hum... probably your bass isn't hanging right. for flat picking while standing, the bass has to hang parallel to the floor, you know? like when you sit on a chear.
well, in my opinion flat picking isn't that awesome... i like the scratch sound more, but that also depends on which genre your playing in :)
@nigelchitownking You gotta rotate your bass and hand and get the angle right. Just keep trying to get your pick moving perpendicular with your strings.
im only 16 this is my first day starting bass. ive played trumpet for about 5 years, started a little on guitar and drums, and now bass, and i found out i play so much better with a pick. should i learn with what im comforatable with (pick) or with my fingers? If i play with my fingers, how long would it take for speed and stamina to increase?
My beginnings are almost the same as yours - except for the trumpet.
I learned with a pick first, then gradually integrated finger-style technique. You can increase speed and stamina slowly but surely if you play a little longer every day with fingers. For example, one minute, then two, then three minutes etc a day.
i learned that your supposed to use your fingers to play the bass, but i want to join my friends band and i used on of his picks and i found i could play clearer and faster, when i play with my fingers, im slower, but i can hit the strings better but it doesent sound good, so im gona try to get a pick tomarrow and thanks for the scratch picking and straight down, i learned alot just now, and i thank you
When I first started bass, I also played with a pick, simply because I found it easier and faster. However, eventually I also wanted the sound of fingers, so I learned that too.
Thanks for your kind comments. I'm glad you got something out of this video lesson.
Pretty Cool lesson here, Covers the topic quite well. Ive just made a bunch of detailed courses for beginners and advanced guitarists that you might be interested in. Check it out! would love to know what you and anyone watching this video thinks. Its totally free, and i mean TOTALLY
An instructive video finally!! Thx for all the free lessons...!
One question... no matter how i hold the pick, i cant hit the strings vertically, and the scraching sound for me is a mistake rather that a way of picking. =p Im trying for days to have the pick parallel with the strings, but i cant... any idea? :D
Yes, digging too deep will slow you down and get you stuck.
Practice playing "tremolo" by just brushing the top of the string with the tip of the pick - very fast and loose. Once that is really loose, begin to play an even rhythm, just digging in a little more.
@BassLessonsOnline hey man this is really useful, i tried picking before but it didnt work, with this vid though its much easier (: what picks would you recommend? i have a pathetic one, i hear wider picks are best
Different pick gauges, sizes, shapes, and materials produce different sounds and feel different. I suggest you get a few (they are cheap or free) and experiment.
Hello I play bass and guitar but I was wondering the tempo could be different for guitar or bass but u play waaaayyyyyyy faster with a guitar how do u keep up ?
As you imply, the bass does not usually "track" everything the guitar plays, however, if you want to get up to speed, you'll just have to practice. To play very fast we be be relaxed and loose.
Hello and thanks for your observations. I believe that we should be able to use the sound and technique that best suits the song. Therefore, pick, fingerstyle, slap etc. all have their place.
Hay,I'm going to learn to play 5 string bass,and I was wondering if it is harder for beginners to play on a 35" bass instead on say a 32" bass,also,are nthese the mesurements of the neck or the strings? kind regards, LDB
Dude thanks so much, ive been wondering how to play with pick cause ive been having problems. Then i came across to this video and now i can play properly with a pick! thanks :D
This could be the buzz of single coil pickups. You can reduce the buzz by reducing treble and by turning away from the amp (try different angles and distances).
If the above is not the case, you may have a loose (unconnected) ground/earth wire in your bass electronics.
@BassLessonsOnline You said in the video about the technique with your 2 fingers that it is important to mute the lower string with your thumb. With the pick or slapping technique that doesn't happen. Doesn't it affect the sound then?
When playing pick or slap style, there is more muting done with the fretting hand. Basically, we should find a way to mute when necessary, i.e. as soon as we hear unwanted notes and sounds.
I have an audition tomorrow to play for a signed Death Metal band as their bassist, and i'm extremely nervous as they gave me songs to play and the tempo is extremely fast, I was wondering how should i maintain the speed with the guitarist and drum?
I've been playing the bass for 2 years and i use a pick. I play with a metal band and I've notice that after a couple of songs my hand start getting very tired. do recommend anything to help?
Thanks for uploading this. Started playing bass yesterday, and my both hands hurt like hell now. Totally worth it, though, I've been playing my new bass pretty much for the entire day ;)
@NAAMxLOOS I started playing bass when I was 15, five years ago, with a pick, and my right hand (since I'm a lefty) still hurts sometimes when I practice some (to me) difficult tunes. So that's something you will get used to. My right-hand fingertips are clearly "rougher" now than my left because of it, and that's pretty cool.:p Sorry for messy english by the way, it's not my strongest side..
