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How To SHRED on a bass??

Practice a lot.

Learn theory, scales, modes, chord tones, more chord tones.

Be able to name chord tones of a given chord if someone wakes you out of a sound sleep and shouts the chord at you.

Know where these notes are on your bass in all positions.

Learn how to play BASS as a supporting instrument.

Learn how to play in the pocket and different feels and grooves.

Learn more chord tones, scales, modes.

Practice playing while singing or humming the notes you play.

Practice being able to play something you sing or hear because you know where those notes are on your bass.

Go to sleep thinking about chord tones.

(oh, and totally off topic.......learn how to play right handed. Really. You will thank me for this the day you have a gig and your bass dies and the bass player from the other band will lend you his but he's a righty.)
 
Practice a lot.

Learn theory, scales, modes, chord tones, more chord tones.

Be able to name chord tones of a given chord if someone wakes you out of a sound sleep and shouts the chord at you.

Know where these notes are on your bass in all positions.

Learn how to play BASS as a supporting instrument.

Learn how to play in the pocket and different feels and grooves.

Learn more chord tones, scales, modes.

Practice playing while singing or humming the notes you play.

Practice being able to play something you sing or hear because you know where those notes are on your bass.

Go to sleep thinking about chord tones.

(oh, and totally off topic.......learn how to play right handed. Really. You will thank me for this the day you have a gig and your bass dies and the bass player from the other band will lend you his but he's a righty.)

lol after i read all of this i dont wanna do it anymore and BTW, IM LEFTY AND DAMN PROUD :spit:
 
no problem with being lefty and proud.

In the long run it will make your life easier if you learn to play both ways.

An exceptional drummer I played with was a southpaw, but learned how to play righty as he played many a gig with a house set.
 
Practice a lot.

Learn theory, scales, modes, chord tones, more chord tones.

Be able to name chord tones of a given chord if someone wakes you out of a sound sleep and shouts the chord at you.

Know where these notes are on your bass in all positions.

Learn how to play BASS as a supporting instrument.

Learn how to play in the pocket and different feels and grooves.

Learn more chord tones, scales, modes.

Practice playing while singing or humming the notes you play.

Practice being able to play something you sing or hear because you know where those notes are on your bass.

Go to sleep thinking about chord tones.

And play what sounds good, not what feels fast.
 
- learn that your metronome is your best friend! playing fast and playing fast with accuracy are two totally different things. The best way to play fast and sound good is to set that metronome (or click track) to a slow and steady pace and play some scales in time. Once you nail them at slow speeds, start speeding them up gradually. Most anyone who shreds (guitar or bass) will tell you this.

- learn that many people think shredding on bass is stupid. This means you'll get a lot of people's opinions about how you play, sometimes more sneers than compliments. If you play fast you will be insulted and criticized. this leads me to the next point...

- don't let other people tell you how to play. Shredding is great if your in the right genre and people may scoff at you, but who cares? Develop your technique as you see fit and be the best at what YOU want to do, not what other people say you should do.
 
...use a plectrum...but seriously, learn more styles before going just for shreding, the amount of techniques needed for those styles will help you adapt yourself into the main genre you play, but the technique said before hand, flicking the index and middle fingers back up, is a useful technique for metal, i use it every so often if i drop my pick during a gig, or if i want to look like i'm just showing off personally there is no need to shred, leave that to glam rockers and..billy sheehan, man that guy creeps me out.
 
hi, ive been playing bass for 'bout 2 years and practice 2 hours a day and blah blah blah,
since im into metal/rock, and i watched some angra, billy sheehan videos, my question is:
how can you learn to shred on a bass? i play fingerstyle only and can play with 3 fingers where needed, what scales are good for shredding and how to use the left hand (right hand for me, im lefty :p) ?? thx

If you want to shred on the bass, learn every scale there is.:bassist:
 

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