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Slide on bass

Fynn

Fynn

Jan 6, 2022
1,152
1,406
25
Germany
#1
I'm a huge fan of slide guitar, and I generally like the few instances where bass players do a little bit of slide playing, but I've never quite got it to work correctly. I don't really know what the problem is. I feel like I have to apply way more pressure on bass with a slide, compared to guitar. Is that just a thing, or am I doing something wrong?
What would happen if I put flats on the bass and use the slide with that? Does anybody have any experience with that? And what about piccolo strings with a slide? Would that just sound like a normal guitar?

I'll probably end up getting another guitar and putting that in an open tuning, but I'm still open and interested in experimenting.
 
#9
blastoff said:
my one tip is the heavier slide the better. like thick brass. a little glass slide will just rattle on big ol bass strings. you need that mass. i imagine lighter strings work better. my thomastik flats seem to work great. i always loved Chris Wood's slide bass style like on this track
Click to expand...


Thick brass, a little glass, you need that mass...nice lyrics, bro.
 
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#10
Fynn said:
I'm a huge fan of slide guitar, and I generally like the few instances where bass players do a little bit of slide playing, but I've never quite got it to work correctly. I don't really know what the problem is. I feel like I have to apply way more pressure on bass with a slide, compared to guitar. Is that just a thing, or am I doing something wrong?
What would happen if I put flats on the bass and use the slide with that? Does anybody have any experience with that? And what about piccolo strings with a slide? Would that just sound like a normal guitar?

I'll probably end up getting another guitar and putting that in an open tuning, but I'm still open and interested in experimenting.
Click to expand...


@Passinwind plays a fair amount of slide bass. Maybe he will offer some pointers.

I know nothing [on this subject] so unsub!

Good luck!
 
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#11
Fynn said:
I'm a huge fan of slide guitar, and I generally like the few instances where bass players do a little bit of slide playing, but I've never quite got it to work correctly. I don't really know what the problem is. I feel like I have to apply way more pressure on bass with a slide, compared to guitar. Is that just a thing, or am I doing something wrong?
What would happen if I put flats on the bass and use the slide with that? Does anybody have any experience with that? And what about piccolo strings with a slide? Would that just sound like a normal guitar?

I'll probably end up getting another guitar and putting that in an open tuning, but I'm still open and interested in experimenting.
Click to expand...
I play slide bass on one of my band's songs. In my experience, heavier slide = better sound on bass. If the slide is too light, it just vibrates with the string and robs the string's energy. Heavier slide = more inertia = less vibration = energy stays in the string.
 
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#12
Fynn said:
I'm a huge fan of slide guitar, and I generally like the few instances where bass players do a little bit of slide playing, but I've never quite got it to work correctly. I don't really know what the problem is. I feel like I have to apply way more pressure on bass with a slide, compared to guitar. Is that just a thing, or am I doing something wrong?
What would happen if I put flats on the bass and use the slide with that? Does anybody have any experience with that? And what about piccolo strings with a slide? Would that just sound like a normal guitar?

I'll probably end up getting another guitar and putting that in an open tuning, but I'm still open and interested in experimenting.
Click to expand...
I've done it. Maybe needs a little more pressure than guitar, though that hasn't jumped out at me.

Never tried it with flats, but I bet piccolo strings would sound more like a guitar. I played past the 24th fret on the high C of a six string and with distortion it ended up sounding just like a guitar on the recording.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in this thread is compression is your friend, big time. You may already know since you've played slide on guitar, but just in case...
 
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#18
I did it once in awhile, just 'cause. Never wanted to make it a thing with me, but if I have an empty beer bottle around, I'd do some slide stuff on the D and G strings for giggles during some songs.

Having never advanced that style, it's at the level of 'stupid pet trick' for me and entertains the crowd.

Pro Tip: Ensure the bottle is empty. Any sloshing beer can slosh out onto the neck and strings. And the sloshing throws off accuracy. Ask me how I know this stuff... LOL
 
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#19
I could've mentioned that Morphine is one of the few instances, where I've heard slide bass before haha
I'm not sure how much I can take from Mark though. It sounds like he's playing rounds, has always some amount of grit on his tone, and of course he used that 2 string bass mostly. Anybody know anything about tuning? Is it just a 4th between the 2 strings?
 

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