@Lompebroed Yeah, I expected my hands to be kinda sore, since I've been playing guitar for 5 months now, and I thought bass would be fairly easy after having some experience on guitar. Boy, was I wrong :)
Hi, ive been playing bass for over a year and a half now, thanks to your lessons, and im a keen and cofident player, especially playing slap bass. When I play slap bass, I tend to thump my thumb, towards the bottom of the fretboard, hitting the 24th fret for example. However, when I pick, im always picking around that fret aswell, and watching you and other bassists, i notice you tend to pick more around the pick-up area, will picking higher up by the 25th fret cause me any troubles?
@thereturnofda111 on the contrary, pick playing is MUCH harder than finger playing . especially if you have a very fast rhythm to play to... and you'll be surprised by how many musicians and band players use picks. it also produces more of a whole sound, unlike when you finger play, which sounds a little muted.
@thereturnofda111 For us who can't slap/pop and enjoy actually -hearing- the bass in a song picks are wonderful. I bet you're one of them that are so proud that you can play the guitar riff in Smoke on the Water with your fingers that you don't know/care about how many really great bass players there is that use a pick, and that's just sad. For you, that is.
thanks for the tips, I never even knew how to hold a pick, after 3 years of playing bassXD but I'm not too fond of the sound of playing with a pick, so I think I'll just stick to fingerstyle
I agree, when a bass is held lower, the "standard" picking technique gets uncomfortable. You will, however, produce the scratchy sound I demonstrate in this video due to the pick angle.
The greatest disadvantage in strapping the bass very low is the angle of the fretting hand. This can lead to serious carpel tunnel problems :-(
Kind regards,
George
P.S. I wish it were easy for everyone (as it is for you and me) to just pick up the bass and play.
You should have your saddles set to an ideal height, so that the strings neither buzz/slap against the fret wires when the bass is in tune and played "normally" (not too aggressively).
There are a couple of good videos on You Tube on bass set-up. If you are still not sure, have your bass set up by someone qualified.
im only a beginner. im left handed but have been learning to play right handed. i have just slowly started playing with a pick. and find it quite easy. now my question is should i learn to play with the fingers or pick. fingers are a bit hard for me.
I've played the bass for about 5 months now, mainly with a pick. I've only managed to play with downstrokes, because somehow i just can't get the timing right when i want to combine upstrokes with it. It's as if the strings feel too think to smoothly make a quick pace. Is there any type of pick that would be best suited for this type of play? My preferred picks are quite broad, more like a triangle shape and less like an arrowtip. My favorite is a Tortex Dunlop 1.14mm
Hello and thanks for your detailed info and query.
Although pick thickness and stiffness is not necessarily the cause of timing issues, the Tortex is relatively rigid; so I suggest to try a .73mm pick. This is more flexible - it will change the sound - and easier to maneuver.
Also try playing closer to the bridge.
Start with "tremolo" picking, i.e. very fast and light down and up-strokes, barely brushing the top of the string.
Thank you very much for your advise, George! I do notice a significant difference in playing with a thinner, more flexible pick. Also, I've put more attention in the way of holding the pick, and caught myself holding it with 3 fingers: thumb, index- and middlefinger. Following your example as you show in the video makes it much easier to play with both up and downstrokes. So even though I still have alot of practise to do, I'm definatly seeing improvements. Thanks again!
I really have never been able to pick with a "bass pick", what you call the triangular one. I normally use a guitar pick that's unusually heavy if I can find one. Normally, I'll use a Fender 1mm pick, 'cause I have about 600 of the exact kind, but if I'm lucky, I can use a pick with the same shape, only one that's about 1.5mm thick. I usually find it MUCH MUCH easier to pick quickly with a guitar pick.
I usually turn my pick at about 45 degrees with the edge facing me towards the fretboard. If you want some INCREDIBLE picking method exercises like I did, turn your speakers on your computer as high as they need to be to not here yourself playing (acousticly), and play along to "Anesthesia - Pulling Teeth" by Metallica. After you can play the intro faster than Cliff Burton does, speed up as much as you can. Makes a good show of skill if you can play it at 2/4 time perfectly.
nice video. i've been playing bass for a few years but never with a pick. now i'm trying to 'pick' it up from the basics. so many things i can't yet do with a pick that i could do with my fingers, but i'm trying to be as patient as possible.
i recently bought a bass guitar its a black johnson i dont know much about bass guitars such as tuning, picking, and playing actual notes all i know is how to pluck the strings with my fingers. is there anyone thats willing to help me out i know its a really gay comment but i really need help
There are heaps of beginner bass lessons on You Tube (including mine) but the only way to get complete and systematic structure is to have lessons with a qualified bass teacher or sign up for an online bass course such as mine.
for a 4 string bass the notes in order from low to high are E-A-D-G. For a 5 string bass it's B-E-A-D-G. But for a 6 string bass it's B-E-A-D-G-C. hope that helps.
anyone that has actually put together a song will know that bass is important no matter what style you are using, it brings depth to the music and without it a track sounds dry and tingy
The only thing that is holding me back with being a pickstyle bassist is that my cousin who is a guitarist and has been for as long as i can remember and he said ''if you can play guitar you can play bass its pretty much a basic version of guitar."" And if i play with a pick it sorta proves his point
i do preffer the sound and everything about pick bass playing! but.... when i play pick bass with a guitarist next to me i feel like the basss isnt realy unique instrument just a guitar tuned low
I need help. How do I navigate strings while playing with a pick? I hold the same pick the way you do. I have a bad habbit of downstrumming all the notes when I change strings.
