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Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | After putting up with, and firing a lot of bassists that do that "boopity bippity bop" thing over and over non-stop, I've come to REALLY appreciate the rare bassist that unashamedly uses a plectrum - God bless them all! My current bassist uses plectrum only.
It's a matter of personal preference. I started playing bass in my moms church at age 10, using a pick. Today when I play bass, it's 99.9 % fingers or thumb - a lot of thumb actually (going for a specific tone). I say go with whatever is most comfortable with you. Each has a unique tone.
As for spending time learning bass vs. guitar, I always viewed the two side by side. As a kid, whenever I was learning something on the guitar, it was important for me to figure out what to do with the bass line as well. The same thing with the drums too, but I'm not a very good drummer. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
Anybody can use a pick... Ya really know how to hurt a guy... 
:D |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | learn how to play guitar first. then bass.
Everyone knows that.
How many bass players does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but the guitar player has to show him how to do it. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I played bass for 20+ years and used both a pic and fingers. It really depends on the sound you are looking for. Since we played a lot of progrock and our original stuff tended to lean that way, I used a pick the majority of the time.
You can't get a Squire or Entwistle sound using your fingers. Some may disagree but they are wrong :cool: . |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by alpep:
Originally posted by fillhixx:
B - Bass is a percussion instrument, not a melodic instrument. .. stanley clarke
jaco pastorious
victor wooten
bootsy collins
jack bruce
john entwistle
les claypool
jack cassady
etc etc etc would probably all disagree
In the meantime, he won't be competing with the lead player and singer for the melody line.
I am currently helping a friend learn upright bass and that's his major hangup. Most of what he hears in a song is the melody line, he plays along with that, and the rhythm of the song gets lost.
I play with a pick sometimes later in the night when my hands are tired. It's only become an issue as I get older. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | guess what.
even a drum can be a melodic instrument.
it is all in the player.
sure play to the root and 5th lock in with the drummer and you got it.
but what I object to is the use of "blanket statements" they always bothered me. Perhaps blame it on the teacher in me. I don't know.
I worked with a woman once who would come out with stupid stuff like "American's believe" and I would say but I don't agree or believe that. And she would stop dead in her tracks. By the time the end of the school year happened she would start to say "American's except Alex believe" kinda ludicrious but it illustrates my point. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I agree. All blanket statements are false.
Sounds like the start of a beer fueled agreement to me....... 
However; like teaching phonics and spelling, if you have good fundamentals you will never go wrong.
I used to cringe at all the ski instructors teaching beginners to snowplow so that, years later when they're out of control at high speed and revert-in-panic to basic training....they cross their tips, throw a ski, and maybe tear a knee or hip joint if they don't pile into a tree first.
Build on basics. Jam with Jaco after you've got the beat in your blood. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I saw Entwhistle using his fingers most of the time |
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January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Originally posted by fillhixx:
All blanket statements are false.
Isn't that a blanket statement?
;) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I sang bass. The bass is the foundation for the melody and harmonies. That was when I was a teenager and wanted to play and sing lead.
Drummers are the ones that can't carry a tune or read music, but, hopefully, have a sense of rhythm. I didn't say anything about a blanket there. |
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May 2008
Posts: 1561
Location: Indiana | Hopefully this will come off as disagreeing agreeably...
First, "Drummers are the ones that can't carry a tune or read music". While I've certainly known many drummer's who couldn't sing, most professional's read very well. In fact, I've worked with many drummer's who had a deeper knowledge of music theory than the rest of the band.
As for the pick verses finger conversation, we're talking two distinctly different styles/sounds here--- not right or wrong. While playing with a pick is definitely in the minority in this era of bassists, there are still times when it is THE sound needed for a particular track.
Remember, Carol Kay played on literally thousands of hit records, commercials, movie and TV scores... all with a pick.
Today's 2 cents from the peanut gallery. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | If my daughter ever dumps her drummer boyfriend my attitude might change, but my sarcasm probably won't. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
I saw Entwhistle using his fingers most of the time Yeah, but did he always know what key he was playing in?
