sevenstring guitars   sevenstring registry   photo gallery 
Sevenstring.org - The Seven String Guitar Authority  

Go Back   Sevenstring.org ť Bass Guitar Discussion
  
Bass Guitar Discussion All bass guitar related discussion here.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-22-2009, 05:34 PM   #1
phantom911
ss.org Regular
 
phantom911's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 389
Thanked: 3
phantom911 is a jewel in the rough
Transitioning to bass..

Ive been playing guitar for about 5 years now, but im going to play bass in my friend's death metal band. Im trying to not just play like im playing guitar but on a bass. What are some good exercises to get my plucking hand up to speed (dont wanna rely on using a pick)
__________________
i went to a ninja parade, but i didn't see any ninjas
Offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2009, 03:56 AM   #2
TemjinStrife
Power Metal Cellist
 
TemjinStrife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,932
Thanked: 15
TemjinStrife is just really niceTemjinStrife is just really nice
Do a Google search on "floating thumb technique." If you learn that way starting, it will help you LOADS down the line.

Also, it definitely helps to get used to two- and three-finger fingerstyle. Practice with a metronome a little bit each day, making sure the attack on each finger is as homogenous as possible. Practice gallops, stutters, and consistent notes. There are some excellent "spider" string skipping/fingerstyle exercises on Talkbass as well, search for those and play around with them.

Also, for death metal, don't be afraid to use a pick occasionally. I trade off fingerstyle and pick in my indie band between songs, and sometimes during songs depending on what sort of sound/vibe I'm going for. I'm still more accurate at high speeds or with complex rhythms with a pick, but I groove better, skip strings better, and can control note length (and have a deeper tone) with fingers.
Offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2009, 01:28 PM   #3
Bevo
ss.org Regular
 
Bevo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 715
Thanked: 9
Bevo is a jewel in the rough
Josh has great advice.

I will add the simple advice, practice as much as you can.
Obvious yes but scales can only go so far, mixing up the music and playing something you don't know will make your brain work harder to memorize the strings and neck.

Once you know where your frets and strings are its smooth sailing..
Offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2009, 10:17 PM   #4
NickCormier
 
NickCormier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Moncton/Halifax
Posts: 4,171
Thanked: 75
NickCormier is a glorious beacon of lightNickCormier is a glorious beacon of lightNickCormier is a glorious beacon of light
I recently switched from guitar (5 years also, a 2 year music diploma on guitar too) to bass almost 100% in May, and now I pretty much consider myself a Bassist. I am selling off almost all my guitars. Bass is just that awesome.

Floating thumb definately took my playing to the next level, its just a pain in the ass at first but after afew months its worth it.

Death metal picking, is difficult, I dont know if I could do it right now.. In the one "tech metal" band I played a show for, I had to use a pick, it woulda been almost impossible for fingers, esp for me at that time (just a guitarist, playing bass).. But yeh, if you want to use your fingers that badly, get ready for hours apon hours of metronome work. Only way to get fast enough.
Offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2009, 11:23 AM   #5
phantom911
ss.org Regular
 
phantom911's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 389
Thanked: 3
phantom911 is a jewel in the rough
Would you be able to go a little more in depth abouth the floating thumb technique'
__________________
i went to a ninja parade, but i didn't see any ninjas
Offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-25-2009, 01:28 PM   #6
TemjinStrife
Power Metal Cellist
 
TemjinStrife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,932
Thanked: 15
TemjinStrife is just really niceTemjinStrife is just really nice
Honestly, look it up yourself. There's no way I can explain it that is better than some of the page-long articles with how-to videos that are easily accessible.
Offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2009, 04:38 PM   #7
velvetkevorkian
ss.org Regular
 
velvetkevorkian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 154
Thanked: 0
velvetkevorkian will become famous soon enough
Here's an intro for the lazy

This is definitely THE technique to use, especially if you're using a bass with more than four strings IMO.
__________________
"Words are the language of lies and evasion. Music cannot lie. Music speaks to the heart."

