even with the worst technique in the world. But if your starting point is proper traditional technique, then I'd say you're off to a good start. Of course, having a sound in your head that you want to achieve is way more important than having great technique.
Also, to watch an accomplished player do their thing and from that conclude that proper technique is unnecessary, to me seems a bit like a beginning driver watching a NASCAR race, and coming away convinced that turning signals are a waste of time...
I think the teachers who really stress "good" technique to their students are doing them a favor. "Good" technique is generally a very safe starting point. That being said, if you have a sound in your head and you want it badly enough, you will find it even with the worst technique in the world. But if your starting point is proper traditional technique, then I'd say you're off to a good start. Of course, having a sound in your head that you want to achieve is way more important than having great technique.
Also, to watch an accomplished player do their thing and from that conclude that proper technique is unnecessary, to me seems a bit like a beginning driver watching a NASCAR race, and coming away convinced that turning signals are a waste of time...
speaking of louis johnson, he should be added to this list.
he slaps so hard hes practically destroyed his thumb. sad really
he slaps so hard hes practically destroyed his thumb. sad really
jimmy haslip is hard to watch upside down, but he is a fantastic player. And by the way stanley clark does not have bad tech or bad anything else for that matter!
I've always enjoyed hearing the argument "Common sense is worth more than education." Usually spoken by those who have neither.
Jimmy ... well being a lefthanded player who started on a righthanded bass ... it is normal. He isn't playing with a wierd hand position, the finger pattern are of course upside down.
Clark said himself that his finger plucking hand position is very bad ... check out BassPlayer August 2008.
" The three of us are basically out of the same mold. It's kind of like, together we make this one nuclear bass player. One thing I get a kick out of, though, is their right-hand positions, wich are just like mine-except I've always had a wrong hand position ! I have that wrist break where my right hand angles down, instead of staying straighter, like most players. It's just not natural, and it's amazing I can get any power at all. So I look at their hands and I go, Oh my God what have I done ! [laughs.] "
So we could add Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten to the list
Steve "fuzz" kamk? Disturbed's first bassist. Fantastic left hand dexterity, and rhythm, but he apparently thinks the bit of string over his pickups is a tom. He beats the ever loving crap out of it.
Jason newsted, a pick player who only used downstrokes, true, this is a time honored punk tradition, but it really restricted his playing and eventually made him tear his bicep.
Jason newsted, a pick player who only used downstrokes, true, this is a time honored punk tradition, but it really restricted his playing and eventually made him tear his bicep.
