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I can't play punk anymore

dnp41

dnp41

May 10, 2016
480
500
Netherlands
#1
So this will be a short rant. Can't say I didn't prepare you.

I recently acquired a Nate Mendel Precision Bass, with a SPB-3 pickup. It sounds very nice for rock and all that sort of music. So this night I was a little low on inspiration and the tone of the bass brought me back. Although I'm not "old" considering the TB stats, I'm going to state that it took me waaayyy back. I'm currently 31, playing mostly in a typical cover band setting. You know the type, from Stevie to more current pop. I turned to my spotify playlist labeled "punk" and decided to play along with songs I played when I was 16. And then I realized... It hit me like a ton of bricks.. I suck at playing punk. Completely horrible. I always thought that I could dial it back in on demand with no effort. I was wrong. Although there are probably multiple factors why I now think I suck at it, like that my musical hearing is so much improved so I'll hear the nuances better, I can only include that I'm no longer good at playing that kind of music. But that's not a bad thing. I'm much better in general at the moment and I'm going to put in some hours to relearn it.
That was my rant. My great contribution to Talkbass.
 
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#8
I must apologize profusely upfront if this does not somehow "jive" with what you really want to say here butt!!!...

You've inspired me to say it nonetheless.

Punk was initially a statement about the fact that anyone, regardless of talent ( among other things ), could make music. A sentiment which I rather liked. Despite actually having some musical talent myself.

I also rather liked the musically "advanced" punk of The Dead Kennedys and The Bad Brains. Which was anything but music which lacked actual talent. :cool:

OK, I said it. So I'm done. :)
 
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#14
phangtonpower said:
Yeah and punk has been dead since 78 :p
All subjective.
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Hahaha, fair enough; you just said "nowadays", and I was only pointing out that it's sounded like that for the last thirty years.

You can also count me out of any criteria that disqualifies the Dead Kennedy's (formed in '78) as punk ;)
 
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#15
I don't understand this. OP, if you are changing gears in terms of technique, then it only makes sense that there might be some lag time in getting up to speed, but if anything you should be able to bring a better approach to it as you mature musically. It might not make as much ergonomic sense to be doing the "all-downstroke-16ths" approach, but there is no reason why you couldn't slay it in a punk band just because you are older.

RoadRanger said:
Punk is supposed to suck :cool:
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I am loathe to spend very much time addressing ignorant generalizations on the internet, but I have no problem reminding other bassists that running their mouths about other people's music without ever listening to it is totally lame and unbassmanlike and you should really consider acting your age.
 
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#16
bolophonic said:
I don't understand this. OP, if you are changing gears in terms of technique, then it only makes sense that there might be some lag time in getting up to speed, but if anything you should be able to bring a better approach to it as you mature musically. It might not make as much ergonomic sense to be doing the "all-downstroke-16ths" approach, but there is no reason why you couldn't slay it in a punk band just because you are older.
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I totally get it. Lots of people who are in their advanced thirties / fourties / fifties started out in a punk band.
I actually bought a bass because I joined a punkband. First rehearsal was on the day my bass arrived.
So when I think about playing punk, which I could do when I really sucked at playing bass, I also think that I basically could grab a bass at any given moment and after a max of five minutes, be better at playing punk than I ever was back then.
 
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#17
el murdoque said:
I totally get it. Lots of people who are in their advanced thirties / fourties / fifties started out in a punk band.
I actually bought a bass because I joined a punkband. First rehearsal was on the day my bass arrived.
So when I think about playing punk, which I could do when I really sucked at playing bass, I also think that I basically could grab a bass at any given moment and after a max of five minutes, be better at playing punk than I ever was back then.
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I've been writing some tunes in the vein of the Cro-Mags, Bad Brains, GBH, etc. I have experimented with a pick for the first time in 20 years. There is a learning curve to getting back on the horse.

For me, the pick sound is kind of critical, but it is not at all my preferred way of playing, so I'm finding myself pushed in two different directions: improving my pick playing until I'm satisfied, while simultaneously developing a three-finger right hand technique to adapt that sound to the way I like to play.

I'm like you, though... I bought a cheap bass as a teenager, formed a band that week and started beating on it until things started falling into place. That was 30 years ago.
 
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#18
At the risk of offending any TB members who are punk players or fans - the genre is not exactly highly regarded as the pinnacle of musicianship. Then again, a song does not have to change keys and time signatures every other measure in order to be enjoyable, and Dee Dee Ramone did his job in the band peddling the root of 1,4,5 with 8th and 16th notes. I bet your are not giving yourself enough credit.
 
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#19
If you are serious about playing punk, then learn the Dee Dee Ramone downstroke style. It will take a while to build up endurance but the effort is well worth it. I am twice your age and had no problem learning and playing punk style. I use that style for hard rock and old school metal as well. There is a video by Charlie Ramone that explains the technique on YouTube. Good luck. :thumbsup:
 
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#20
bolophonic said:
I've been writing some tunes in the vein of the Cro-Mags, Bad Brains, GBH, etc. I have experimented with a pick for the first time in 20 years. There is a learning curve to getting back on the horse.

For me, the pick sound is kind of critical, but it is not at all my preferred way of playing, so I'm finding myself pushed in two different directions: improving my pick playing until I'm satisfied, while simultaneously developing a three-finger right hand technique to adapt that sound to the way I like to play.

I'm like you, though... I bought a cheap bass as a teenager, formed a band that week and started beating on it until things started falling into place. That was 30 years ago.
Click to expand...

I say play what you're used too. Chuck Dukowski from Black Flag used fingers.

 
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