Just started Bass practice this week

[iblive]

Thats exactly where I put my thumb on the 4 string. But on this 5 string it just feels uncomfortable, like its a big stretch to get all the way down to the G.

Yeah. I’d have the same issue. Son inherited his long fingers from his mom on his “man hands.” I am not so blessed. Short and stubby on mine. In fact. My wife and I put hands together. Heel of hand to tip of middle finger. Our hands are the same length.

 

[iblive]

Here’s my thoughts for what it’s worth.

I taught myself guitar. Did not take lessons. Learned some bad habits I had to unlearn and retrain when I started playing on worship team with real people and not by myself as a bedroom player. Part of me wishes I’d taken lessons.

That said. I do think it appropriate you look at the tutorials. Get the basics. Learn some techniques. Then figure out what works best for you. What’s the most comfortable. Because if it ain’t comfortable…. You aren’t sticking to it. Some of the best ax slingers we all put on pedestals do not play what would be considered the “right way” to play. And yet. When we watch and listen to them…. Our heads explode.

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

@LiveeviL2000
The member here you would want to talk to is @BFT Gibson
But I have not seen him in a while

 

[Iron1]

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

@LiveeviL2000
The member here you would want to talk to is @BFT Gibson
But I have not seen him in a while

Our member, Fretless too, Mitch

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

I have always used a pick when I have played bass.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

 

[LiveeviL2000]

Nice find. Flea is another level though.
I'm gonna check these out better when I get home.
As a side note: Is it me or in that second video is the E string on his bass way heavy. I mean it looks really thick.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

I posted this and the Flea ones etc so you could view the variations in picking hand techniques and how there are really no rules as far as playing tricks.

BUT having said that, there are good habits and foundational things to practice as a beginner.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

 

[LiveeviL2000]

wow Chili, you gave us a ton of stuff here. Thanks for taking the time to do so

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

 

[heltershelton]

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

wow Chili, you gave us a ton of stuff here. Thanks for taking the time to do so

You are welcome, I usually do my best to pass on information. Many times, I have benefited from the generous sharing of knowledge from our members on all manner of matters, from legal info, to tech, like recording and effects, to practicing and even electronics theory and repair.

 

[SIx String Chef]

Not quite a derail but mostly a "spur-detour" for the thread: Maybe one possible solution would be to hack-install a thumbrest above the B string, just enough to clear playing the full range of strings finger-picking? Bass players: am I making any sense here?

 

[SIx String Chef]

And on that note, here's a full derail: what's the dealio with the thumbrest/anchor being at the bottom instead of above the strings on a P-Bass?? Just stirring the , hehehe....

 

[LiveeviL2000]

Not quite a derail but mostly a "spur-detour" for the thread: Maybe one possible solution would be to hack-install a thumbrest above the B string, just enough to clear playing the full range of strings finger-picking? Bass players: am I making any sense here?

I get what you are saying. But for that I'd just rest it on the pickup. My issue (issue might be a strong word) is when I keep my anchor at the top of the pickup, it feels like I'm stretching all the way down from the B to the G. But when I rest my thumb on the B it feels good. My thing is when I move my anchor point off the B string when going from the E string to the B string, there is a delay, almost a disruption in my rhythm.

Going back to my original post (is that taboo to do?) Does anyone have any experience, tips or tricks to keep me from feeling that "pause" in my strumming?

 

[LiveeviL2000]

And on that note, here's a full derail: what's the dealio with the thumbrest/anchor being at the bottom instead of above the strings on a P-Bass?? Just stirring the , hehehe....

Thats an anchor point for your fingers when you play with your thumb.