Just started Bass practice this week

LiveeviL2000

LiveeviL2000

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I inherited my son's 5 string and today will be day 3 of practice. I havent played bass since the late 80s. I found that my strumming fingers are weak and lack endurance and I know that will come with time. Also, this is the first time I am playing on a 5 string. When I played a 4 string I would rest my thumb on the pickup. Now with the extra string I am resting it on that massive B string. I feel like I shouldn't be doing that. When I walk up and down the strings I feel there is a pause when I go from the E string to the B string because I shift my anchoring position.

Anyone have some tips or tricks, or will it just come to me with practice?
 
Holy poop! We must be bored! All it took was 1 post to derail this thing .... and I'm the one who perpetuated it.
There are 2 take aways here.
1) This HAS GOT TO BE a new derailment record, gonna be hard to beat, even for @eSGEe <-- he's gonna be so proud of me!:)
2) Starting a thread and derailing it yourself ... Maybe a TTR first?
 
To get this back on track. I can't help you. I'm in the same boat. My band had three guitar players and needed a bass player so I'm learning bass. I have the same problem but with a four string. My bass doesn't have an anchor and I end up resting my thumb on the E string. I'm also struggling with using two fingers for strumming. On songs that require really fast strumming I'm using a pick. I'm sure it will improve with practice but I'll be watching this thread with interest to see if you get any suggestions.
 
Asked my kid who learned on my 4-string. Bought a 5-string when he got his own. Played in a garage band senior year in HS and a couple years after. I’m college he played his bass for the Campus Crusades worship team. His response if it helps:

“Rest on a pickup. Usually there’s one near-ish to the neck, I rest my thumb there.”
 
iblive said:
Asked my kid who learned on my 4-string. Bought a 5-string when he got his own. Played in a garage band senior year in HS and a couple years after. I’m college he played his bass for the Campus Crusades worship team. His response if it helps:

“Rest on a pickup. Usually there’s one near-ish to the neck, I rest my thumb there.”
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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.
 
Kerry Brown said:
To get this back on track. I can't help you. I'm in the same boat. My band had three guitar players and needed a bass player so I'm learning bass. I have the same problem but with a four string. My bass doesn't have an anchor and I end up resting my thumb on the E string. I'm also struggling with using two fingers for strumming. On songs that require really fast strumming I'm using a pick. I'm sure it will improve with practice but I'll be watching this thread with interest to see if you get any suggestions.
Click to expand...
Two finger strumming just requires practice. I got it back after a couple of days. Start slow with a metronome, like around 60-70bpm and start with this exercise do 1 measure of each: whole notes, then half notes, then quarter notes on one string, you dont need to fret anything, open strings are just fine. lead off with your index finger and alternate. once you can keep a steady rhythm, lead off with your middle finger and do it again. Your fingers should come to rest on the string above the one you are plucking or go into your thumb if you are on your E string (or B string if its a 5 string).
Then try changing strings, walking up and down and fret some notes when you get the timing. This exercise will build muscle memory endurance and strength.
When you really get it down, go quarter notes all the way up and down the strings always alternating.
 
jtcnj said:
I started some weeks back.
I am moving my plucking hand thumb to rest on the string next to the one I am playing, and on the pickup for the E.
I see most tutorials dont do that.
Is that wrong?
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I don't know if its wrong or not, I always rested on the pick up.
I'm resting on the B and when I go to pluck the B, I move my anchor to the pickup and pluck, but I feel its not as smooth as when I leave my thumb in one spot and transition between strings.
Maybe thumb placement is like holding a pick, everyone does it different ... maybe I'm wrong.
 
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