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Would you take lessons from this guy?

#22
Originally posted by Hategear
Are you joking? You have never met the guitarist from my old band, have you? He's the only guy I ever knew whose talent and knowledge of his instrument actually decreased the more he played.

I wonder if that guy's program includes a hat like the one he's wearing in that photo? "No self-respecting bassist would even think of playing a single note, without first donning this official Joe Pacciano hat."

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ROTFL!!! :p
 
#26
Originally posted by thrash_jazz
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Notice the bad technique - thumb over neck! :mad:

Other stuff removed....
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I'm just curious.... What's wrong with your thumb over the neck like that?

I know it's not the "normal" way to play your bass.... I don't usually play like that. But, on occasion, I'll actually use my thumb to fret notes on the E string (it helps me on the Beatles - Come Together).

It was actually something I started doing because I was having trouble getting my fingers to move from the A to the D string real quickly. It's a technique that Jimi Hendrix used a lot, and for me, it's easier to play the song that way.

The wrong way, may not always be the right way, but it can be the easy way.... If it sounds good, why not use it?

Just my $.02

Brent
 
#27
Originally posted by 98dvl
I'm just curious.... What's wrong with your thumb over the neck like that?
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It's not something you teach your students.

Why not?

Because with the thumb over the neck you can't play as FAST as you can do otherwise, and FAST is all that matters when playing an instrument! I don't thumb-wrap and I can play FAST, I am speed king I tell ya, I will rule the world!

I am bassvirtuoso13! :D
 
#28
Originally posted by 98dvl


I'm just curious.... What's wrong with your thumb over the neck like that?

I know it's not the "normal" way to play your bass.... I don't usually play like that. But, on occasion, I'll actually use my thumb to fret notes on the E string (it helps me on the Beatles - Come Together).

It was actually something I started doing because I was having trouble getting my fingers to move from the A to the D string real quickly. It's a technique that Jimi Hendrix used a lot, and for me, it's easier to play the song that way.

The wrong way, may not always be the right way, but it can be the easy way.... If it sounds good, why not use it?

Just my $.02

Brent
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If you use thumb-over-neck technique, you will have lots of trouble adjusting to basses with bigger necks than you're used to. Unless you have huge hands, it's impossible on most 5-strings. For smaller-handed players it limits them to Js, Ibanezes, and other basses with small, rounded necks.
 
#29
Originally posted by 98dvl

It was actually something I started doing because I was having trouble getting my fingers to move from the A to the D string real quickly.
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Actually, the best way to facilitate quick and easy movement between strings (not to mention up and down the fingerboard) is to keep your thumb anchored at the centerline of the back of the neck.

And about certain techniques being "easier"...becoming good, I mean really good at something is never "easy". The kind of technique required to be truly proficient is hard to master. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try. And try. And keep trying. There's a concept we old-timers call "woodshedding" that unfortunately most students won't commit to. It refers to locking yourself in the proverbial woodshed and not coming out until you got it down. It can be expected that an average student will want to take the easy way out, but it's totally unacceptable for a teacher to have that attitude.
 
#31
Originally posted by Hategear
But shouldn't it come down to what's comfortable and works for the guy doing the playing? You don't always have to do it the hard way to do it the right way.
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What if he gets stuck in a rut and his skills won't improve? (Not that everyone wants to improve but only have fun, but still.)
 
#32
All good advice I'm sure :D

I'm sure that positioning your thumb on the center of the neck is good technique for playing fast. 99.95% of the time I play, this is where my thumb is.

But, I'm sure there are also times when it'd be helpful to place your thumb on top of the neck. Suppose you were trying to play some chords or something (that's why Jimi Hendrix used his thumb while playing).... It could be helpful.

Now, was this what Joe Pacciano had in mind when posing for this picture? Probably not....

I guess I'm just playing a little devil's advocate here.

Sometimes, I think it's good to think out of the box.... It helps to develop new techniques, new sounds, new styles, etc.

I'm sure there was a time when some cat was slapping and popping the strings on his bass and others said "Hey bro, you've really got some bad technique there." But, new things have to start somewhere.

I just think it's important to keep your mind open. If something works, that doesn't necessarialy mean that it's "wrong".

To me, what's important is how something sounds while it's played.... not how it's played.

For all we know... J.P. has some crazy new techniques in that book of his on e-bay! ;) (Although, I'm not gonna be the first to buy it to find out!!!!)

:cool:
 
#33
Originally posted by Oysterman
What if he gets stuck in a rut and his skills won't improve? (Not that everyone wants to improve but only have fun, but still.)
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Well, at least you'd be in synch with that guitar player that's been playing for 30 years and hasn't learned anything new in 29.

:D

I know, I know -- I'm being a smart-arse!
 
#34
Originally posted by 98dvl


I'm just curious.... What's wrong with your thumb over the neck like that?
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Sorry, that didn't come out the way I intended... just blinded with rage at Joe P.'s disrespect for our instrument :)

There isn't anything WRONG with it, per se, but it isn't very efficient. Actually, that's the way I originally learned to play (I first learned from guitar-playing friends). Thing is, once I got into more difficult stuff and UNLEARNED that, things got a whole lot easier.

Proper thumb placement is one of the most basic things a teacher should stress. I don't know about you folks, but I'd run and not look back from a teacher who played his bass the way Joe poses with his... :eek:
 
#35
I have an idea: How about we make a crappy instructional video for guitar?

Oh I can see it now, Jazzbo presents: Failed Bass Player.

-Make a great solo from only an E minor pentatonic!

-Learn how to play a power chord!

-Learn how to turn up your amp so that only you can be heard!

Oh, wait a second... they figured all that out already by themselves. Clever buggers.
 

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