What are some lesser-known bassguitar techniques?

[rtslinger]

I am going to go with one I learned long ago from bass instructor. Correct left hand positioning. When you fret the note you want to be as close to the metal fret itself for a clean note

 

[Smoove-Groove]

Doug Wimbish has an interesting flamenco slap technique

 

[ahbass2500]

Whatever you want to call this (meaning I have no idea if it has a name). Audio quality is not great, but has good video of what Adam is doing with his right hand (basically thumb then all fingers very quickly; looks like he is barely moving).

 

[Medicine Man]

That typo almost caused me to do a spit take.

Ethically. Doh.

 

[Ostie]

Plucking with the pad of your thumb is sometimes used by reggae bassists for a warm, rounded sound with very little attack.

Tony Levin used to have custom drumsticks attached to his fingers for a slap-type sound.

Bryan Beller (i think) has a fast fingerstyle picking technique for very fast 16th notes where he wiggles his finger basically like a pick.

Tony did a thing where the drummer played the strings with his sticks and Tony fingered the notes. I can’t remember which song, maybe Sledgehammer?

 

[BismarckHerring]

You're familiar with slides and glissandos, but have you ever played with a slide?

 

[mambo4]

with apologies for being that guy...
command of fundamentals and a vast repertoire will put your playing on the "next level" better than obscure techniques

 

[Snaxster]

Single string passages, especially with large interval jumps (not glissando) are useful for various things: getting out of a tight corner of the fingerboard during improvisation, pivoting from one region of the fingerboard to another, or simply enabling more fingering pattern options within one and across multiple strings.

 

[sethlow3]

I've never seen them done much on EBG, but sweeps maybe. Some would debate their usefulness, but you specifically asked about niche techniques...

Actually what’s been coolest to me is if you pivot all of the metal sweep arpeggio stuff to slower, more soulful/funky lines, you find all kinds of uses for it, but really… it’s no more complex than a fingerstyle player doing a rake.

 

[scott sinner]

Artificial Harmonics. Im listing separate as they are a different technique than True Harmonics......similar to a pick harmonic: Quickly pluck the string and mute with thumb side. You can also pluck and mute with pinky to go across the strings like 80s hair metal guitar players...You can do stuff like the ZZ Top LaGrange guitar solo going up and down one string if you want...I do a few artificial harmonics in this vid starting about 3:24 (cued a little before for context) for anyone that isnt familiar with them

Very much overlaps with this, I often simply tap with my fingers or thumb, like traditional thumb slapping but ON the artificial harmonics.

 

[gotly]

Plucking with the pad of your thumb is sometimes used by reggae bassists for a warm, rounded sound with very little attack.

I recently joined a gigging reggae group and have been using this technique a bunch! I play a Kala U-Bass for smaller gigs and it's super comfy wrapping my arm around the instrument and using this technique for slower songs.

 

[Aidenn7]

4 finger tap 32nd & 64th note.. left hand fretboard slap.. banjo patterns.. strumming.. staccato ghost note combos.. odd time fills

 

[scott sinner]

So simple of a thing I almost don't think it merits mentioning, but I don't regularly see people do it (on purpose ha). I call it 'faux bowing' - very simply, scraping roundwounds with the finger tips.

I wish I had a less staccato example of it, but I more often have done it live and replaced it with a synth or actual bowed bass on recordings.

Did that at :31+ here

 

[Jared Houseman]

Rob Scallion has an interesting "slap" technique that's closer to a flamenco type strum

i like it for chordal stuff/rhythmic strumming

 

[scuzzy]

I am likely wrong, but I always thought Ryan Martinie's technique was unique. If I recall the BP interview, he uses the string like a trampoline for his right hand fingers.

 

[jutty17]

When I want to "pick play" but don't have one, I hold my index fingertip between my thumb and middle finger, and pick with the nail, back and forth, just like a real pick.

This is the only way I can pick. Somehow I can do this, skip strings and play fine. But put a pick in my fingers, and I lose any ability to play at all, I can't even hold the darn thing, it slips around or I drop it. I leave the nail on my right index finger a little long just for this.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Chuck Rainey and others do this too......I thought it was something I invented in the 90s out of boredom playing in a 5-Night a week hotel houseband ...boy, was I wrong lol

Been using this up plucking with my right index finger nail for about the last six months or so. Just came to me one day. Thought i was the only one.

 

[JimmyM]

Sliding my mic stand up and down the neck with fuzz cranked.

 

[Trailertrash74]

Remco...Whoa!!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

William Murderface of DEATHKLOK has quite an interesting technique that he uses to play his solo.

However since this is a family friendly forum, i don't dare to post it here. (Can be found easily on Youtube).

William Murderface, Dethklok's bassist, has a unique style featured in his live soloing that I'd recommend passing on!

Headbutting a Danish prince, right?