Jimi Hendrix has had a really bad way to play a Strat. head upside down, how it's possible to even think to play this thing like that ??? And this other guy Jimmy Haslip ? How can he play like that ? I'm shocked.
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Is there a "wrong" way??
- Thread starter flomaster
- Start date
For me, there is no wrong way because there is no right way. If there had been one right way established in a fascist way at the birth of the bass, we would still be in the same era today, without Slap, Tap, and other ingenious playing techniques.
Books with different approaches are written and are a good guide but regarded as sacred by some. If playing technique is not allowed to develop then the instruments will not develop either, and would the violins be played on the knee and the cellos still sandwiched between the legs....
Your individual playing technique depends a lot on your own limitations and the way you are taught. As long as it doesn't cause you any medical problems or harm to others, and you can achieve your goals musically, you are using the right technique for your purposes.
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"There is no wrong way" is the slogan of those who later develop CTS and Tendonitis at the age of 50, at the latest.
Not defending poor technique, but technique was never in question. Only which part of the neck I was using when playing the song. Probably could have expressed that a bit better in the original post.
That aside, is it not a bit of a leap to assume that there is a certainty of injury at some given point because they don't play the same way others might? Not attacking your position--honest question.
Krist Novoselic agrees. He pounded the low E up and down the neck to serve the music when he was with Nirvana. And it was awesome.
Yes, exactly this!
Sure, music is art, art is subjective, and you can totally play with only your pinky held upside down while slamming your right forearm into the body of the instrument to produce vibrations. You can probably even navigate some classic punk rock tunes this way. But that does not mean it's the most efficient or effective way to play.
Your body wasn't designed for this to begin with, and abusing your body can have long term consequences. Plus, the bass sounds much better (I know, this is subjective) when played with some generally agreed upon techniques. You don't HAVE to fret right behind the fret, but it sounds better, cleaner, and is easier to do. If you are choosing to move your finger a half inch back you aren't some brilliant rebel sticking it to the man, you're just making it hard on yourself and making your music sound lousy.
As for fingerings, there are best practices for those, too. Someone might play the whole line on a single string when crossing strings is way easier and sounds cleaner as a result.
I once sat down with Victor Wooten and showed him my progress in learning a very technical and complex piece of his, and he said "That's cool, nobody has ever shown me they learned that before. But, you are making it hard on yourself, if you change these notes to open strings and finger it this way it's going to be easier to play and the open notes will ring longer, which is what I was going for."
He didn't tell me I was wrong but he did show me his way and explain his reasoning. In my opinion, those are the marks of a great teacher. Oh, and that night he played the song at the gig at my request, which was nice to see our little lesson come together in real time on the stage.
Now here is something interesting. I do my best to never play an open string unless it is necessary. I have a thing about having control over duration. I do okay at palm muting, but it seems I am unable to always do it to my own satisfaction. Pro tip: When people are getting sloppy, shorten up duration. I got the idea from some video of Bootsy talking about it. And yeah, he was right: It is amazing how people seem instinctively to get the message. Disclaimer: If I had a business card, it would read "Dumbass Rock'n'Roll Bass Player." There are things that I know work. They are but little islands in my Sea of Ignorance. Just so you know.
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Now here is something interesting. I do my best to never play an open string unless it is necessary. I have a thing about having control over duration. I do okay at palm muting, but it seems I am unable to always do it to my own satisfaction. Pro tip: When people are getting sloppy, shorten up duration. I got the idea from some video of Bootsy talking about it. And yeah, he was right: It is amazing how people seem instinctively to get the message. Disclaimer: If I had a business card, it would read "Dumbass Rock'n'Roll Bass Player." There are things that I know work. They are but little islands in my Sea of Ignorance. Just so you know.
I don't get the no open string thing. If it sounds good,..
I'm not saying it's right! Just...how I do things.
Rarely I'll play an open string, but I prefer to fret all my notes. I guess, with my technique, that gives me more control.
Playing 5 string basses makes it an easy rule to follow.
The first one, the second chord will sound off (different fretting position for middle)
.Overall they both seem ok to me, if it doesn't hurt.... blablabla....
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I understand. I guess I'm trying to tell myself its ok to do it.
A "wrong way" of playing the bass is any way that either, does not sound good, limits your possibilities of playing the music you want to play, or can induces injuries on the long term.
So, yes, there is a "wrong way" of playing the bass. Actually, there are many "wrong ways" ...
A "right way" of playing the bass is any way that sounds good, enables you to express yourself musically, and does not lead to injuries.
But please note that there are several "right ways" of playing the bass, and that they are not the same for everybody (but the "right ways" are far less numerous than the "wrong ways"...).
So, yes, there is a "wrong way" of playing the bass. Actually, there are many "wrong ways" ...
A "right way" of playing the bass is any way that sounds good, enables you to express yourself musically, and does not lead to injuries.
But please note that there are several "right ways" of playing the bass, and that they are not the same for everybody (but the "right ways" are far less numerous than the "wrong ways"...).
It is ok. Ask someone how they play a low E on a standard 4 string tuning without hitting an open string..
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Now I am self conscious about open stringsIt is ok. Ask someone how they play a low E on a standard 4 string tuning without hitting an open string..
Some metal songs are impossible to play without open strings. I have no problems with palm muting and left handed muting. I can cut an open string clean when I want. While I think fretting notes is preferred, sometimes open strings are the right choice imho.
If you've got a clear matrix in you head of how the harmonic system sits on the neck then most patterns will have a logical fingering because they fit into a familiar chordal shape. If you don't have that matrix in your head then you're free to go where you want - it will just be a little harder to learn and remember. As long as it doesn't hurt and you nail the phrasing, how can any fingering be wrong?!
EDIT;
I suppose sometimes the original bass players don't have a set pattern in their head or are focusing on tone and people naturally mimic what fingering they choose but I don't think that was the case here.
EDIT;
I suppose sometimes the original bass players don't have a set pattern in their head or are focusing on tone and people naturally mimic what fingering they choose but I don't think that was the case here.
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In 1983 I saw a country bands Bass player using his picking hand index finger and thumb. In like a claw method. Naively, I thought that was how it was done.
I have since incorporated other methods, but the claw is sort of home base. Musicians have told me it was wrong. I did get very fast with my thumb though. If you can play the music I think whatever works...
I have since incorporated other methods, but the claw is sort of home base. Musicians have told me it was wrong. I did get very fast with my thumb though. If you can play the music I think whatever works...
To me the second one is preferable.The first one, the second chord will sound off (different fretting position for middle)
Overall they both seem ok to me, if it doesn't hurt.... blablabla....
Much easier to execute and is more comfortable.
Especially as the chord progression descends.
