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Bass Starter Person

icecool
Registered User
Joined: 01/04/02
Posts: 118
icecool
Registered User
Joined: 01/04/02
Posts: 118
12/07/2002 11:09 pm
Hey there guys. i feel completely stupid posting this, but its been bugging me.

My brother has recently bought himself a shiny new bass guitar to start learning on. Ive been playing guitar for 8 years or so now, im 15, and he has asked me if he uses a plectrum to start learing the bass, or just his fingers and i actually had no idea! what should he use, his fingers or a pick to start with?!

Thanks a lot
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# 1
Josh Redstone
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Joined: 07/16/02
Posts: 838
Josh Redstone
Registered User
Joined: 07/16/02
Posts: 838
12/08/2002 12:34 am
Fingers. Its the real way to play bass, a pick is optional, so I'd get him used to the whole finger thing first.
And God said, 'Let there be rock!'
-And it was good
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# 2
Dr_simon
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 07/06/02
Posts: 5,021
Dr_simon
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 07/06/02
Posts: 5,021
12/08/2002 1:43 am
I use a pick when I want a very defined sound with a sharp attack and my fingers when I want a gentler softer more mellow sound. It is all in the attack ! Actually, when I think of it, is exactly like the guitar!
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
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# 3
Incidents Happen
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Joined: 12/23/01
Posts: 1,625
Incidents Happen
Registered User
Joined: 12/23/01
Posts: 1,625
12/09/2002 12:15 am
very true dr, but you can get a mellow tone with a pick, and you can get a sharp tone with your fingers, too...
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# 4
Dr_simon
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 07/06/02
Posts: 5,021
Dr_simon
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 07/06/02
Posts: 5,021
12/09/2002 12:47 am
Yes but I find the attack is different which can give a very different feel. Mellow was maybe the wrong word to use. I think the point I was trying to make was that the difference between playing with your fingers and a pick on a bass is similar to playing with pick or your fingers on a guitar !
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
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# 5
Azrael
Gargoyle Instructor
Joined: 04/06/01
Posts: 2,093
Azrael
Gargoyle Instructor
Joined: 04/06/01
Posts: 2,093
12/09/2002 9:22 am
bass? i use two hand tapping only :D

[FONT=Times New Roman]Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. What you decide to do every day makes you a good person... or not.[/FONT][br][br]

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# 6
noticingthemistake
Crime Fighter
Joined: 08/04/02
Posts: 1,518
noticingthemistake
Crime Fighter
Joined: 08/04/02
Posts: 1,518
12/16/2002 4:22 am


What about the ol' Slap BASS????

Slap bass will bring out the Tonal Quality of a bass alot better than picking or using your fingers. Hitting with the thumb will give you a nice boom sound, while popping will bring out the crispness of the tone. Choosing? Wouldn't it depend on what kind of sound you want. I would learn all the techniques just like you do on guitar!
"My whole life is a dark room...ONE BIG DARK ROOM" - a.f.i.
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# 7
kimbob
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Joined: 04/11/02
Posts: 74
kimbob
Member
Joined: 04/11/02
Posts: 74
12/17/2002 3:17 am
Both techniques work quite well. It's just a matter of tone and percussion. A pick will give you a sharper attack and your fingers will give you a more mellow softer non percussive attack. You can get bass picks that are made of a thick hard felt that give you almost the same effect that your fingers will.
How do you get a Bass player off your front porch... Pay him for the Pizza.
"Let that boy Boogie Woogie. Cause' it in em' and it got to come out." -John Lee Hooker-
There's no substitute for expeience. So get out there and break some strings on stage.
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# 8
Josh Redstone
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Joined: 07/16/02
Posts: 838
Josh Redstone
Registered User
Joined: 07/16/02
Posts: 838
12/20/2002 8:54 pm
How do you tell if a stage is level?
Drool comes up out of both sides of the bass players mouth. :D
Thankyou! I'm here all week!
And God said, 'Let there be rock!'
-And it was good
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# 9

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