Newbie playing w/ 1 finger...

[pbassist]

Hey everybody. I've been self teaching myself to play bass. I'm a week in so far...

When I first picked up a bass and started playing around with it, I felt more comfortable playing w/ one finger as opposed to 2. After a week of light practice, I figured I should get some pro opinions on whether or not I should continue this way, or teach myself to use 2 fingers...

Any opinions on this?

Thanks.

PS I postulated that playing with 1 finger would eventually mean more work for my fretting hand... Is this is true? I have really small hands, so that may be an issue too...

My advice is that if you really want to learn to play bass, get a good teacher (the one who plays from jazz to prog. rock including lots of styles that you really don't like, not the guy that only knows to play Metallica), it should not cost too much and it with just a few sessions you would avoid these beginner mistakes that in the long term will grow into serious issues .

 

[JimmyM]

Jamerson only needed one finger.

You're not Jamerson, remember?

 

[ImaStupidBaby]

You're not Jamerson, remember?

You don't know that

 

[JimmyM]

Well, you're either not Jamerson or you're dead. Which is it?

 

[ysand]

Get a good teacher.
1 finger is definately not going to work for u in the future when u'll be wanting to learn some more difficult songs.

 

[slackinatthebas]

Well, you're either not Jamerson or you're dead. Which is it?

maybe he faked his death, dude...

all seriousness aside, i play drums in a classic rock band, as well as bass in a modern rock band, and the bass player in the classic rock group only uses one finger. the other day we was trying to play a moving triplet pattern all one finger,really sloppy, right? and i told him, "dude. your seriously not trying to play that with 1 finger. try using two, and i guarantee that it's twice as easy." he played it. much more cleanly, even. using two or even more, i think entwsitle would use all four sometimes, and not just for his typwriter technique. the more fingers, the cleaner it'll be.

 

[JimmyM]

maybe he faked his death, dude...

all seriousness aside, i play drums in a classic rock band, as well as bass in a modern rock band, and the bass player in the classic rock group only uses one finger. the other day we was trying to play a moving triplet pattern all one finger,really sloppy, right? and i told him, "dude. your seriously not trying to play that with 1 finger. try using two, and i guarantee that it's twice as easy." he played it. much more cleanly, even. using two or even more, i think entwsitle would use all four sometimes, and not just for his typwriter technique. the more fingers, the cleaner it'll be.

Well, I get diminishing returns if I use more than two for anything but galloping. But plenty of others use more than two for that reason.

 

[DogPlaysBass]

Hand size shouldn't be an issue. Just means you have to get around a little more than the rest of us, and even then it's no big deal.

I would ABSOLUTELY recommend learning to play with two fingers. Here's an easy exercise to try:

Play the open A string with your index.
Mute the A string with your middle.
Now PLAY the A string with your middle.
Mute it with your index.

Sit down in front of the tube and do this for 1/2 hour. See what happens.

I would strongly recommend that you don't get too attached to this technique. If you get used to resting a finger on a string before you pluck it your tone will suffer immeasurably. Learn how to mute with your left hand. It will save you years of trouble.

 

[DogPlaysBass]

In regards to Metallica, for good right hand two finger technique there are very few who could match Cliff Burton. Listen to the ease with which he played Disposable Heroes! He was not straining and his tone was phenomenal. Also if you watch his videos his shoulder was back, his wrist was straight, and his technique was effortless and relaxed.

Also someone said take some lessons from someone who plays stuff you dont like. I would disagree. I say take lessons from someone who can teach you to play what you LOVE. once you can play that, then try branching out. HAVE FUN!

 

[JimmyM]

In regards to Metallica, for good right hand two finger technique there are very few who could match Cliff Burton. Listen to the ease with which he played Disposable Heroes! He was not straining and his tone was phenomenal. Also if you watch his videos his shoulder was back, his wrist was straight, and his technique was effortless and relaxed.

Also someone said take some lessons from someone who plays stuff you dont like. I would disagree. I say take lessons from someone who can teach you to play what you LOVE. once you can play that, then try branching out. HAVE FUN!

Spoken like someone who has no clue what studying jazz can do for your rock playing.