It actually depends on how the player uses the technique, or what he prefers to use for his paying technique. But in the long run, finger style playing is a lot more versatile. One of the main reasons for this is with fingers, you can play a few notes such as chords, where as the pick only allows you to play one note at a time.
No doubt about that, but you see, it won't sound good at all. It's messier than just using all fingers. Finger plucking style is more versatile than pick playing in almost every aspect.
hiya my bro gave me his old guitar but i wanted to play bass but beggers cant be tusers. ive played it for a fuw days but i really do not like the whole playing with a pickall the time i find it hard. so do u think i should switch to bass. ill end up getting a bass soon anyway but should i stick with guitar and then switch to bass when im ok at guitar?
thank you this was helpful but im brand new at bass im trying to get in my buddys metal band when i get good enough so i have a 5 string bass anything special i need to know for metal and 5 strings please respond thank you
Im not good at playing with fingers, I just cant do it right, that's why I use pick and I use Dunlop Gator Grip 2mm pick, which is IMO the best with bass.
Mute with whatever is available at the time, either left or right hand.
Muting higher-pitched strings is reasonably easy by using the underside of your fretting-hand fingers. A lower-pitched string can be quickly muted by reaching out with an available fretting-hand finger.
With your picking hand you can use what is called "palm muting".
The first bassline that you played after saying "let's put some notes on the E string" is the chorus bassline for Hurt by Nine Inch Nails, which is awesome.
Helped me so much, thank you
Mr420rush 3 weeks ago
I'm always happy to help. Thanks for your post.
George
BassLessonsOnline 3 weeks ago
i can't flat pick when i'm standing up, can anybody help me?
nigelchitownking 2 months ago
@nigelchitownking
hum... probably your bass isn't hanging right. for flat picking while standing, the bass has to hang parallel to the floor, you know? like when you sit on a chear.
well, in my opinion flat picking isn't that awesome... i like the scratch sound more, but that also depends on which genre your playing in :)
btw sorry for my poor english.. :D
xDoppler44x 2 months ago
@nigelchitownking You gotta rotate your bass and hand and get the angle right. Just keep trying to get your pick moving perpendicular with your strings.
kibbles1053 2 months ago
Thank you this has really helped me :)
ScalpelsGlazeUntamed 3 months ago
Ah, that's great news! Thanks for your post.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 months ago
I'm not good at using pick, this video helps a lot.
ArchAlfalin 3 months ago
Very good - thanks for posting!
George
BassLessonsOnline 3 months ago
Great stuff, good sir! Learned quite a bit from the video!
Regards!
impowerslave666 4 months ago
That's good to hear. Thanks for your post.
George
BassLessonsOnline 4 months ago
muchas gracias! your videos are helping a lot (:
chanflesbox 4 months ago
Very good - thanks for checking in!
George
BassLessonsOnline 4 months ago
Very helpful, thank you!
TheCarvalhoVictor 4 months ago
Excellent - thanks!
George
BassLessonsOnline 4 months ago
im only 16 this is my first day starting bass. ive played trumpet for about 5 years, started a little on guitar and drums, and now bass, and i found out i play so much better with a pick. should i learn with what im comforatable with (pick) or with my fingers? If i play with my fingers, how long would it take for speed and stamina to increase?
9winters5 4 months ago
My beginnings are almost the same as yours - except for the trumpet.
I learned with a pick first, then gradually integrated finger-style technique. You can increase speed and stamina slowly but surely if you play a little longer every day with fingers. For example, one minute, then two, then three minutes etc a day.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 4 months ago
@BassLessonsOnline thanks :)
9winters5 4 months ago
You're welcome.
George
BassLessonsOnline 4 months ago
i learned that your supposed to use your fingers to play the bass, but i want to join my friends band and i used on of his picks and i found i could play clearer and faster, when i play with my fingers, im slower, but i can hit the strings better but it doesent sound good, so im gona try to get a pick tomarrow and thanks for the scratch picking and straight down, i learned alot just now, and i thank you
Jomasterhns 4 months ago
When I first started bass, I also played with a pick, simply because I found it easier and faster. However, eventually I also wanted the sound of fingers, so I learned that too.
Thanks for your kind comments. I'm glad you got something out of this video lesson.
Enjoy your progress!
