Metal bassist needs help !

[Embrio_bass]

Hello guys ! I am a bassist and selflearned. I have kind of just started playing and everything is flowing. But now I have some thoughts about my finger technique. My question is if somebody out there could maby record a little video where you show me your kind of playing and pointers like if you should go softly on the string or hit it as hard as you can, maby the real technique is to pull the string, I have no idea hit me with pointers please !

Don´t forget to check out my band with influences from bands like trivium ,children of bodom , In flames and many more. Link Removed

 

[ErebusBass]

It totally depends on what kind of sound you're going for. If you're going to be playing metal (and keep in mind lots of metal players use a pick), you usually want a very strong attack. Read this: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378173. It will help.

When I play fingerstyle with metal, I play with a downward motion. This means that you make the string vibrate perpendicular to the fretboard, instead of parallel, like you normally. One of the most important things to remember to get that crisp attack, is to hit the string hard enough to strike the fretboard. The string bouncing off the fretboard makes that nice almost clacky pick-like attack. Be careful that you can do this consistently, or it will most likely sound unintentional, and therefore sound like garbage. Hope this helps.

 

[Embrio_bass]

I think that´s the technique i think i use, it makes the sound really discant and . I saw a video with paolo gregoletto from trivium and he´s playing were really soft so i just thought that i were doing it the wrong way.
Thank´s for the submit, it was really helpful !

It totally depends on what kind of sound you're going for. If you're going to be playing metal (and keep in mind lots of metal players use a pick), you usually want a very strong attack. Read this: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378173. It will help.

When I play fingerstyle with metal, I play with a downward motion. This means that you make the string vibrate perpendicular to the fretboard, instead of parallel, like you normally. One of the most important things to remember to get that crisp attack, is to hit the string hard enough to strike the fretboard. The string bouncing off the fretboard makes that nice almost clacky pick-like attack. Be careful that you can do this consistently, or it will most likely sound unintentional, and therefore sound like garbage. Hope this helps.

 

[ErebusBass]

Well the technique I described is good for metal, not Trivium. I would never put the two in the same category.

 

[Beast]

Well the technique I described is good for metal, not Trivium. I would never put the two in the same category.

Cmon, you've been here long enough to know better. :scowl:

As for the OP, maybe you could record a video or soundclip of yourself so we could hear what your talking about?

 

[scrotimusprime]

i don't know if i play "metal" persay, but i play plenty of hard rock finger style. I use three fingers and hit hard, but I also choose my battles - that is, am I going to play as fast, faster, or slower than the drummer depending on what i'm trying to accomplish in the song.

I'd also say, maybe sure you've got a good cab with a tweeter of some kind and gain out your input stage. Finger style (imo) ends up being a little warmer than pick playing which doesn't always work for metal so "gritting it up" is a good thing (again, imo).

 

[Embrio_bass]

okej, our demo is coming up soon . Maby you could take a look at it and give me your opinion about what sound that would make the music better.

 

[Embrio_bass]

Are you telling me that this technique is good for metalcore and trash ?

 

[bassphreak]

It totally depends on what kind of sound you're going for. If you're going to be playing metal (and keep in mind lots of metal players use a pick), you usually want a very strong attack. Read this: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378173. It will help.

When I play fingerstyle with metal, I play with a downward motion. This means that you make the string vibrate perpendicular to the fretboard, instead of parallel, like you normally. One of the most important things to remember to get that crisp attack, is to hit the string hard enough to strike the fretboard. The string bouncing off the fretboard makes that nice almost clacky pick-like attack. Be careful that you can do this consistently, or it will most likely sound unintentional, and therefore sound like garbage. Hope this helps.

I think this is the technique that Greg Christian (Testament) uses. Very very good metal bassist and one you can hear in the mix. I've tried to incorporate some of that into my 'style'.