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How To SHRED on a bass??
- Thread starter User364378
- Start date
alot of metal bass isn't shredding.,..
go to youtube and look up "metallica (optional song name here) bass only"
these are master track that were used in GH and RB games, then taken out (the games use seperate tracks for each instrument, so hackers can remove them, and the recording are usually master tracks.)
you will realize that, what most pepople calll shredding, is still grooving.
although metal sounds different, and sounds "shreddier" it is still the stuff a good bassist grows up with....groove and power
go to youtube and look up "metallica (optional song name here) bass only"
these are master track that were used in GH and RB games, then taken out (the games use seperate tracks for each instrument, so hackers can remove them, and the recording are usually master tracks.)
you will realize that, what most pepople calll shredding, is still grooving.
although metal sounds different, and sounds "shreddier" it is still the stuff a good bassist grows up with....groove and power
pbd
Commercial User
Speed drills are great, pick your favorite scale, start at the low running up and back down thru the scale and at even tempo that you can play each note correctly. Move up half a step and repeat. Each time you do this play as fast as you can without making mistakes. When you get to the 12th start your way back down. As you do this day in and day you see that you muscle memory will begin to develop and you get faster and faster. This is also a great warm up.
Now comes the hard part, what to do with your new found speed! Use is tastefully and it will be awesome, over do it and you'll sound like a show off.
enjoy,
Todd
Now comes the hard part, what to do with your new found speed! Use is tastefully and it will be awesome, over do it and you'll sound like a show off.
enjoy,
Todd
And keep somewhere in the back of your mind, that you may never be able to shred like some of the pros. That's why they are so well regarded, because it's not all that easy to do.
I am not trying to be a DebbieDowner. I was a guitarist for years who grew up wanting to play like Paul Gilbert but finally came to terms with the fact that guys like that are the elite of their craft, and that in 5 lifetimes, I would not be able to do what they do.
It wasn't a bad thing- it just got me to focus on other elements of music and probably made me a better a musician over all, even if I didn't have the athletic ability to reproduce what they did. I've also seem some great musicians over the years who *could* do that stuff, and ended up being clones of their influences, devoid of any originaliy- the major difference between them and their influences being that nobody knew who *they* were.
I am not trying to be a DebbieDowner. I was a guitarist for years who grew up wanting to play like Paul Gilbert but finally came to terms with the fact that guys like that are the elite of their craft, and that in 5 lifetimes, I would not be able to do what they do.
It wasn't a bad thing- it just got me to focus on other elements of music and probably made me a better a musician over all, even if I didn't have the athletic ability to reproduce what they did. I've also seem some great musicians over the years who *could* do that stuff, and ended up being clones of their influences, devoid of any originaliy- the major difference between them and their influences being that nobody knew who *they* were.
I don't believe that at all...
The REASON why they got so good was through practice. They didn't wake up one day and suddently realize their amazing talent. No, it took hours and hours of practice for them to excell. You're right that it's discouraging and that most of us likely never will reach such a high skill level, but to say that it's not possible? I believe firmly that ANY one of us has the potential to be that good. The dedication, motivation, or general enthusiam - probably not. But it's well within a normal human being's capacity.
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
I'm not sure exactly what shredding is, but some peeps say I'm shredding in this vid:
If I AM shredding in that vid, I'll tell you the main way i do it.
Except for the use of your thumb, reminds me of Entwistle a bit.
Search youtube for Young Buckethead slaps bass.... Slapping and shredding at the same time. And he's doing it on my old Aria Pro.
I don't disagree with you, and I am certainly not trying to pisss in anyones cornflakes who is after that ability (although I would certainly question at some point whether the hours of investment are worth the result, just to be able to play the bass at amazing speed- it really is a bit of a novelty, IMHO). What I was more getting at is this- think of the hobbies you may have had over the years- I myself am a pretty active guy- I've been into body building, triathlons, semi pro hockey, guitar, choir-too many to list.
but I've come to terms with the fact that I will never be able to stop pucks like Patrick Roy, swim like Micheal Phelps, or sing like Geoff Tate. I am could be good at those things, but even come close to reaching the talent level of those people is really for the gifted and I flat out don't believe everyone can do it. The same way most of us won't be able to shred like Billy Sheehan or Less Claypool.
If you see the potential in yourself, then go for it (I've seen it some things in my own abilities). But at some point you have to be honest with yourself and find another role to play with the game.
That's not exactly the best way to respond to that, be it as much time as you claim to have. Learn a little diplomacy.
pbd
Commercial User
im 14 years old, so im still learning it (diplomacy AND shredding)
if you arleady understand the need for diplomacy at 14 you are way ahead of the game my friend! Way to go
Todd
...As to WHAT I'm playing? God knows. I'm an ear player, and that is a complete improv. I'm sure some of the great theoretical guys on this forum could probably explain it to me, though.
It's the grim-reaper style hood.
the thing i wanna learn is not technique but what NOTES i need to pick, because just playing scales up and down isnt shredding
im 14 years old, so im still learning it (diplomacy AND shredding
And...so what? I'm 17. I'm not much older than you. Practice scales. All of them. Then get faster. Get so fast that you can do them at extremely fast bpm (how I warm up, practice, compose my stuff, etc.). Don't use three fingers for shredding unless you're going to be playing a single note at impossible speeds. I personally don't shred in my playing, but when I practice my scales, people usually think I am anyway.
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
The word you are looking for starts with a 'P' and ends with an 'e'.
Method also comes into it...and analyzing ones own strengths and weaknesses where playing shreddy stuff is concerned.
Concentrating on what you are playing whilst playing it also helps.
14 years old. How cool is that. How much do you practice in a day? Do you go to school? Any other hobbies? Got a girlfriend or a wife? Do you help out with household chores?
KevinMach did say it works for some people and it doesn't for others. He also stated his "humble" opinion that he did not see a place for it in music. Which is as much a reflection of what he believes music is like and his own capabilities, with all due respect.
I don't see it as discouraging at all. Rather, it tells me I need to get out there and do something that no one else is doing or has even seen before. Maybe with a technique that I might borrow, might not borrow or might develop all by my lonesome without downloading illegal dvd-rips of artists' honest lessons.
I feel like I could be better than Marcus Miller, hell I know it (sotto voce). But till I do squat, just like that new (old, based on a riff from a song in the Far Beyond Driven album) Pantera song, "... a punk like that is just piss in the wind."
I spent as much time studying as the other kids. Didn't make me the best at math or science. Same thing goes for all those athletes he mentioned. Or Michael Jackson. Steve Vai is a phenom, he practiced 10 hours a day. But there are a lot of people who do that and who I don't think have been able to match that sheer virtuosity. Because that's what he was referring to. Virtuosity.
The way I see it, practice more, belittle people on the internet less. You can tell us you can play like Vai or DiGiorgio. But imitation is just a form of flattery, in a lot of cases of the self.
Oh, and if you're famous by the time you're out of college -- which should be in say 10 years, do let us all know how it's done, son.
- Jimmy Rage
PS: Not trying to "uncourage (discourage)" you. But you could have been more diplomatic and less full of yourself in that brash, exuberant way that characterises the youth today, imho.