You guys should see and hear Keller play bass when he gets wound up. Pretty damned good and very melodic..... |
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March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Lead bass with Bass pick.
Rythym bass with fingers.
How's 'zat? |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Moody, John actually said that. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Slap and pop takes both thumb and fingers.
But this thread was for someone starting out.
I stand by my position as 'stand alone' information
though almost everyone's point of view has some
validity. (Except Marks view on drummers, but he
has no perspective on the matter at the moment.) |
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May 2008
Posts: 160
Location: Montana | Thanks for the feedback! I think I'll go for it. So I'm assuming that the place to start for a beginner is a 4 string electric rather than the 4+ stringed or acoustic/electric? I've never seen or heard one of the acoustic/electric types played but I can't really see the advantage as I'll be playing with electric guitars. And I assume that more strings just makes a wider neck and more complexity for a beginner. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Some of you are missing my point. I never said fingers are better than pick, and my input was not intentded to provoke debate about which method is better. I use both methods too - depends on the song and what 'feel' I'm striving for.
My point is, he's learning. Using a pick is easy, let's face it. We can all use a pick. Using individual fingers is harder.
All I'm saying is, while you're learning, just use your fingers. When you feel comfortable/competent, use whatever string striking method suits the song/style you're playing.
Learning fingerstyle (guitar OR bass) is difficult and time consuming. No-one needs to 'learn' how to use a pick. Before you all jump on me with examples and contradictions, remember we're talking about beginners here. |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Scott, don't start off with an acoustic bass. You'll more than likely get drowned out by the acoustic guitars if you're jammin' and need some amplification - just to be heard.
So, if you're gonna need a practice amp just to be heard, you may as well buy a regular electric bass to start with.
My suggestion, without knowing what style of music you're into, would be a traditional 4 string. I had a 5 string once and only used it on 2 songs.
To get back to one of your original questions, "can a guitarist get to a playable level on bass fairly quickly?"
Absolutely!  |
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May 2008
Posts: 160
Location: Montana | OK, I know that this is not the "for sale" section but there's lots of bass players/owners on this thread so here goes. I have a very beautiful hand drum of this variety:
http://www.joyfuldrums.com/
Anyone have a playable bass that they would be interested in a trade or partial trade for a hand drum? |
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March 2006
Posts: 482
Location: enid, ok | Man! No love for Percy Jones... |
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September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I taught myself bass in the 8th grade on a beat up cheap electric with the top 2 strings broken...thus....a four string bass.
I am not by any stretch anything more than an intermediate bass player, but still consider it my primary instrument.
I am a HUGE Carvin fan which is no secret, and Carvin basses are possibly the most bang for the buck you can find. Especially four string older versions.
I also owned a Washburn ABT B100 for many years and found it to be a decent instrument and you can get them in the $200 range used.
My LB75P was picked up on the bay for $675 and it is a gorgeous all walnut number.
You ask how to start playing bass. First lesson for casual playing is to remember that the RIGHT chord is the bass cord when presented like this D/F#. Next lesson is yes....same bar chord fingerings work on the bottom four notes of a chord for bass applications. Finally, try to move away from using your thumb on the bass, but rather, your index and middle finger for your picking. Many folks moving from guitar to bass, use only their thumb to pluck the strings...break that habit early. Okay to use the thumb, but fingers will give you more flexibility as you expand.
Again...I am no expert and perhaps this post proves that, but hopefully all input is welcome. |
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October 2008
Posts: 489
| Originally posted by alpep:
the idea that a bass player just plays
boom boom boom
to the down beat is boring and not very musical.
sure that is what most bass players do but why be most bass players??? Because that's what bass does. It is a support instrument and as someone wisely pointed out, a percussive instrument - a powerful one at that.
Even in the most skilled hands, ie those of Pastorious, Wooten, et al, lead bass is interesting for about 30 seconds. |
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Learning to play bass?
