learning bass - help!

[spuds]

Hi
I'm a guitarist and I want to pick up bass...
I'm pretty familiar on the guitar but i don't know a thing about playing bass.
Could you guys just help me out with these questions?

1) I heard that i'm only supposed to used my index and middle fingers. Which finger is normally used 1st when playing? (index, middle, index middle etc.. OR middle, index, middle, index etc.. ?)

2) How are you supposed to mute the strings when I'm playing the g string (4 string bass). My thumb is on the e string so thats ok... but the a and d string sometimes ring out.
I'm used to muting with my palm but I guess thats not gonna work here!! =)

Thanks

 

[Panzer]

Re: learning bass - help!

1) If your talking about picking, usually you play only the index and middle. I really dont think it matters in which order you start. But later on when you start slapping and doing alot of more complicated stuff youll be using middle, ring, pinky, and your thumb for slapping.

2) I find resting my thumb on the string above the one I play is a good way to mute any unwanted sounds. Sometimes you wont be able to do that though, depending on the difficulty of the riff.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: learning bass - help!

Hi

1) I heard that i'm only supposed to used my index and middle fingers. Which finger is normally used 1st when playing? (index, middle, index middle etc.. OR middle, index, middle, index etc.. ?)

2) How are you supposed to mute the strings when I'm playing the g string (4 string bass). My thumb is on the e string so thats ok... but the a and d string sometimes ring out.
I'm used to muting with my palm but I guess thats not gonna work here!! =)

Thanks

No Rule that says what fingers you can or can not use. No rule againts
useing a pick. If your just starting out on Bass? Sounds like your geting
way ahead of yourself. I aproach bass playing as my left hand as a guitar
player, And my right hand as a drummer. (kinda the bridge bettween the two)
I don't know what level your playings at,Or what kind of music you play?
I'm not sure I understand your ? about muting? Never had to do much
string muting playing bass.Good luck and have fun learning.

 

[Number One]

Re: learning bass - help!

If you're desperate to mute, you could always put your face against the bridge.

 

[Cowboy Dan!?]

Re: learning bass - help!

yeah as you move down the strings you can rest your thumb on lower strings if you keep accidentally hitting them.

it doesnt really matter what order you alternate fingers as long as it stays in timing. i myself use 3 fingers a lot of the time. you can use a pick too on bass.

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: learning bass - help!

Uhm, i guess i'm supposed to chime in, since i am a bass player.

To try to answer your questions:

1. Thats Bull****. How you want to play your bass is totally up to you. When playing fingerstyle, you may choose to only use the index and middle finger, or you can (for getting extra speed and control) learn to use both the index, middle and ring finger. I've even seen some bass players use the pinkie too, but i can't seem to get it to work (it's too small compared to the other fingers). I don't think there is something called a "first" finger, just do what's natural to you. It depends wholely on the riff you're playing.

2. This is my technique: Firstly, if i'm playing on the g string, i use the D string as a "thumb rest" and also mutes it so that it wont ring when my fingers come in "return". Also, if i for example play on the g mstring, i migth just "lay" the other fingers on my fretting hand over the strings. That way they won't ring. One more thing: when youre playing some riffs, you can mute the string youre playing on (for a staccato effect) by letting off some pressure on the fretting hand.

I hope this will answer your questions, and i wish you good luck in your bass playing. If you have any other questions, just drop me a PM

Cheers,
-Erlend

 

[Hellion]

Re: learning bass - help!

I can play either with my fingers or with a pick, but I've found that I like the attack I get from using a pick more than my fingers. There are plenty of players that use a pick and are heralded as being superb. The thing with bass, I've found is that you think differently. When I play guitar, I think about filling holes and melodic structure. When I play bass, I think about rhythm and bottom end. My suggestion is to start out with fairly rudimentary patterns, such as ANY country, blues or classic rock, and LISTEN to what the bass player does, emulate what they're doing. This will give you structure for more advanced stuff later.

 

[Tom M]

Re: learning bass - help!

Mute with your left hand when youre playing something high.