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PancakeFairy
is O.H.B.
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:16 pm Posts: 642 Location: Manchester, UK
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 bass question
hey guys! *waves*
I've decided to take up bass coz I wanted to do something new.
I was wondering, how many fingers do you recommend I should use? And which order? Which way to play most efficiently? And in odd timings too as well as regular ones. I was told to play 3213 2132 1321 etc, but what do you suggest?
And don't tell me to use a pick
Thank you!
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Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:43 am |
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SambaBoy
Viking Kong
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:44 pm Posts: 6579 Location: Norwegian living in Liverpool, UK
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I'd say three! 
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Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:24 am |
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Baz
Superhero
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2005 6:39 pm Posts: 1571 Location: Scotland
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I use 2 - my index and my middle., and I simply adjust the craning of my thumb (anchored on the pickup) to reach the high strings.
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Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:59 am |
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Resiliance
Godzilla
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2004 4:46 pm Posts: 819 Location: Where routine bites hard and ambitions are low
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It depends. Ideally, you'd use all four. Well, five, if you were going to slap and pop as well
Realistically, it's unlikely you'll ever use all of them, unless you're going to play something Billy Sheehan-esque.
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Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:15 pm |
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nuntius
Superhero
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2004 8:20 pm Posts: 1447
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You'll need to use 3 fingers to do the Steve Harris style gallop
Personally if I don't need to use 3 fingers I find it more comfortable to just use two. I find it most natural to start with my second finger first when picking, but I've never had bass lessons so I don't know how 'correct' that technique is.
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Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:14 pm |
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t0neg0d
is evil...Evil Joe
Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:42 am Posts: 59 Location: Bellevue, WA
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Couple people use three fingers for faster 16th/32nd note progressions. Took a while getting used to this, but makes a world of difference in speed.
1 = index
2 = middle
3 = ring
Starting with you middle finger:
2 1 2 3 - rinse and repeat.
I still tend to default to 2 fingers when playing fast ascending or decending runs... but can do either. Honestly I think the 3 finger approach to 16th/32nd notes sounds cleaner and the attack tends to be more even. Eh... but wtf. Havent met a bass player yet who doesnt rely on a compressor for that anyways =\
Oh... almost forgot... the angle you hold your hand will have to change to use this approach. Prolly the biggest stumbling block for me.
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Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:31 pm |
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Drew1986
God Of The Sun
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:38 am Posts: 2214 Location: Singapore
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It sounds like a classical fingerstyle guitar style thread. But again, if you can play classical guitar fingerstyle, you shouldn't have any problems with plucking on bass.
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Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:43 am |
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Pao
Unt! I'm a Moderator.
Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:07 am Posts: 7461
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 Re: bass question
PancakeFairy wrote: hey guys! *waves* I've decided to take up bass coz I wanted to do something new. I was wondering, how many fingers do you recommend I should use? And which order? Which way to play most efficiently? And in odd timings too as well as regular ones. I was told to play 3213 2132 1321 etc, but what do you suggest? And don't tell me to use a pick  Thank you!
Hey Lizze! You're really pushing through with this huh? Good luck!!!!
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Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:26 am |
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PancakeFairy
is O.H.B.
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:16 pm Posts: 642 Location: Manchester, UK
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Resiliance wrote: It depends. Ideally, you'd use all four. Well, five, if you were going to slap and pop as well Realistically, it's unlikely you'll ever use all of them, unless you're going to play something Billy Sheehan-esque.
Well nothing like Billy Sheehan or Victor Wooten  Maybe some of the easier Mr. Big songs though.
I want to get some Rush songs down because a friend who's a drummer worships them. And I love Geddy Lee's playing too. 
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Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:45 am |
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PancakeFairy
is O.H.B.
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:16 pm Posts: 642 Location: Manchester, UK
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t0neg0d wrote: Couple people use three fingers for faster 16th/32nd note progressions. Took a while getting used to this, but makes a world of difference in speed.
1 = index 2 = middle 3 = ring
Starting with you middle finger:
2 1 2 3 - rinse and repeat.
I still tend to default to 2 fingers when playing fast ascending or decending runs... but can do either. Honestly I think the 3 finger approach to 16th/32nd notes sounds cleaner and the attack tends to be more even. Eh... but wtf. Havent met a bass player yet who doesnt rely on a compressor for that anyways =\
Oh... almost forgot... the angle you hold your hand will have to change to use this approach. Prolly the biggest stumbling block for me.
Thanks for the info. I'll try that. 
_________________ '...Is that a purple horse?!'
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Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:46 am |
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PancakeFairy
is O.H.B.
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:16 pm Posts: 642 Location: Manchester, UK
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Drew1986 wrote: It sounds like a classical fingerstyle guitar style thread. But again, if you can play classical guitar fingerstyle, you shouldn't have any problems with plucking on bass.
yeah i've kinda thought about the classical guitar thing. meh 
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Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:54 am |
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PancakeFairy
is O.H.B.
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:16 pm Posts: 642 Location: Manchester, UK
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 Re: bass question
Pao wrote: PancakeFairy wrote: hey guys! *waves* I've decided to take up bass coz I wanted to do something new. I was wondering, how many fingers do you recommend I should use? And which order? Which way to play most efficiently? And in odd timings too as well as regular ones. I was told to play 3213 2132 1321 etc, but what do you suggest? And don't tell me to use a pick  Thank you! Hey Lizze! You're really pushing through with this huh? Good luck!!!!
Thanks Pao 
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Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:55 am |
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PancakeFairy
is O.H.B.
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:16 pm Posts: 642 Location: Manchester, UK
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omg, 5 posts in a row LOL 
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Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:55 am |
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GeorgeHayes235
Motorman
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:26 pm Posts: 482 Location: UK
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Classical fingerstyle all the way 
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Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:36 pm |
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