George
BassLessonsOnline 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Pretty Cool lesson here, Covers the topic quite well. Ive just made a bunch of detailed courses for beginners and advanced guitarists that you might be interested in. Check it out! would love to know what you and anyone watching this video thinks. Its totally free, and i mean TOTALLY
RexPearson. com
RexPearson1 7 months ago
good advice, thank you :)
JesseJohnWilsonMusic 7 months ago
this was fantastic,thank u sir, anyone looking to start playing bass should watch ur videos
koalalauncher 7 months ago
Thanks for your post and for your endorsement of my method.
George
BassLessonsOnline 7 months ago
Thank God for George and his blue pick
superherogeek10 8 months ago
can you show us the other ways of playing as well please.(good lesson with the pick by the way)
how else cn u play the bass guitar (without a pick)
hardcorefierysoul 8 months ago
How do you mute strings lower than what you're playing?
Samsasrenjet 8 months ago
An instructive video finally!! Thx for all the free lessons...!
One question... no matter how i hold the pick, i cant hit the strings vertically, and the scraching sound for me is a mistake rather that a way of picking. =p Im trying for days to have the pick parallel with the strings, but i cant... any idea? :D
SirSelfunk 8 months ago
It could be your arm or wrist angle. If you cannot get it sorted out, post a video of the occurrence and send me the link so I can take a look.
Thanks for your kind comment :)
Bass regards,
George
BassLessonsOnline 8 months ago
@BassLessonsOnline Haha, "Bass regards."
NICE.
mrlanceosborn 6 months ago
Picks are cool. :-)
Thank you for posting these great lessons.
tollmart 9 months ago
They certainly are. Thanks for your input.
George
BassLessonsOnline 8 months ago
I use rubber picks it's sounds similar to strumming with your fingers which sounds pretty nice
Bassinurmum 9 months ago
Thanks for your input. Yes, there are heaps of "implements" that can be used for bass playing.
George
BassLessonsOnline 9 months ago
i think the best picks for bass guitars are those that are hard and thick... only my opinion but i really use hard and thick picks for playing bass
xler12 9 months ago
Yes, digging too deep will slow you down and get you stuck.
Practice playing "tremolo" by just brushing the top of the string with the tip of the pick - very fast and loose. Once that is really loose, begin to play an even rhythm, just digging in a little more.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 10 months ago
@BassLessonsOnline hey man this is really useful, i tried picking before but it didnt work, with this vid though its much easier (: what picks would you recommend? i have a pathetic one, i hear wider picks are best
JoeyThe14th 8 months ago
Hello ... and thanks for your input and question.
Different pick gauges, sizes, shapes, and materials produce different sounds and feel different. I suggest you get a few (they are cheap or free) and experiment.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 8 months ago
I can't find my bass picks :(
IanEduardoMeneses 11 months ago
@IanEduardoMeneses That could be a problem :)
Joshyboy110 10 months ago
@Joshyboy110 Nevermind, i found them.
IanEduardoMeneses 10 months ago
Is it normal to able to play pick, slap, and finger style because iv only been playing for 4 months and don't take lessons but I can still do it?
CJ3514 11 months ago
Maybe its not normal, but almost all professionals can. You seem to be talented :)
George
BassLessonsOnline 11 months ago
Hello I play bass and guitar but I was wondering the tempo could be different for guitar or bass but u play waaaayyyyyyy faster with a guitar how do u keep up ?
iamafreebird100 11 months ago
As you imply, the bass does not usually "track" everything the guitar plays, however, if you want to get up to speed, you'll just have to practice. To play very fast we be be relaxed and loose.
George
BassLessonsOnline 11 months ago
is there such thing as a bass pick? or is pick just a pick?
yootoobwii 1 year ago
Not really, but certain picks suit bass better than others. Each pick's shape, size, material etc will influence the bass sound - so, experiment!
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
sounds MUCH better than finger picking, every bass player i met in person plays by fingers -_____-
SwirlyBrokenHearts 1 year ago
Hello and thanks for your observations. I believe that we should be able to use the sound and technique that best suits the song. Therefore, pick, fingerstyle, slap etc. all have their place.
Kind regards,
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
Hey I do not own any blue picks, only a few green picks. Will green picks be okay?
WarPhalange 1 year ago
i have done this and i still have trouble
bmiller112 1 year ago
If you have done this for only an hour or two, try another hour or two. Make sure you re-check this video for anything you may have missed.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
1:25 he gives great sex tips too!
PisolMan 1 year ago 2
Hay,I'm going to learn to play 5 string bass,and I was wondering if it is harder for beginners to play on a 35" bass instead on say a 32" bass,also,are nthese the mesurements of the neck or the strings? kind regards, LDB
dababoe 1 year ago
The scale length is the length of the string between nut and bridge.
When you use appropriate technique it is not much more difficult to play a 35" scale vs a 32". (I play basses of 30", 34" and 35".)
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
@BassLessonsOnline ok,tnx
dababoe 1 year ago
Dude thanks so much, ive been wondering how to play with pick cause ive been having problems. Then i came across to this video and now i can play properly with a pick! thanks :D
chunkpug 1 year ago
That's great news!
