Use your fretting hand to help mute the notes that you don't want
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How do punk rockers do it?
- Thread starter TheSlug
- Start date
I know lots of folks here just think, "It's only punk." However, it is still a Technique Sub-Forum. My main concerns are whatever techniques you use to play the music you enjoy, just make sure it still sounds good and you're playing comfortably. After that, then I'd consider working on the showmanship side of playing. After all, it is punk, not a fifth grade clarinet recital.
If you plan on doing mostly all downstrokes (I don't), just know all that speed and endurance takes time. Keep practicing.
If you plan on doing mostly all downstrokes (I don't), just know all that speed and endurance takes time. Keep practicing.
That's pretty much it.
For the record, there are many punk bands that have top-notch musicians and rhythm sections. Guys not into punk seem to think all punk bassists play like Sid Vicious.
Yeah totally. There is plenty of people the will happily stay ignorant to it. There are some amazing rhythm sections... The decendants... Nofx... Rancid... Etc. even the slappers and poppers should be able to appreciate the likes of frenzal rhomb. The other part that people miss is that some of these bands lyrically are brilliant and the actually have something to sing about... Even if you I don't agree completely with what is being said at least they have used their mind well to put it out there rather than a pointless word salad or hypothetical love song!
Rant over sorry. Back to helping the OP learn a Pink cover!!!HA!!
You need to get out more
Likewise 90% of the time jazz solos are just a heaps of unrelated notes. A slap is all root and octave.
Pffft. I get out plenty. Learn to read.
I was talking about Mark Hoppus and Pete Wentz, the guys the OP was referencing. I've watched a lot of them, and 90% of the time they change position on the neck every time they play a different note. They don't play from string to string very much, especially when they're doing the big "strumming" motion the OP was talking about. I wasn't talking about all punk, or even all pop punk (Mike Dirnt is a different matter). Whole other thing from if you're talking about Bad Brains or something.
Go to this Youtube video. (). It helped me learn to play like Dee Dee and now I can play Ramones for 90 minutes non stop. You need to play low, keep your right arm straight and rest your palm on the body. Use your wrist to stroke down and while playing, relax your arm. It works very well. I am 65 and can do it so you shouldl have no trouble learning. Good luck. 
Small sub rant.....
I get so tired of the same old "If you stop and think about it at all it ain't punk" routine.
Sure, punk is about a "breaking rules" mentality. I get it. But there are still many things that make a punk song a punk song, a punk band a punk band, and a punk bassist a punk bassist. Can you get up on stage play Lawrence Welk style music in a crushed velvet suit and bubbles floating around and claim you are punk because you broke some rule along the way? No. That's silly.
Not to mention this whole section of the forum is about analysing how somebody else did it so you can do it like they did. Why should punk be any different? OP specifically named a couple of guys and specifically asked how they strum like a guitarist and only hit one note. It was a specific and valid question. But throw the word "punk" in it and you guys get all righteously indignant. "Questions? We don't dooooooi questions in punk. We blow snot on innocent victims walking down the sidewalk. We refuse to wipe our cracks because everybody else does. We don't even chew food cuz screw chewing." Dude, punk is an act. I'll bet you a dollar, like Alice Cooper, half of the older punk bassists offshore fish or golf for fun. I bet they live in mansions with gates and drive very shiny typical rich guy cars. And (here's the kicker) I bet they actually just sit and have a serious conversation about a serious topic on occassion. If you bought into the hype that they are just "punk" 24-7 I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you. If you think they poor beer in the Fruit Loops and poop off the railing at their houses you are just dumb. They eat eggs just like everyone else. They use toilets and toilet paper. They have accountants and discuss money. They are probably interested in politics. And their music, playing style, and even their clothing is a well thought out ACT.
OY. Grow up.
Gimme a break! The guy asked a specific question about finger physics. Just answer the dang question or move along.
/rant
What we're we talking about again?
