How To SHRED on a bass??

[Rev J]

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.

Considering the fact that the kid is probably about 18 now he probably has learned a little about humility.

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

[5 string tapper]

Flamenco guitarists shred and their techniques have highly influenced bassists such as Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, and Michael Manring. The flamenco guitar techniques are all transferable to bass since they don't use a pick. I would check out Paco de Lucia, Carlos Montoya, and Manitas de Plata just to have your face blown off and then just try to copy their thumb work.

Also subdividing rhythms between your 4 fingers on each hand like a piano player can get your coordination up to speed especially concerning your right hand. In the end it's all about multi finger rhythmic coordination and the flamenco guitarists and jazz pianists like Chick Corea have a lot to teach us bass players about shredding. Not to mention the flamenco guys are playing bass with their thumb and the pianists are playing bass with their left hand so you can hear how bass applies to an overall shredding context. Just remember you have to make it groove, shredding is not a highly sought after skill unless you're auditioning for Steve Vai's band.

 

[Bassisticful]

 

[Creede]

Dude, this thread is 6 years old and the last post was 3 years ago

 

[enricogaletta]

As most of the people already suggested, study, practice and apply everything in harmony.
Get used to don't think about sealed off compartments or licks that "belongs" to a certain music style. Every knowledge you got can become part of your playing in the right style, don't get tired to explore and merging your skills.
Here just a short example on how you cam merge techniques and harmony ideas.
Cheers

 

[Clef_de_fa]

some example that I like :