Thanks for posting.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
This could be the buzz of single coil pickups. You can reduce the buzz by reducing treble and by turning away from the amp (try different angles and distances).
If the above is not the case, you may have a loose (unconnected) ground/earth wire in your bass electronics.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
i dont hold the pick that way
godwhyisthistaken 1 year ago
There are many ways to hold a pick - what works works.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
@BassLessonsOnline You said in the video about the technique with your 2 fingers that it is important to mute the lower string with your thumb. With the pick or slapping technique that doesn't happen. Doesn't it affect the sound then?
TheHerman12345 1 year ago
When playing pick or slap style, there is more muting done with the fretting hand. Basically, we should find a way to mute when necessary, i.e. as soon as we hear unwanted notes and sounds.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
Hello,
I have an audition tomorrow to play for a signed Death Metal band as their bassist, and i'm extremely nervous as they gave me songs to play and the tempo is extremely fast, I was wondering how should i maintain the speed with the guitarist and drum?
DerangedSk8er 1 year ago
To relax and play somewhat loose is the only way to play fast for longer periods.
Although this message may reach you too late for your audition, the message is still the same.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
Hi
I've been playing the bass for 2 years and i use a pick. I play with a metal band and I've notice that after a couple of songs my hand start getting very tired. do recommend anything to help?
c4585 1 year ago
Hello and thanks for your query.
Without seeing you play, it seems like your wrist may be too stiff. You should get someone knowledgeable to take a look at your technique.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
Comment removed
StimpyLoc 1 year ago
Hi, im 15 and im about to start playing bass and I need to know, what kind of bass guitar would you recommend for a beginner?
StimpyLoc 1 year ago
Hello and thanks for your query.
To begin with, you must like the look of the bass. Start by looking at these three brands: Squier, Yamaha, Ibanez.
Then test, or get someone to test for you.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
oh okay, thank you : )
StimpyLoc 1 year ago
Thanks for uploading this. Started playing bass yesterday, and my both hands hurt like hell now. Totally worth it, though, I've been playing my new bass pretty much for the entire day ;)
NAAMxLOOS 1 year ago
You're most welcome ... and you are doing a good thing. Our hands have to hurt sometime, and it may as well be in the beginning.
Enjoy your progress!
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
@NAAMxLOOS I started playing bass when I was 15, five years ago, with a pick, and my right hand (since I'm a lefty) still hurts sometimes when I practice some (to me) difficult tunes. So that's something you will get used to. My right-hand fingertips are clearly "rougher" now than my left because of it, and that's pretty cool.:p Sorry for messy english by the way, it's not my strongest side..
Lompebroed 1 year ago
@Lompebroed Yeah, I expected my hands to be kinda sore, since I've been playing guitar for 5 months now, and I thought bass would be fairly easy after having some experience on guitar. Boy, was I wrong :)
NAAMxLOOS 1 year ago
thx man!
Nabird17 1 year ago
I thank you too. I trust you find this technique useful.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
Hi, ive been playing bass for over a year and a half now, thanks to your lessons, and im a keen and cofident player, especially playing slap bass. When I play slap bass, I tend to thump my thumb, towards the bottom of the fretboard, hitting the 24th fret for example. However, when I pick, im always picking around that fret aswell, and watching you and other bassists, i notice you tend to pick more around the pick-up area, will picking higher up by the 25th fret cause me any troubles?
BassistBoyTT 1 year ago
Very cool - thanks for your endorsement :-)
These are the main differences when picking close to the end of the fretboard:
1. Hand and arm position is good
2. The sound is different compared to other places along the string
3. Because the strings are more loose, your speed may be inhibited.
Kind regards,
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
picks are for ladies. definite thumbs DOWN
thereturnofda111 1 year ago
@thereturnofda111 on the contrary, pick playing is MUCH harder than finger playing . especially if you have a very fast rhythm to play to... and you'll be surprised by how many musicians and band players use picks. it also produces more of a whole sound, unlike when you finger play, which sounds a little muted.
midnightlytes 1 year ago
@thereturnofda111 For us who can't slap/pop and enjoy actually -hearing- the bass in a song picks are wonderful. I bet you're one of them that are so proud that you can play the guitar riff in Smoke on the Water with your fingers that you don't know/care about how many really great bass players there is that use a pick, and that's just sad. For you, that is.
Lompebroed 1 year ago
Do you mute the strings with your picking hand while your playing with the pick? or do you lift your palm so it doesn't mute the sound when you pick?
andrewyiking 1 year ago
Good question. I mute intuitively, with whatever is available at the time (left or right-hand).
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
thanks for the tips, I never even knew how to hold a pick, after 3 years of playing bassXD but I'm not too fond of the sound of playing with a pick, so I think I'll just stick to fingerstyle
mollutje 1 year ago
Fingerstyle is the mostly used technique. However, sometimes a song needs a different technique.
