Bass Positioning

Bridgehouse

Definitely practise finger technique - so much more flexibility both for getting the notes in and for tonal variety

LuttiS

I love the idea of finger technique, just not strong, fast or reliable enough with the digits!
I do try to do it on slower stuff

ICBM

LuttiS said:

I love the idea of finger technique, just not strong, fast or reliable enough with the digits!
I do try to do it on slower stuff

You can do both - using a pick isn't wrong despite what some bass players will tell you . For fast stuff with a lot of attack it's often better to use one - you can get a sound that you can't with fingers alone.

Bridgehouse

ICBM said:

LuttiS said:

I love the idea of finger technique, just not strong, fast or reliable enough with the digits!
I do try to do it on slower stuff

You can do both - using a pick isn't wrong despite what some bass players will tell you . For fast stuff with a lot of attack it's often better to use one - you can get a sound that you can't with fingers alone.

I do use pick from time to time, and agree it’s totally valid.

Slap is different. Slap is criminal.

LuttiS

Bridgehouse said:

ICBM said:

LuttiS said:

I love the idea of finger technique, just not strong, fast or reliable enough with the digits!
I do try to do it on slower stuff

You can do both - using a pick isn't wrong despite what some bass players will tell you . For fast stuff with a lot of attack it's often better to use one - you can get a sound that you can't with fingers alone.

I do use pick from time to time, and agree it’s totally valid.

Slap is different. Slap is criminal.

Confession time... I like quite like most funk/slap bassy bits ;(

Funkfingers

Bridgehouse

Criminal.

Funkfingers

"Is it because I is black?"

LuttiS

I'm a Bootsy Collins guy  

Funkfingers

LuttiS said:

i'm finding it damn near impossible to play fluidly ... first three frets of the low E ... a couple of spasms ... which i assume is a bad thing. 

It is. 

LuttiS said:

Is it a case of practice and perseverance

Yes.

Of course, it is possible that your instrument requires attention to the nut slots and truss rod adjustment.

LuttiS said:

does anyone have any tips for not being Achey McBasshand?

It is difficult to comprehend what is causing you muscle, ligament or carpel tunnel discomfort without seeing what moves you are making.

Something to work at is a Steve Vai type finger exercise. For any given string and fret position, the index finger takes the lowest fretted note. The middle finger frets the next semi-tone up. The ring finger frets the semi-tone above that. If it will co-operate, the little finger frets the position three semi-tones above the the index finger. 

The exercise is not intended to sound remotely tuneful. It is simply to get the digits moving. Try to establish the lightest possible pressure that gets the notes to sound cleanly. You may need to go easy on the index and middle fingers but increase pressure on the ring and little fingers. If necessary, articulate the elbow and forearm to achieve this.



Nothing shameful about operating within the first four or five fret positions. Many of the world's greatest baselines live there.