Tips/Tricks/Excercises For New Bass Players

[fleabass2232]

Seeing as how there have been many new members making threads about what they should be doing for excercises and drills to increase their skill, I figured, why not make a thread on it. Here are some drills and excercises I have come across that have and still help me.

I know there is LR's theory/technique thread, but there are like 50 pages, and, since search has been disabled, browsing through all the pages is not the easiest thing to do.

P.S. : I know all of you guys have excercises like this too, post them, the more we have the, better for the forum in whole!

#1.


G|----------------------------01234--43210------------------------------
D|-------------------01234--------------------43210---------------------
A|----------01234---------------------------------------43210-----------
E|-01234 --------------------------------------------------------43210--

G|----------------------------12345--54321------------------------------
D|-------------------12345-------------------54321----------------------
A|----------12345-------------------------------------54321-------------
E|-12345-------------------------------------------------------54321----


Repeat this excercise until the 12th fret, then work your way back down the neck. This helped me when I was starting out.



#2. This is Joshmay41465's ASCII diagram of a neck on a bass. Try to memorize it as it will help you out a lot later on.


G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb| E | F | Gb| G |
D | Eb | E | F |Gb| G | Ab | A |Bb| B | C | Db| D |
A | Bb | B | C |Db| D | Eb | E |F |Gb| G |Ab |A |
E | F |Gb| G |Ab| A | Bb | B |C |Db| D |Eb |E |



#3. This is an excercise my old teacher gave me to learn dexterity and speed.

The best I can explain this is: Start at the first fret. The numbers represent your fingers. At the beginning and end of each one, move up by one fret.



UP DOWN

1-3 3-1

1-2 2-1

1-4 4-1

2-3 3-2

2-4 4-2

3-4 4-3




I hope these help all of you. Check out the "Learning by Ear" thread also!

[karxix]

here's another good exercise (i got it off a billy sheehan video), gr8 for finger strength
play these with only ur fretting hand (usually left) and make sure each note sounds clear....note that this exercise might get a bit painful and irritating but is very useful
G----------------------------h5h6------------------------------
D--------------------h5h6----------h5h6----------------------
A----------h5h6-------------------------------h5h6-----------
E-h5h6-------------------------------------------------h5h6--

repeat this over and over going up a fret (or down) each time...the way to do this is hammer the 1st note with ur index finger then 2nd note with the middle one, then again hammer the 1st note with ur index but the one on the string below and so on.....go up and down the neck (in width and length),
do it at 1st with ur index and middle (the easiest)
then use ure middle ring finger instead of index middle (kinda hard)
then finally ring pinky (this is a killer....it's very hard to get the notes with the pinky to sound right)

this is a very good exercise for tapping!

[fleabass2232]

^ Ive seen that one before. Good job karxix, lets keep this up guys, just next time, spell out all the words. :thumb:

[fleabass2232]

These next excercises are good for slap and walking bass.

Slap this entire thing. This should help you with learning to hit the strings in succession.



G|----------0----0-----------
D|-------0----------0--------
A|----0----------------0-----
E|-0----------------------0--



The next one is the Octave/Slap-Pop

All your doing is Slapping a note, and popping the octave.



p
G|------------------------------------------
D|----3------4-------5-------6--------7--
A|------------------------------------------
E|-1------2------3--------4-------5------
s





Next, is walking basslines. These are moslty the kind you hear in ska, blues and jazz. This pattern is in the key of "A". It is meant to follow an A-D-E chord progression.



G|------------------------------------------------------------------
D|--------------------------4-5-6-7-6-5-4-----6-7-8-9-8-7-6-
A|---4-5-6-7-6-5-4----5--------------------7-------------------
E|-5----------------------------------------------------------------



:thumb:

[karxix]

here's another exercise, not so friendly one i'd say but gr8 for finger strength and independence!


