I started bass about a month and a half ago, and since I was going off playing cello for 9 years already, I had no problem getting the basics down. The only trouble I have now is that I want to get certain "tones" (if thats what you would call it, im not sure how to describe it) from my bass. As an example, Since i'm just basically learning all the songs I can, I tried to learn Around the World by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I can get most of the notes (with a few problems here and there) but no matter what I do, I can't get my playing to sound like that, where the notes are very short and precise, "crisp" is what I would call it (that sound a bit stupid, but whatever). I tried putting up the treble on both the bass and the amp, with different combinations of each, and it would sound a little better, but it still wasn't there. Is it some sort of effect or is it a technique? If so, how do you do it?
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How to get certain tones from my bass?
- Thread starter facepalmmaster
- Start date
It's mostly technique, Flea plays very percussively and aggressively, which creates a strong initial attack with quick decay.
Don't want to sound rude, but give it some time before you start working on tone. I know you have 9 years cello background but an electric bass is a different beast.
Don't take it wrong, just get the hang of it and with times you'll see it will all happen... And it shouldn't be long before you see what I mean... Keep on bassing...Find somebody that plays electric bass in a band situation. You can only do so much by yourself. Get advice and see and hear how playing bass is done in the real world. 
Don't want to sound rude, but give it some time before you start working on tone. I know you have 9 years cello background but an electric bass is a different beast.
Thanks, and you're probably right, it was just that one thing that was bugging me, i really wanted to know how he did that and I wanted to replicate it. And I will keep bassing
Don't want to sound rude, but give it some time before you start working on tone. I know you have 9 years cello background but an electric bass is a different beast.
+1
Playing close-ish to the bridge might help when trying to achieve a somewhat percussive tone tho.
Find somebody that plays electric bass in a band situation. You can only do so much by yourself. Get advice and see and hear how playing bass is done in the real world.
Yeah, the only problem is that I don't know that many bassists ,I have one friend who plays a lot but he lives farther away, and i have been bothering him enough about other bass related things recently anyway, and I'm a very shy person. I know you'll say I have to get over it, but i'm working on it. If I could get to guitar center more often, it would help