Burning Earth: Epic Powerthrash
Offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2009, 05:31 PM   #8
MF_Kitten
Fully Ramblomatic
 
MF_Kitten's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sandnes, Norway
Posts: 6,429
Thanked: 245
MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.MF_Kitten is pretty much the man.
i just use a pick and play it like a monster sized guitar, kinda. other than that, i do standard fingerstyle and slapping. i'm not fast without the pick though :P

i started out on bass actually, mostly doing standard finger-style and slapping. then my bass teacher noticed i was better when i used a pick, and told me to ignore what the "standard" methods were, and just go with what made sense to me. i kinda like the picked bass sound better for stuff that demands clarity and precision. the brighter sound just makes more sense to me.

anyways, look up some videos of death metal bass players. i remember some good ones being posted here earlier...

death metal bassists that play fingerstyle often have their action extra low and use thinner strings, so they can play lighter and still have every note sound "hard". the lower action also lets the strings slap about a little more, and get a clunky attack that rings through very well. for triplets and stuff, i've seen players sneak in an extra finger, using three fingers. i tried it, and it's not too hard to learn.

if you plan on using your thumb for slapping or "thumb picking", then you should start getting that baby ready. when i knew i was getting a bass for my confirmation, i warmed up for months, just playing "thumb slap drums" on stuff. i was a huge korn fan, so i sat around listening to their music while slapping the table/desk with my thumb as if it was a bass string. i had the rhythm and durability down by the time i actually got the bass

so get those strings a bit lower, and maybe switch to thinner strings if you aren't going to tune it down. you should be able to get the notes loud as if you were playing it hard, when you're actually playing softer. this lets you go faster without wearing your arms out.

i could keep on stating the obvious, but i'll let you go on with it
__________________
--------------------------------------
What will metal be doing in ten years? What ever Meshuggah will be doing in two.
-Anthony
Online Now   Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2009, 06:37 PM   #9
All_Ľour_Bass
Ping & I ♥ π
 
All_Ľour_Bass's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: T3H 1NT@RW3BZ!!!!1!11!!
Posts: 4,969
Thanked: 65
All_Ľour_Bass has much to be proud ofAll_Ľour_Bass has much to be proud ofAll_Ľour_Bass has much to be proud ofAll_Ľour_Bass has much to be proud ofAll_Ľour_Bass has much to be proud ofAll_Ľour_Bass has much to be proud ofAll_Ľour_Bass has much to be proud of
+1 to light string and low action.
It's how my bass is set up. It's a 4 stringer tuned DGCF with a 90 75 60 40 stainless steel string set, played primarily pick style. It's bright, clanky, and easy to play, I love it.
__________________
STARBUCKS IST KRIEG!!
"Didja hear? Arthur gleeps !!!!"

"The Metal Zone, I'll probably get rid of. It sounds like a stadium full of angry-vuvuzela-equipped-soccer-fans." - Moro

"WE MAY BE PIRATES, BUT WERE NOT BARBARIANS... we'll let them keep the toilet paper" - Tiesel
Offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2009, 02:30 PM   #10
Longhair
ss.org Regular
 
Longhair's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 5
Thanked: 4 / 1
Longhair will become famous soon enough
I found this to be very helpful:

Free Bass Guitar Lesson: Left Hand Technique
Offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
beginner bass

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
A N00bs Tail: All Your Bass Belong To Me [H&S Bass+Agile+Schecter+orchestra content] TimSE Sevenstring Guitars 34 09-06-2010 12:35 PM
Your Favourite Bass Player's Rig/Style File; A Geeky Bass Encyclopedia... Bo Millward Bass Guitar Discussion 11 01-16-2010 11:08 AM
FS Dimarzio X2N7/Some pedals/Bass guitar in parts/bass combo amp Demoniac Gear For Sale / Trade/ Wanted 31 06-20-2009 09:10 AM
SX BG1K OWL Bass Pack VS. Rogue LX205B Series II 5-String Bass twiztedchild Bass Guitar Discussion 11 11-27-2008 08:20 AM
WTB A bass neck or bass guitar for parts (shipped to Finland) Swever Gear For Sale / Trade/ Wanted 0 11-15-2008 07:44 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:20 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.