Press lightly and just practice that shaking motion for a while. It's tough at first, but becomes easier.
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Sliding from one fret to another repetitively
- Thread starter StuntBacon
- Start date
Okay, press lightly. Good, that's what I thought.
Any exercises to get the shaking movement of the hand less stiff? My hand is moving like I have Parkinson's, not the kind of even shake I want.
Any exercises to get the shaking movement of the hand less stiff? My hand is moving like I have Parkinson's, not the kind of even shake I want.
I would say "A One Fingered Trill". Guitarist Phil UpChurch used this technique alot with whole chords!
First, it sounds better on a fretless.... you can even make it sound like when a DJ shakes records.
Anyways, technique? Hmmm, slide up to the next octave and after a short pause at the fret (like milliseconds) slide up to 2 or 3 frets up then 3 or 2 frets down and back to the octave really quickly with just a short milliseconds pause at each fret.
Anyways, technique? Hmmm, slide up to the next octave and after a short pause at the fret (like milliseconds) slide up to 2 or 3 frets up then 3 or 2 frets down and back to the octave really quickly with just a short milliseconds pause at each fret.
I've been using this technique for years, altough I've never had to describe it. I hate to stoop to this but... If you can feign male m*sterb*tion, you can realize this technique. The motion is very similar. Keep a loose wrist and just shake it. This is the key. When I do it, the only thing that remains on the neck is the pinky that I'm sliding around. I remove the thumb from the back when doing this. In examining it, I also see that I am generally sliding over a 2-fret vicinity even if a half step is more diatonically correct. You just don't get that fonk sliding over a single fret.
Hope this helps and sorry for the metaphor,
E.
Hope this helps and sorry for the metaphor,
E.
This was a great thread.
I know exactly what the OP was asking about. Ive been wanting some advice on developing this technique. Seems like when learning to play bass, you get to a level where you can play solos fast and clean but you need to sweeten things up somehow... and a lot of the great players (jaco, tal, bona, etc...) own that "vibrato-like" skill being discussed here which takes their solos to the next level..
Is that Lackland Tal plays a lined-fretless or is her "shake/vibrato" that good? Id like to hear that its possible to get that "shake" with a fretted bass or my efforts will be in vain.
Does anyone else have any advice or things to practice for this skill?
I know exactly what the OP was asking about. Ive been wanting some advice on developing this technique. Seems like when learning to play bass, you get to a level where you can play solos fast and clean but you need to sweeten things up somehow... and a lot of the great players (jaco, tal, bona, etc...) own that "vibrato-like" skill being discussed here which takes their solos to the next level..
Is that Lackland Tal plays a lined-fretless or is her "shake/vibrato" that good? Id like to hear that its possible to get that "shake" with a fretted bass or my efforts will be in vain.
Does anyone else have any advice or things to practice for this skill?
I know he's a guitarist but Greg Howe is a master of this technique. Have a look on Youtube for 'Jammin' on Sunny' . Excellent.
I do this technique and have the habit of doing it with my third finger, with my middle finger up against it and lightly supporting it. The only issue is making sure of accuracy so as to not slip past the target fret. You'll get used to it and find its not really difficult. Fingertips slip off easily BTW, so that is pretty risky.
Thank you very much for all the help everyone! I'm getting gradually better at the technique, using the different suggestions I've been getting. I'm getting new Fodera strings in a week or so, so I may be able to make the action lower, and for those of you insisting the fretless is better, I am going to remove the frets on my old novice bass soon, so I'll give that a try.
That was just too cool!