 

[Joel D]

getting ahead of ourselves remember he said he's 1 week into the bass at that point fingers are no matter he needs to learn a whole lot more !-lol-not to discourage -encourage - take some lessons for theorey its a bass players anchor

 

[DogPlaysBass]

Not true. The point is that when you start you should learn to play what you already know you love.

There is nothing wrong with learning prog or jazz, if that is what you love. There is nothing wrong with having someone show you new styles you may not have heard to expand you musical horizons.

However, when you first start to play, it should be the most fun experience you could ever imagine. Your first week is not the time for someone to say "if you really want to be a good bass player, you have to study for years, learn to read, learn theory, walk a solid line, and build a solid catalog of songs you can play start to finish". That comes later. The first thing to say to someone when the get their bass is "PLAY! HAVE FUN!" That's it. Turn up your amp as loud as it can go and piss off the neighbors.

The best advice when you start is to follow your heart. If you want to play AC/DC, play AC/DC!!! If you want to learn bepop, don't stop until you learn bepop. If you want to get a bunch of pedals and make strange noises then that is what you should do. Playing music should be about freedom, not a bunch of rules. Ignore anyone who tells you otherwise.

Teachers who get new students and say "congratulations, here is a bunch of stuff to struggle with" really do a disservice to their students. When I teach, I ask "what is your favorite song in the world??" Why would you start any other way?

 

[JimmyM]

When I teach, I ask "what is your favorite song in the world??" Why would you start any other way?

I tried that once. My student brought in some hard to play song that an advanced player would even struggle with.

My theory is that a student can go play fun stuff and piss off the neighbors on their own time. If they're paying me to teach them, I assume they want to get better in the shortest amount of time. If they just want me to teach them AC/DC songs, I tell them to go somewhere else. But if they like AC/DC, I'll find a way to work it into their lesson somehow. Just because you want them to learn some jazz and some proper technique doesn't mean you need to take all the fun out of it. Music should be fun, but it takes a lot of work to get good and have the most fun of all, so if theyre not willing to put in the work, there's no sense even taking lessons. Just go turn your amp up to 11 and piss off the neighbors. Me, I'd rather have the neighbors come over and check out my progress

 

[pbassist]

Not true. The point is that when you start you should learn to play what you already know you love.

There is nothing wrong with learning prog or jazz, if that is what you love. There is nothing wrong with having someone show you new styles you may not have heard to expand you musical horizons.

However, when you first start to play, it should be the most fun experience you could ever imagine. Your first week is not the time for someone to say "if you really want to be a good bass player, you have to study for years, learn to read, learn theory, walk a solid line, and build a solid catalog of songs you can play start to finish". That comes later. The first thing to say to someone when the get their bass is "PLAY! HAVE FUN!" That's it. Turn up your amp as loud as it can go and piss off the neighbors.

The best advice when you start is to follow your heart. If you want to play AC/DC, play AC/DC!!! If you want to learn bepop, don't stop until you learn bepop. If you want to get a bunch of pedals and make strange noises then that is what you should do. Playing music should be about freedom, not a bunch of rules. Ignore anyone who tells you otherwise.

Teachers who get new students and say "congratulations, here is a bunch of stuff to struggle with" really do a disservice to their students. When I teach, I ask "what is your favorite song in the world??" Why would you start any other way?

Hi, I'm the one that wrote the message you are talking about. If you read (the top mresage on page 2) it you will see that:

1/ I know that this guy is beginner and my advice was not intended to make him learn jazz or prog. I just told him an advice for recognizing a good teacher from a bad one.

2/ So my idea of a few classes is a teacher that learn just basics of the technique: how to put well hands and fingers, etc. A bad technique can lead even to a serous injury, There are many bassists (like Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth) that for not having a basic technique and try to play cool instead comfortability can't almost play their instruments now.

3/ Also learning the basics of harmony, like notes, the basic scales, etc. is a must for every bassist. Well ,maybe for Sid Vicious not .

 

[DogPlaysBass]

HAHA yeah I have had that happen too. I am always surprised when that happens. The kid can't even plug in his bass but he wants to learn Dream Theater.