Recording situations (especially for session musicians) often require us to adapt and therefore adopt a different approach.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
what is better technique.? using a pick or using your finger.?
bheztdaryl 1 year ago
There is no "better". In my opinion and practice, we must use the technique that best suits the song.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
Very useful. I love your lessons!
playlearnmaster 1 year ago
Excellent! Thank you.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
hahah
laney6666 1 year ago
i gave up on picks i just use my fingers lol
HeyJeremy48 1 year ago
IMO there shouldn't be the 'rule' how to hold a pick.
When I started to play bass I tried it the way you're showing in this video but it's just not right way for me.
It's for those who keep their basses very high. If the bass is lower( not low, lower) then it's just physicaly impossible to play this way.
Long story short, I'm holding it with 3 fingers and I think that this is pretty much the easiest way to play with pick (at least for me).
No big philosophy there, I grab it and I play. Easy :D
DivinePonies 1 year ago
There is no rule; there are only guidelines.
I agree, when a bass is held lower, the "standard" picking technique gets uncomfortable. You will, however, produce the scratchy sound I demonstrate in this video due to the pick angle.
The greatest disadvantage in strapping the bass very low is the angle of the fretting hand. This can lead to serious carpel tunnel problems :-(
Kind regards,
George
P.S. I wish it were easy for everyone (as it is for you and me) to just pick up the bass and play.
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
Yeah I heard about this carpal tunnel problem and that's why I try to hold my hands as natural as possible.
I also tried strapping the bass in every possible position and I finnaly found one that suits me best.
Also it's best to keep the bass on a visible and very accessible place.
I, for example have it right next to my computer. That way it's in reach and no special preparation to start making some noise :)
Oh and thanks for all your vids. Was very helpfull when I started playing.
DivinePonies 1 year ago
Sorry about the arkward wording, I'm still learning the proper names.
What I meant was, on my bass the string saddles go down to the bottom of the guitar, where as others have a large area below like on a normal guitar.
Can you tell me which is the better to have on a bass?
mazdaboro 1 year ago
OK, that's better :)
You should have your saddles set to an ideal height, so that the strings neither buzz/slap against the fret wires when the bass is in tune and played "normally" (not too aggressively).
There are a couple of good videos on You Tube on bass set-up. If you are still not sure, have your bass set up by someone qualified.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
Great video George!
I am hoping to get my first bass guitar in a few days time :)
This video has already helped me as I have always been holding the pick with 3 fingers very tightly.
My question is, what would be easier to use, a bass were the strings reach the bottom of the guitar or where they leave a large gap between them?
Thanks for the video :)
mazdaboro 1 year ago
Thanks for your kind comments.
I don't know how to interpret your question. Could you rephrase it, please?
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
what is the best kind of pick for bass? like the thickness?
spinner1208 1 year ago
Every pick (material, shape, thickness) influences the sound.
Try 0.73mm up to 1.5mm.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
hi george
im only a beginner. im left handed but have been learning to play right handed. i have just slowly started playing with a pick. and find it quite easy. now my question is should i learn to play with the fingers or pick. fingers are a bit hard for me.
fozandmarie1960 1 year ago
learn to use both, tht way u can have variety at ur tone
PINGPONGDYNASTY 1 year ago
thanks pingpongdynasty
fozandmarie1960 1 year ago
I've played the bass for about 5 months now, mainly with a pick. I've only managed to play with downstrokes, because somehow i just can't get the timing right when i want to combine upstrokes with it. It's as if the strings feel too think to smoothly make a quick pace. Is there any type of pick that would be best suited for this type of play? My preferred picks are quite broad, more like a triangle shape and less like an arrowtip. My favorite is a Tortex Dunlop 1.14mm
MrPikkis 2 years ago
Hello and thanks for your detailed info and query.
Although pick thickness and stiffness is not necessarily the cause of timing issues, the Tortex is relatively rigid; so I suggest to try a .73mm pick. This is more flexible - it will change the sound - and easier to maneuver.
Also try playing closer to the bridge.
Start with "tremolo" picking, i.e. very fast and light down and up-strokes, barely brushing the top of the string.
Let me know your progress.
Pick of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Thank you very much for your advise, George! I do notice a significant difference in playing with a thinner, more flexible pick. Also, I've put more attention in the way of holding the pick, and caught myself holding it with 3 fingers: thumb, index- and middlefinger. Following your example as you show in the video makes it much easier to play with both up and downstrokes. So even though I still have alot of practise to do, I'm definatly seeing improvements. Thanks again!
MrPikkis 2 years ago
That's already progress!
Thanks for the update.
