is there anything wrong with....

[shamuthewhale]

is there anything wrong with playing more than one string at once on a bass?
I don't know because I have just been playing for a year or two...

 

[Comakazi]

Not that I know of, if you want to ever work with chords at all you'll have to.

 

[rickbass]

There are no rules.

That's how we all got here, playing what we play.

 

[Rockinjc]

Nothing wrong in principle with playing more than one string at once ,but if you are going to explore that route, there are a few things to consider.

Really low notes are hard for the ear to identify so a bunch of notes all at the bottom of your range may sound muddy. I like the sound of playing a few notes up high (past 12th fret) and one note of an open string down lower, say the B, E, or A.

Sometimes it helps to omit the third, try a bar chord of the tonic the fifth and the octave of the tonic.

Your plucking may have to be modified, for me it works better with a light touch.

Use your ears, make sure it sound good alone and with the band. I like clean tone for this kind of stuff.

Don’t overuse the thing

Good luck,
john

 

[Oysterman]

Originally posted by rickbass1
There are no rules.

Yes, there is one: if it sounds good, it is good.

 

[Bass Guitar]

Nothing wrong with playing more than one string at once - it's known as playing a double stop (if 2), or a chord (if 3 or more). Also, if you play an 8-string, you will be playing 2 strings at once anyway (note and octave).

 

[rickbass]

Originally posted by Oysterman
Yes, there is one: if it sounds good, it is good.

I like that Oyster....kind of one of those "The only rule is there are no rules" concepts.

I had a music teacher who said that when we started studying Phillip Glass

 

[Comakazi]

Originally posted by Bass Guitar
Nothing wrong with playing more than one string at once - it's known as playing a double stop (if 2), or a chord (if 3 or more).

But wait a minute, I thought anytime you played more than one string or note it was a chord.
Double stop?

 

[Turock]

Originally posted by Comakazi






But wait a minute, I thought anytime you played more than one string or note it was a chord.
Double stop?

There has to be at least three notes to make a chord. Two notes will not define a chord, instead you only have an interval which is played by double-stopping. I believe the term "double stop" came into existance before there were fretted instruments, and means: playing two strings simultaneously, which gave members of the violin family (melodic instruments) the capability of producing harmony all by themselves.

 

[Erlendur Már]

There´s NOTHING wrong with playing more than one string at a time. Try to listen to Chuck Rainey. I´ve heard that he´s the master of double-stops or something like that..

 

[Comakazi]

I did know that. I just remember the big debate about what EXACTLY defined a chord.
Just being a bit facetious, please excuse me, I'll be on my way.

*whistling while strolling on*

 

[Turock]

Originally posted by Comakazi
I did know that. I just remember the big debate about what EXACTLY defined a chord.
Just being a bit facetious, please excuse me, I'll be on my way.

*whistling while strolling on*

In that case.... never mind.

 

[Eric Cameron]

I composed a short bass solo that is nothing but double stops and chords. Multi-stringing can be a lot of fun, and sound REALLY good. As long as you do it right.

Rock on
Eric

 

[shamuthewhale]

hey thanks guys.
Since you all have posted I have gone on and continued on the solo I have been working on. Thanks

 

[PanteraFan]

Originally posted by rickbass1

That's how we all got here, playing what we play.

Actually, I got here by walking up my stairs, going into my room, sitting down, turning on my computer, and dialling onto my ISP. I then clicked the address bar in Internet Explorer, typed www.talkbass.com, and then went looking through the threads in Bass Guitar. I came upon this one and clicked it.

And here I am.

But hey, whatever works for you, man.

 

[Aaron]

Originally posted by rickbass1
I had a music teacher who said that when we started studying Phillip Glass

some weird ****, eh?

I have felt that during the classical era there were so many rules, but when the romantique period started, composers worked on breaking those rules.

 

[Deynn]

Originally posted by Oysterman
Yes, there is one: if it sounds good, it is good.

Sounds about right to me.

 

[beaglesandbass]

i don't think there is anything wrong with it.

i don't kno if this is me or my fever medicine talking, but, should this be in technique ???

 

[gruffpuppy]

Originally posted by Oysterman
Yes, there is one: if it sounds good, it is good.

Yet there is the exception that rises when you think it sounds good, your mom says it sounds good, but every one else grabs their ears.





I thinks the question is, do you want to hit the strings or are you hitting them in error?

 

[rickbass]

Originally posted by gruffpuppy
Yet there is the exception that rises when you think it sounds good, your mom says it sounds good....

Does this actually happen????