Hardest Technique To Learn?

[TOOL460002]

I don't remember where I heard/saw it, but I saw a false harmonic technique where you use the right index to spot the harmonic and the ring/middle for super fast plucking. It was insanely impressive and I can't get anywhere close. It's also not likely to be super useful so lot of practice for a little payoff. Kinda how I view tapping.

 

[1String]

It could be very useful for an easy octave above a fretted note on the same string. But you are right, it is "hard",and it's harder for non-octaves.

 

[1String]

Another hard technique is controlling your force depressing the string. On a fretless instrument, too little gives a ghost note or an ugly rattle if close enough to the fingerboard. Close to just right you get a nice sound and can feel the buzz against your finger tip. And keeping that sound consistent when moving to the next note is hard. On a fretted instrument it's not critical

 

[maturanesa]

Muting open strings on a big 5 or 6 bass neck

 

[Ritter667]

Being an entertainer, vs just a player.

Being an artist, vs just an entertainer...

 

[Ritter667]

Muting open strings on a big 5 or 6 bass neck

That's easy if you use floating thumb technique.

Came completely natural to me.

 

[Ritter667]

Singing while playing without limits.

Definitely this!

 

[brianrost]

Honestly, what's the most difficult thing to master on the bass?

Music.

 

[mambo4]

I’m gonna say relaxing.

The thread title asks for “hardest technique “. But the op asks for “hardest thing” so we see responses to both.

I have found that every technique I try is as successful as practice I put in. But for almost every technique the main challenge to me is reaching a point of relaxed accuracy with whatever I’m trying.

You are doing motion alien to what your body is used to and when things get stressful the tendency is to tense up and to muscle through. That physical tendency is anathema to clean musical execution.

Fretting, plucking, slapping, tapping, rapid steady 16ths any technique is well served by a relaxed light touch. That lightness needs explicit attention during my practice

I think this is part of what Anthony Wellington refers to as “getting out of the way of my instrument “

 

[BassicJazzy]

I’m gonna say relaxing.

The thread title asks for “hardest technique “. But the op asks for “hardest thing” so we see responses to both.

I have found that every technique I try is as successful as practice I put in. But for almost every technique the main challenge to me is reaching a point of relaxed accuracy with whatever I’m trying.

You are doing motion alien to what your body is used to and when things get stressful the tendency is to tense up and to muscle through. That physical tendency is anathema to clean musical execution.

Fretting, plucking, slapping, tapping, rapid steady 16ths any technique is well served by a relaxed light touch. That lightness needs explicit attention during my practice

I think this is part of what Anthony Wellington refers to as “getting out of the way of my instrument “

I think you are correct. Sometimes if I'm attempting something especially difficult I find I do better if I stop concentrating on it and clear my mind, just let my ears and fingers take over.

 

[maturanesa]

That's easy if you use floating thumb technique.

Came completely natural to me.

Yes, but floating creates another difficulties like string skipping because you got to move all the arm instead of pivoting. Gary Willis solved this by playing with 3 fingers which is not easy at all

 

[1String]

I think you are correct. Sometimes if I'm attempting something especially difficult I find I do better if I stop concentrating on it and clear my mind, just let my ears and fingers take over.

I find practicing in a floor-to celing mirror while "relaxing" helps too. Anything but look directly at your hand

 

[Ritter667]

Yes, but floating creates another difficulties like string skipping because you got to move all the arm instead of pivoting. Gary Willis solved this by playing with 3 fingers which is not easy at all

You do realize that most people can move their arms without great difficulties,

Also using 3 fingers is not harder than using 2, it's just a matter of practice.

I mostly use 2 fingers, and I have absolutely no problems with string skipping, not even on my 5 string.

And I do skip strings a lot.

 

[maturanesa]

You do realize that most people can move their arms without great difficulties,

Also using 3 fingers is not harder than using 2, it's just a matter of practice.

I mostly use 2 fingers, and I have absolutely no problems with string skipping, not even on my 5 string.

And I do skip strings a lot.

play 7:00 moving your arm instead of anchoring

 

[Metal Sombreros]

Complex jazz / horn type lines ala Jaco. Writing and playing that stuff is the top if the ladder.