G------------------------------2-3-4------
D----------------------2-3-4--------------
A------------2-3-4------------------------
E-1-2-3-4---1--------1-------1------------

G------------------------------1-3-4------
D----------------------1-3-4--------------
A------------1-3-4------------------------
E-1-2-3-4---2--------2-------2------------

G------------------------------1-2-4------
D----------------------1-2-4--------------
A------------1-2-4------------------------
E-1-2-3-4---3--------3-------3------------

G------------------------------1-2-3------
D----------------------1-2-3--------------
A------------1-2-3------------------------
E-1-2-3-4---4--------4-------4------------



that's basically how the exercise goes, number stand for finger & fret number (ie, 1 = index finger, fret 1, etc....)

the way to work this exercise is to keep the 1st finger all the time pressed while u move the others.....
so far the 1 , 2 part u have to keep ur index all the time on fret 1 of the E string while ur other fingers moves down the other frets , s ...... this is really good for stretching and muscle strength
just don't overstretch and overkill urself, keep it gradual

u have to play notes while fretting and avoid getting buzzes, when ur @ that level then ur getting better! if u find this too hard u can do the same exercise on another part of the neck where the frets r closer, i'd recommend around 5th fret

EDIT: fixed the exercise a bit, kinda explained it wrongly b4, my bad

[karxix]

if the link is still working u should get a good list of exercises that LightRaven once wrote!
(currently am getting server is too busy :S)

http://www.musicianforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8468

[Ibanez39]

i think this is called spider or something, my friend showed me when i was learning. good for using all the fret fingers and moving them around on all strings.

G-------4---------1--------5--------2--
D-----3---------2--------4--------3----
A---2---------3--------3--------4------
E-1---------4--------2--------5-------- etc...

up and down the fretboard you go. it makes an X pattern with your fingers.

[RIPJoeStrummer]

I think this is called "12 bar blues" or something but I think mines a little different but anyway here it is.

All eigth notes except: ~ = quarter note
G-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D-------------4-4-|-5-5-4-4---------|-------------4-4-|-5-5-4-4---------|
A-----4-4-7-7-----|---------7-7-4-4-|-----4-4-7-7-----|---------7-7-4-4-|
E-5-5-------------|-----------------|-5-5-------------|-----------------|

G-------------4-4-|-5-5-4-4---------|-----------------|-----------------|
D-----4-4-7-7-----|---------7-7-4-4-|-------------4-4-|-5-5-4-4---------|
A-5-5-------------|-----------------|-----4-4-7-7-----|---------7-7-4-4-|
E-----------------|-----------------|-5-5-------------|-----------------|

G-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D-----6-6-9~~-6~~-|-----4-4-7~~-4~~-|-----------------|-----------------|
A-7-7-------------|-5-5-------------|-----4-4-5-5-6-6-|-7-7-7-7-6-5-4-0-|
E-----------------|-----------------|-5-5-------------|-----------------|

[fleabass2232]

Cool. This is coming along nicely guys.

This is a drill for muted slaps. Its kinda hard at first, but it gets easy quick. The "four x's" are you hitting your entire left hand up against the fretboard, muting all the sound, creating a percussive...click if you will, you then hit a muted e string, wich could still be muted by your left hand. (i put my right palm down on the string, put it doesnt matter.) Then, you pop an open G string :naughty:, "clap" the fretboard again and pop open D, and hammer on to "2".

Ill attach an mp3 so you can hear the rythm.



G|------x-----0----x---------
D|------x----------x-----0h2
A|------x----------x----------
E|--0--x--x-------x--x------



:thumb:

[RIPJoeStrummer]

Make this important. :thumb:

[fleabass2232]

yes i agree. BUMP. Sticky this LR, if you wouldnt mind, so our work doesnt go unnoticed. :D

[BassManMike]

looks good

[original_stumpster]

Thanks all, these have helped me heaps. One thing, on one post it had dots thoughout. Thanks

[karxix]

^^
hmmm, i think that was my post :P
i meant that u just keep on going using the same pattern of fingers but i fixed that now:D

[karxix]

here's a slap exercise, more of a popping exercise

slap the E and A string,
and u have to pop D with ur index and G with the middle finger, then switch them

(x --> mute string with left hand)