As long as you understand playing music needs to be fun we don't have any problems.

 

[DogPlaysBass]

Hi, I'm the one that wrote the message you are talking about. If you read (the top mresage on page 2) it you will see that:

1/ I know that this guy is beginner and my advice was not intended to make him learn jazz or prog. I just told him an advice for recognizing a good teacher from a bad one.

2/ So my idea of a few classes is a teacher that learn just basics of the technique: how to put well hands and fingers, etc. A bad technique can lead even to a serous injury, There are many bassists (like Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth) that for not having a basic technique and try to play cool instead comfortability can't almost play their instruments now.

3/ Also learning the basics of harmony, like notes, the basic scales, etc. is a must for every bassist. Well ,maybe for Sid Vicious not .

Hey, I don't use the quote function as often as I should and that causes some confusion.

Anyway, learning notes and theory and harmony is absolutely not a must. Obviously the advantages are tremendous. But if a kid wants to make up their own music theory and give the notes new names I say go for it. If a kid wants to detune his strings and have subsonic experiments for a year I say go for it. Theory and harmony and note names help but they are not a must.

Otherwise I agree with you all the way. We have no problems.

 

[pbassist]

Well, Paul McCartney didn't know much about music theory, that's right. Anyway, as the guy that started this thread was asking for advice, my advice is to get a solid base, not everybody is Paul, and talking with the rest of the band with things like "3rd string 5th fret" would only work for very basic stuff, remember that in a band you need to communicate with others.

I remember when I started playing and what I got was ending each rehearsal with hisses in the ears... was funny as I was playing playing with more people, but musically it was not as funny as it could seems (fortunately I got a teacher time later and I also started learning other styles for my own, what really helped even for playing simple 3-note stuff).

 

[JimmyM]

Hey, I don't use the quote function as often as I should and that causes some confusion.

Anyway, learning notes and theory and harmony is absolutely not a must. Obviously the advantages are tremendous. But if a kid wants to make up their own music theory and give the notes new names I say go for it. If a kid wants to detune his strings and have subsonic experiments for a year I say go for it. Theory and harmony and note names help but they are not a must.

Otherwise I agree with you all the way. We have no problems.

Again, it's all in what you want to do. Pissing off the neighbors vs. learning to play well. The people who have learned how to play well and not learn things like chord structure and harmony, even on the most basic level, are few and far between. The vast majority of kids who don't learn rudimentary concepts of music theory never get past the subsonic experiments stage, their experiments a dismal failure from not knowing what to do next. Then their bass sits under the bed for 10 years until they sell it for cheap.

I always answer questions on here assuming that the person asking the question wants a real answer. And I always assume the person wants to get better. Pretending they're going to get good results from blindly making noise on their instruments with no clue of anything or suggesting they don't get a teacher when it's the #2 reason why most of us who are good at playing bass got there (#1 is a good work ethic) isn't going to help a person get better.

I think the thing that bothers me most is it seems like you're separating the concepts of having fun vs. working. I think working to achieve a goal and achieving it is the most fun you can have. Believe me...I have a whole lot more fun with the bass now, being able to play it well and do most of the things I want to do with it, than I ever had when I was just aimlessly whacking at it. And I had a lot of fun working at it...I learned things in my lessons that I was able to apply to the music I REALLY liked, and I got better and better and more skilled and had even more fun.

So I could never tell a kid just to go bang on the bass for a year or just have fun with it and not worry about notes or structure because it's way more fun to be good at it. Kids don't need to be told to just go bang on a bass. They'll do that anyway. They need to be told that there's a whole new world of expression in that bass if they're willing to put in a little effort in finding it.

 

[JimmyM]

Well, Paul McCartney didn't know much about music theory, that's right.

Slight correction...Paul knows TONS about music theory. He just doesn't know how to read music. But he knows every note and chord he's playing and how it relates to the song.

 

[pbassist]

Slight correction...Paul knows TONS about music theory. He just doesn't know how to read music. But he knows every note and chord he's playing and how it relates to the song.

Ok, sorry for the mistake . I knew that he played piano before joining The Beatles, but I was not sure if he just didn't knew reading or if he played completely by hear.