George
BassLessonsOnline 1 year ago
I really have never been able to pick with a "bass pick", what you call the triangular one. I normally use a guitar pick that's unusually heavy if I can find one. Normally, I'll use a Fender 1mm pick, 'cause I have about 600 of the exact kind, but if I'm lucky, I can use a pick with the same shape, only one that's about 1.5mm thick. I usually find it MUCH MUCH easier to pick quickly with a guitar pick.
xXTylerFTWXx 1 year ago
I usually turn my pick at about 45 degrees with the edge facing me towards the fretboard. If you want some INCREDIBLE picking method exercises like I did, turn your speakers on your computer as high as they need to be to not here yourself playing (acousticly), and play along to "Anesthesia - Pulling Teeth" by Metallica. After you can play the intro faster than Cliff Burton does, speed up as much as you can. Makes a good show of skill if you can play it at 2/4 time perfectly.
xXTylerFTWXx 1 year ago
@xXTylerFTWXx Thanks alot, that's great advise!
MrPikkis 1 year ago
nice video. i've been playing bass for a few years but never with a pick. now i'm trying to 'pick' it up from the basics. so many things i can't yet do with a pick that i could do with my fingers, but i'm trying to be as patient as possible.
anfield22 2 years ago
@anfield22
I'm exactly in the same place.
Thanks for the tutorial, by the way.
GiI11 2 years ago
You're most welcome - thanks for posting ... and Happy Learning!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Yes, a new challenge. Patience and perseverance are the way to go.
You won't regret your new learnings, especially when you are able to apply them sparingly in the right musical moment.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
i recently bought a bass guitar its a black johnson i dont know much about bass guitars such as tuning, picking, and playing actual notes all i know is how to pluck the strings with my fingers. is there anyone thats willing to help me out i know its a really gay comment but i really need help
bryanhughes93 2 years ago
There are heaps of beginner bass lessons on You Tube (including mine) but the only way to get complete and systematic structure is to have lessons with a qualified bass teacher or sign up for an online bass course such as mine.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
i'm new in bass, and i looked everywere, but i could not find....what's the name bass strings name ?
ironmaidenluci666 2 years ago
for a 4 string bass the notes in order from low to high are E-A-D-G. For a 5 string bass it's B-E-A-D-G. But for a 6 string bass it's B-E-A-D-G-C. hope that helps.
601joker 2 years ago
is that an actual precision or just a squier
metalheadgreg13 2 years ago
Neither - it is a Fender Jazz Bass.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
anyone that has actually put together a song will know that bass is important no matter what style you are using, it brings depth to the music and without it a track sounds dry and tingy
sirpinketalfonzo 2 years ago
I agree completely.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
couldn't handle guitar could you mate?
shelbyfanman 2 years ago
The only thing that is holding me back with being a pickstyle bassist is that my cousin who is a guitarist and has been for as long as i can remember and he said ''if you can play guitar you can play bass its pretty much a basic version of guitar."" And if i play with a pick it sorta proves his point
jaededify 2 years ago
Free Beginner Bass Lesson - Playing with a Prick
ssssppppaaaaiiiinnnn 2 years ago
are you instulting bass players that play with pick?
jaededify 2 years ago
u suck man it gives a different sound
Kinggezz 2 years ago 2
i know it does but it doesnt feel right
jaededify 2 years ago
i do preffer the sound and everything about pick bass playing! but.... when i play pick bass with a guitarist next to me i feel like the basss isnt realy unique instrument just a guitar tuned low
jaededify 2 years ago 2
This has been flagged as spam show
LOL its bass cmon guys?! bass players no wonder u guys dont get laid!
jk good vid :P
ps i am a guitarist but im playing bass mabye... >.> i mean i looked up this vid so dont judge me!
melodiccreepingdeath 2 years ago
I need help. How do I navigate strings while playing with a pick? I hold the same pick the way you do. I have a bad habbit of downstrumming all the notes when I change strings.
PLEASE HELP.
Warlord313 2 years ago
Playing downstrokes is good for lots of playing, but not for everything.
When practicing intelligently (and not just jamming) we should practice what we are worst at.
Set yourself a series of steps such as
1. Skipping strings (E A E D E G and back)
2. Alternating strings (E D, A G) with down and upstrokes.
Try to not look at the strings while you play - we are better at feeling the distances.
Good luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Just force yourself to keep alternating strokes, no matter what you do. Yes, it takes practice, but it's worth it in the end.
MomoTheBellyDancer 2 years ago
hello there, i need some help
i just wanna know that what the diference is playing a bass with fingers and with a pick?
because i play the bass with fingers and i cant play it with a pick. is there also a technique to learn to play with a pick? help!! jeje
vladimirchoque 2 years ago
Have you tried what I suggest in this video?
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Dude do you have any ideas on how to keep in time, I just sort of go 1.2......3.1....2...3 and would like a more uniform tone.
Regards.
teddyAllah 2 years ago
Yes - vocalization is the key.