G---------x-|----------x-|
D------x----|-------x----|
A-----------|-0-0-x---x--|
E-0-0-x--x--|------------|

i attached a recorded sample played slow and normal

[TheOtherWhiteMeat]

I know this is very simple, but to improve your finger strength, just squeeze a tennin ball whenever you're on the computer or just lying around. Not hard or anything, but you'll find tha your tapping gets a whole lot better. :thumb:

[karxix]

mmmm.....this thread shouldn't be on the 2nd page :upset:
keep it active and LR make it important....all tips exercises can be posted in just 1 thread instead of newbies coming asking 4 exercises and such!

[RIPJoeStrummer]

yeah.......bump

[Faisley_]

I'm Just starting out, and these exercises are really helping!
Thanks all
Please post more if you have any.

[fleabass2232]

I'm glad to hear that Faisley.

Im really busy with school this week, so i dont think i can put up any more excercises until the weekend.

But please, guys like HAvic5, jamh2000, and joshmay, post your knowledge!!

[RIPJoeStrummer]

I'm going to post some more tonite.

[LightRaven]

Alright, Sorry it took long to get this important... I was about to do it yesterday when something came up. And when I got on last night, the server was too busy. :(

So I'm going to go over a bit of form, since there has been alot of finger exercises in here, and also the link to my Finger Exercises thread.

Sitting or standing... it's your call, but make sure you can do both comfortably if the situation calls for it. Now for all you bassists who think it looks cool to be trying to kill innocent passer-by ants... having your bass hanging so low (I call it the "Crotch-slinging ant killer" position) is really horrible for your back, neck, wrists and it makes the bass harder to play. No basses below the crotch! You'll be sorry later.

The neck of the bass should be slanted upwards at an angle if you are playing standing up... it makes it easier, and shifts alot of the weight of the bass to stronger parts of your back.

Left Hand: Your thumb should be in the middle of the WIDTH of the neck, pointing towards the ceiling, and parallel to your first and/or second fingers. The wrist should only be slightly bent, but more flat, in a natural position.

DO NOT **** your wrist or hand to the left side... this makes it harder for you to have a four fret stretch, or to even use the pinky.

Do NOT wrap your thumb around the neck of the bass. This puts your wrist in an akward position and makes it possible for you to get carpel tunnel later.

Do NOT let your thumb slide out to the side.... again, this compromises wrist position.

DO use all four fingers. You have four of them...... use them. The minute I see a bassist not using their pinky.... I want to... hurt them :evil:

DO NOT slide up and down the bass using only one finger to play.... use logical fingering. If you have notes to play that are in a 4 or 5 fret position... use all the fingers... don't sit there and look like you are jacking off the neck!

Press your fingers INTO the bass.... pulling down on the strings will cause the string to bend, even slightly, which will distort the note you are trying to play... making it out of tune.

Tuck your elbow into your side... this reduces shoulder and arm fatigue.

Bassist play more on the pads of our fingers, not so much on the tips like guitarists... but cut your nails. ;) they will get in the way sooner or later.

Right Hand Form:

Pluck into the strings, as if you are trying to hit the body of the bass underneath those strings. Do NOT pluck upwards. This slows you down and is not the best tone the bass can produce. When I am plucking over my fingerboard... my finger actually goes through and hits the bass.... if that gives you an idea. Rest your thumb on the E string, the edge of the fingerboard, or the pickup. Playing at different spots will give you different sounds. The closer to the bridge you are, the more twangy and "punk" of a sound you will get. The middle, right around the pickups, is the best tone the strings can produce. Playing closer to the fingerboard will give you a softer more mellow sound.... think of ballad jazz songs.

I do not condone pick playing. But I will not argue either way.
If you are going to use a pick, never use your wrist to play. The energy must come from the elbow and forearm. Otherwise, you can get carpel tunnel or some other repetative stress injury.

For slap, make sure your thumb is actually parallel to the strings you are slapping on. Often people complain about not being able to slap on the A string... it is because their thumb is pointing up and hitting all sorts of things, instead of aligning it with that particular string.