I get so tired of the same old "If you stop and think about it at all it ain't punk" routine.
Sure, punk is about a "breaking rules" mentality. I get it. But there are still many things that make a punk song a punk song, a punk band a punk band, and a punk bassist a punk bassist. Can you get up on stage play Lawrence Welk style music in a crushed velvet suit and bubbles floating around and claim you are punk because you broke some rule along the way? No. That's silly.
Not to mention this whole section of the forum is about analysing how somebody else did it so you can do it like they did. Why should punk be any different? OP specifically named a couple of guys and specifically asked how they strum like a guitarist and only hit one note. It was a specific and valid question. But throw the word "punk" in it and you guys get all righteously indignant. "Questions? We don't dooooooi questions in punk. We blow snot on innocent victims walking down the sidewalk. We refuse to wipe our cracks because everybody else does. We don't even chew food cuz screw chewing." Dude, punk is an act. I'll bet you a dollar, like Alice Cooper, half of the older punk bassists offshore fish or golf for fun. I bet they live in mansions with gates and drive very shiny typical rich guy cars. And (here's the kicker) I bet they actually just sit and have a serious conversation about a serious topic on occassion. If you bought into the hype that they are just "punk" 24-7 I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you. If you think they poor beer in the Fruit Loops and poop off the railing at their houses you are just dumb. They eat eggs just like everyone else. They use toilets and toilet paper. They have accountants and discuss money. They are probably interested in politics. And their music, playing style, and even their clothing is a well thought out ACT.
OY. Grow up.
Gimme a break! The guy asked a specific question about finger physics. Just answer the dang question or move along.
/rant
What we're we talking about again?
the point is to look cool because, y'know, an aural art is all about the visual
Downstrokes are great if you want to just go "doo-doo-doot" along with tabs all day. I just took a listen to the song in question and I can't figure out for the life of me how the chorus would require a discussion of what technique to use. The point is to "own" the song, not to play it exactly like someone else did it.
Flea was told that same "downstrokes" only rule when he was in Fear! LOL!! Seems pretty stupid for certain higher tempos though...
Agree with this or not, that was a superb rant.
Great gosh almighty, it's 40 years later and people are still on the 'punk is s**t' kick.
Get over yourselves or go join a prog cover band.
Get over yourselves or go join a prog cover band.
Down stroke picking has a certain sound which up and down does not have. It also really drives the rhythm which makes it a fun style to play. I play punk bass and can hear the difference which is why I only use the downstroke style when playing punk.
i actually could play with three fingers maybe a hair faster than picking, but that was after a few years of being in hardcore band that played around 25 shows a year
^ This is totally true. I was lectured emphatically by Andy Shernoff (Dictators, and also believed to have played lots of Dee Dee's recorded parts, tho I could never get him to confirm) that there was a distinct downstroke sound - I believe him. Even tho, I could never do it without my pick hand locking into a claw - always reverted to up and down, but concentrated very hard on making the attack even in order to emulate the downstroke sound.
Here's my band around '88 - I'm miming but the strum thing is in evidence.
Go to this Youtube video. (). It helped me learn to play like Dee Dee and now I can play Ramones for 90 minutes non stop. You need to play low, keep your right arm straight and rest your palm on the body. Use your wrist to stroke down and while playing, relax your arm. It works very well. I am 65 and can do it so you shouldl have no trouble learning. Good luck.
This is what I discovered too, when I was playing this style, the key is lowering the bass. My problem was that my right hand was then fine, but my left would sieze up as the lines I needed to play moved a lot more than your average Ramones song (changing pitches on every, or every other note) and requiring me to play around the first or second frets. I still remember the pain...
Punk Bass 101 for me?
Dee Dee - Ramones
Klaus Flouride - DKs
Paul Simonon - The Clash
Dee Dee - Ramones
Klaus Flouride - DKs
Paul Simonon - The Clash