Here's what you can do:
1. Sing or hum a beat while clapping or tapping the same beat.
2. Continue clapping or tapping and vocalize something different (but related).
3. Deliberately use different note lengths and accents in your vocalization.
4. Transfer this to your bass (while vocalizing and tapping).
Enjoy your progress!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Thanks man.
teddyAllah 2 years ago
yeah
but i just wanna know wich one is the best fingers or pick.
vladimirchoque 2 years ago
Best is what best suits the music. That is why it is important to have a few playing techniques.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
thanks
vladimirchoque 2 years ago
It actually depends on how the player uses the technique, or what he prefers to use for his paying technique. But in the long run, finger style playing is a lot more versatile. One of the main reasons for this is with fingers, you can play a few notes such as chords, where as the pick only allows you to play one note at a time.
taufoofar 2 years ago
i can play chords with a pick actually i can do it easier just strum it down tdont stop
jaededify 2 years ago
No doubt about that, but you see, it won't sound good at all. It's messier than just using all fingers. Finger plucking style is more versatile than pick playing in almost every aspect.
taufoofar 2 years ago
hiya my bro gave me his old guitar but i wanted to play bass but beggers cant be tusers. ive played it for a fuw days but i really do not like the whole playing with a pickall the time i find it hard. so do u think i should switch to bass. ill end up getting a bass soon anyway but should i stick with guitar and then switch to bass when im ok at guitar?
versionintegrale 2 years ago
You don't have to be a good (or any) guitar player to play bass.
Because both instruments generally have different roles to play, you should choose according to what you feel most drawn to.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
cheers George you've been a great help
KAOtICPANdA 2 years ago
You're most welcome. Thanks for leaving your positive comment.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
thank you this was helpful but im brand new at bass im trying to get in my buddys metal band when i get good enough so i have a 5 string bass anything special i need to know for metal and 5 strings please respond thank you
kfuchs1000 2 years ago
Besides the look, there are generally not really specific "metal" basses.
There are several posts throughout my You Tube videos that may help in the selection of a "metal" bass.
As usual, it is best if you test for yourself.
Bass of Luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Im not good at playing with fingers, I just cant do it right, that's why I use pick and I use Dunlop Gator Grip 2mm pick, which is IMO the best with bass.
RustyBlade69 2 years ago
what's the best thickness of the pick..?
i now have a 1,5mm pick, but its a little to thick
and when i use my dad's guitar pick, its to thin lol
any suggestions?
Cybsoft1 2 years ago
Hello and thanks for your question.
You must experiment with picks, mainly because of the different materials, sizes, shapes .... and gauges.
Try a .75 or .80
Good luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
oke thanks allot ;-)
I'll try some other ones
Greets from Holland
Cybrian
Cybsoft1 2 years ago
The string height is altered on bass the same as on guitar, through one or both of the following:
1. raising the action at the bridge
2. decreasing the truss rod tension in the neck
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
dam it! i can play electric but i suck at bass...my friend can play bass but not electric..geez
XxZaShLeYoBsEsSeDxX 2 years ago
That's the balance of life :)
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Thanks this lesson.
You are one of the best bass player
markhoppus100 2 years ago
There are many good bass players; I just try to teach some of what I know.
Thanks for your kind comments.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
you suck
sickman1234567891011 2 years ago
i love you man....so helpful
aassyr1111 2 years ago
Thanks Ahmad - Its great to play both drums and bass!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Thanks this really helped
What was that on the chair at 3:06?
SmileOnCloudNine 2 years ago
You're most welcome. I'm happy to be helpful.
The "chair occurrence" is a cat.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
that bass is as mine
Cesko95 2 years ago
We're both pretty lucky bass players!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
hi,
you're the best video-teacher in you tube
i'm learning more with you than i've ever done!
jlemmonmonkey 2 years ago
Hello and thanks for your very encouraging comment.
I'm happy to contribute to your success!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Hi Mr. Urbaszek
im a beginner in playing with pick ( started bass 2 weeks ago)
is it normal that i always hear the downstruck sound from the pluck? not the vibrating sound from the string.
tacaloi 2 years ago
I'm not sure what you mean. Can you post a short video of the occurrence?
Thanks,
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
Hi George
How do you mute strings while changing them when playing with a pick?
Thanks!
SmileOnCloudNine 2 years ago
Mute with whatever is available at the time, either left or right hand.
Muting higher-pitched strings is reasonably easy by using the underside of your fretting-hand fingers. A lower-pitched string can be quickly muted by reaching out with an available fretting-hand finger.
With your picking hand you can use what is called "palm muting".
Good luck!
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
hey george
i have a bass of my own and im in a band.
bass guitars own ayee. do u have any otha guitars of ur own or just play bass?
ryzzyboi 2 years ago
I also play guitar (not often) and own an acoustic and an electric guitar.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
The first bassline that you played after saying "let's put some notes on the E string" is the chorus bassline for Hurt by Nine Inch Nails, which is awesome.
kareeji 2 years ago
Coincidence? As I mentioned, the sequence I demonstrate is very common.
George
BassLessonsOnline 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes sho