There was something I was going to add about the left hand.. but I forgot it. :( Oh well.

Good luck.

LightRaven

[RIPJoeStrummer]

Originally posted by LightRaven
don't sit there and look like you are jacking off the neck!

:lol:


Ok, here's a few little excercizes to help your left hand. They were the first thing my teacher taught me, even though I only had him for an hour:).

G-------------5-6-|-7-8-------------|
D---------5-6-----|-----7-8---------|
A-----5-6---------|---------7-8-----|
E-5-6-------------|-------------7-8-|
--1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2---3-4-3-4-3-4-3-4
(1-2...ect. = Finger used to fret note)

Then go in the oposite direction.


Here's another.

G---------|---------|---6---8-|
D---------|---6---8-|-5---7---|
A---6---8-|-5---7---|---------|
E-5---7---|---------|---------|
--1-2-3-4---1-2-3-4---1-2-3-4

And agian go back up in the oposite direction.

[RIPJoeStrummer]

Yay it's finally important thanks LR. :thumb:

[TonyChoyIsGod]

Try this!!!!

G-----------------------4-6-8-
D---------------3-5-7---------
A--------2-4-6----------------
E-1-3-5-----------------------

It really builds up your speed

[HaVIC5]

A series of slap exercises learned from my teacher that really helped me out.

-------------5h7-------------
---------5h7-----5h7---------
-----5h7-------------5h7-----
-5h7---------------------5h7-

-------------------5h7-x----------------
-------------5h7-x-------5h7-x----------
-------5h7-x-------------------5h7-x----
-5h7-x------------------------------5h7-

The second muted note should be popped

-------x-------x-------x-5h7-x-x-------x-------x-----
-----------------5h7-x-----------5h7-x---------------
---------5h7-x---------------------------5h7-x-------
-5h7-x-------------------------------------------5h7-

[Mobys_Reject]

Originally posted by fleabass2232
Cool. This is coming along nicely guys.

This is a drill for muted slaps. Its kinda hard at first, but it gets easy quick. The "four x's" are you hitting your entire left hand up against the fretboard, muting all the sound, creating a percussive...click if you will, you then hit a muted e string, wich could still be muted by your left hand. (i put my right palm down on the string, put it doesnt matter.) Then, you pop an open G string :naughty:, "clap" the fretboard again and pop open D, and hammer on to "2".

Ill attach an mp3 so you can hear the rythm.



G|------x-----0----x---------
D|------x----------x-----0h2
A|------x----------x----------
E|--0--x--x-------x--x------



:thumb:


It's Fieldy-acious!

[stupidchicken2k4]

Try the little recording i made, titled "openA" , in the "record some crap" thread, and learn that. It oughtta help with learning how to steadily do one thing and do somethign else at the same time or hwo to play two strings at the same time...and figure it out by ear, just keep playing the open A and experiment with different notes o nthe G and D string. And don't steal it and use it for your own songwriting, I will be forced to castrate you.

[fleabass2232]

Thanks LR, this is great to see our work important. :thumb:

[BassPlayinChiaPet]

hey, i've got this pretty cool arpeggio drill. it works on finger dexterity on ur fretting hand, but it doesn't hurt ur technique with ur other hand either. k, wat u do is play each arpegggio(A-3,D-2,D-5, those type of things) 4 times.

G---------------------2-5---4-7---5-9---7-10----9-12--
D---2-5---3-7--5-9-3-----5------7-----9-------10--------
A-3------5----7----------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------

now play each of these arpeggios(G-12,G-9,D-10, those type of things) 4 times. ur just playing the first thing backwards.

G-12-9----10-7---9-5----7-4--5-2--------------------------
D------10------9-----7------5-----3--9-5---7-3---5-2---
A----------------------------------------7------5-----3-
E-----------------------------------------------------------------

hope this isn't too hard to read everyone! hope this can help someone. :D

[BassPlayinChiaPet]

oh, ya, if u maximize ur page size, u can read my little exercise a whole lot better than normal. just another tip...

