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Right hand technique

TheCrazyJoe

TheCrazyJoe

Jul 30, 2018
19
16
#1
I've been playing bass for just over 4 years now, and have had some success with it. I play in a band, at church, open mics, bass busking, jam sessions... you know, what you are all likely doing.

Anyway, I've noticed my right hand technique has degraded a bit. I've been so busy learning songs and getting the timing right for recordings that instead of a consistent alternating two finger style, I find myself pecking with one finger a lot.

Frustrated with myself and spending some time in each practice with just a metronome and playing scales with alternating two finger. I never was too concerned about absolute consistency, but I can see I'm getting sloppy.
 
#2
The biggest question to me would be: is that actually a hindrance? Have you ever felt like it limits you?

If no, then good. If yes, you know what to do. But it sounds like you've been successful so far.

Just as an example: I've been trying to incorporate my ring finger on my right hand because I see potential in it. However, the classic two finger style has always been more than adequate for me and I wouldn't technically gain anything substantial by going the extra mile.
 
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#3
TheCrazyJoe said:
I've been playing bass for just over 4 years now, and have had some success with it. I play in a band, at church, open mics, bass busking, jam sessions... you know, what you are all likely doing.

Anyway, I've noticed my right hand technique has degraded a bit. I've been so busy learning songs and getting the timing right for recordings that instead of a consistent alternating two finger style, I find myself pecking with one finger a lot.

Frustrated with myself and spending some time in each practice with just a metronome and playing scales with alternating two finger. I never was too concerned about absolute consistency, but I can see I'm getting sloppy.
Click to expand...

What's the problem? Jamerson plucked with only one finger.

But maybe add more plucking centered excercises and that will help correct if it bothers you. Try playing something like "Some Kind of Wonderful" to practice two finger plucking for a while and you will correct it.
 
#6
What you struggle to play at speed, you should slow down the tempo and see what's tripping you up, put some focused thought into correct it, watch your hand as you play. Keep playing it slow until it's second nature, then bump the tempo up.. if you can make it through 4 passes without messing up, up the tempo again, rinse repeat until you're playing it at speed.

I have bass lines that I wrote, practiced for hours on end, but because time passes without playing it every day or even every week, I've tripped over it. Slowing down usually shows me what's causing me to trip, as well as gives me a chance to train the muscle memory to do it right. IME It's something that has to be maintained.

Often, it's just a matter of getting used to something.
 
#7
I'm happy to report that I've already seen marked improvement and feel more comfortable playing bass again. It appears that a good part of the problem was simply strap height. I had lowered the bass a few months ago, thinking it would help with some soreness I was having in my right wrist and forearm. I think that broke my technique. Now that I've raised it back, it feels much more comfortable and I find myself automatically falling back into my alternating two-finger.... very happy about that
 
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