Position change at a lightening speed?

[ToshitomoriOh]

I've been trying to copy some songs by looking at some of the TABs on the internet. And, I found this passage...

I'm fine with the first eight Fs, but I've got no idea how I'm supposed to move from F (2nd fret on E string) to A(5th fret on E string) thereafter. Usually, I use my index finger to play the Fs (2nd fret on E string). Any advices are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[the_stone]

Well, first of all, you're not playing the pitch "F". If your bass is in standard tuning, you're playing the pitch "F-sharp".

Regardless - why not play the F# with your first finger and the A with your 4th, then shift to the B? Or play F# with whatever finger you want, then shift to the next note.

So you have 2 options: find a position in which you can play all the pitches without shifting...or work on your shifting.

 

[BassChuck]

Perhaps I'm the dull boy in the corner here, not understanding TAB, but couldn't you play the F#'s with the first finger, the A's open and the B with the first finger? I know the TAB says to do it all on the E string, and perhaps there's a reason for that.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I've been trying to copy some songs by looking at some of the TABs on the internet. And, I found this passage...View attachment 364126

I'm fine with the first eight Fs, but I've got no idea how I'm supposed to move from F (2nd fret on E string) to A(5th fret on E string) thereafter. Usually, I use my index finger to play the Fs (2nd fret on E string). Any advices are appreciated. Thanks.

If you were reading the Standard Notation, you would not have problems with the passage. (Just kidding).
You would play F# on E string and A (open), B, C notes on A string.

 

[dvh]

If you were reading the Standard Notation, you would not have problems with the passage. (Just kidding).
You would play F# on E string and A (open), B, C notes on A string.

Exactly this. No shift required. Quick, efficient. Don't let anyone tell you not to use open strings.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Exactly this. No shift required. Quick, efficient. Don't let anyone tell you not to use open strings.

My advice to the beginner bass player, "Befriend your open strings".

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I've been trying to copy some songs by looking at some of the TABs on the internet. And, I found this passage...View attachment 364126

I'm fine with the first eight Fs, but I've got no idea how I'm supposed to move from F (2nd fret on E string) to A(5th fret on E string) thereafter. Usually, I use my index finger to play the Fs (2nd fret on E string). Any advices are appreciated. Thanks.

Also, I would use only left-hand finger (4) to slide from A to B and from C to B on E string.

 

[Lownote38]

Pointer finger on the F#, pinky on the A (both on E string), then pointer finger on B, and middle finger on C. No open strings or shifting that way.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

hum so all of you won't play the glissando between A and B ? Because if the glissando is important for the articulation you can't use open string ...

 

[Whousedtoplay]

hum so all of you won't play the glissando between A and B ? Because if the glissando is important for the articulation you can't use open string ...

The sign says, "slide", not glissando.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

The sign says, "slide", not glissando.

kind of the same thing on a bass guitar anyway all of you still didn't take that articulation into account

 

[d_town]

This app 'Songsterr' is great by the way.

 

[lowfreq33]

You can slide up from an open string. Just start at the nut.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

You can slide up from an open string. Just start at the nut.

Yes, indeed.

 

[ridethespiral]

Master of puppets?

Not much help here other than practice practice practice. It took me a few days to get that part down. I find that sleeping on it really really helps, as if your brain works on it in your sleep. As soon as your finger is getting ready to strike the note, jump up to the higher position. Timing is key. Try playing it slow until you get it then speed up.

I had to take a screenshot because I can't figure out how to copy it as text. I thought the tabs didn't have slides but they do. I play them as hammer ons from the fifth to the seventh fret and slide down from the eighth fret as normal and it sounds good to my ears. I play the slides in the lower part that comes before though.. Also my tab has the open e string omitted. Hmm.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

Master of puppets?

Not much help here other than practice practice practice. It took me a few days to get that part down. I find that sleeping on it really really helps, as if your brain works on it in your sleep. As soon as your finger is getting ready to strike the note, jump up to the higher position. Timing is key. Try playing it slow until you get it then speed up.

I found a few places with slightly different bass tabs:

Here is Metallica - Master of Puppets - Bass Only - By Cliff Burton


P.S. I also tried the following fingering and it worked:
F# (finger 1) on E string,
A (with finger 4) on E string,
B (with finger 1) on A string,
C (finger 2) on A string,
B (finger 1) on A string,
A (finger 4) on E string, and
B (finger 1) on A string.

 

[ridethespiral]

I think it would lose a lot of the feel from playing it on the e string with at least some slides. Here's the same section as in my last post but I changed the slides to hammer ons to make it easier to play. Still has the feel and is fun to play haha. Once you get used to jumping further up the neck and landing that one note you're good to go. Muscle memory will make it seem like nothing in due time.

Can this songster app lower the tempo and allow you to loop parts? If so do that.

 

[deathsdj]

Hmm... When I play that part I use my pinky to do the slide. It sets up my hand perfectly for what comes next.

Cheers!

MJW

 

[bggeezer]

2 to 5 ain't much of a jump. Index on 2 then ring on 5 sliding up to 7