[YDload]

I always try a few "Smoke on the Water"s, followed by the guitar intro to "Voodoo Child" to get myself working. Of course, I've only been playing for a month, so I should close my mouth and open my ears in this case.

[madthumbs]

this is a little ending to one of my songs, play each riff twice .. the mutes are cool once you them.

G]= = = =0= =0= = = =0= = |= = = =x=5= = =x=4= = =x=2= =
D] = = x=x=x=x=x= =x =x= = | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A] = =3= = =2= =0= = = =0= | =3=x= = =2=x= = =0=x= = = =
E] = = = = = = = = = = = = = |= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

[bass maiden]

all these little things have helped me loads, keep em comin!
does anybody have excercises to speed up the right hand fingers or is just playing the only way?

[Fast_Food_Klepto]

im having alot of trouble with my 2 handed tapping, i cant seem to get my hands to do 2 different things at once, if anybodys got an excersize to help develop 2 handed tapping coordination it would be much appreciated :thumb:

[RIPJoeStrummer]

^^I'll second that. My tapping sucks.


Keep them coming guys. :thumb:

[KaptainKool]

The kap'in is saddened, for 2 reasons...

1-my tapping sucks too
2- this thread died...

[LightRaven]

*Does CPR on Thread*

Well, I guess I could do a little bit on reading bass clef. It's important to know the basics of it, and you can choose for yourself if you want to further in it.

Ok, the EASIEST way to learn how to read music is not memorizing the lines and spaces. That gets you no where.... you have no idea where each note goes. The notes in bass clef are fixed, as they are in treble clef... meaning... that C that is written is only played in a certain spot... no octave displacements.

Bass clef looks kinda like a question mark... if you wish to see one, click on my profile button to view my avatar. The best way to go about reading music is to learn how to read the notes of ONE string at a time. You start with the G string. Learn how to read G, A and B... only first position on the bass at first. Write out little stupid etudes.... practice this for a couple of days to get it firm in your mind. Then you move on the the D string. Learn D, E,F.... Write little D string etudes... and then write little D & G string etudes... work on this for about a week before progression to the A and E string. But continue learning one string.... then putting two strings together... then three.. then all four.

Learn the natural notes first (ABCDEFG).. there is no point in learning sharps and flats until you can properly know where the natural, regular notes are.
b
---------a---------------
g
--------------------f-----
e
----d---------------------
c
--------b-----------------
a
--------g-------------------
f


Hope that comes out ok... Your Low E string is written one ledger line below bass clef. Ledger lines are lines that are written for notes that occur above and below the actual staff. So it'll look like this:
------------------

---E---

With the longer line at the top being the first line in bass clef.


Lines: GBDFA Good Boys Do Fine Always
Spaces: ACEG All Cows Eat Grass.

:)

LightRaven

[RIPJoeStrummer]

Yay, LR thanks for reviving this thread. :D


Anyone got anything on tapping???

[pumo420]

tapping is fun im getting the legist of it. the best thing is learn chords and being able to tap chords

[LightRaven]

Originally posted by pumo420
tapping is fun im getting the legist of it. the best thing is learn chords and being able to tap chords

PUMO! Where have you been?

:wave:

LightRaven

[paradigmFunk2]

i got a question. am i wrong in saying that these kinds of exercises are better to do at a measured speed with a metronome?
and a good thing to do is playing modes/scales along with a metronome and slowly progressively getting faster. it helps with your rythm and memorization.

[KaptainKool]

Answer - no you are not wrong

[Dehumanize]

tutorial on spider picking, may help some people. cliff used it

http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/Articles/Hanging_Ten/, there all you people go, it may take awhile

[Often Lost]

Sorry for upping this, but I just cant tap. Whenever I try a get a metalic twang sound. Please help.

[karxix]

r the strings hitting the frets (ie, fret buzz) when u tap?
maybe ur not tapping hard enough...

[bassopotomous]

this is a good exercise i do this all the time...what you do is
play a c major scale --->quarter notes
play thirds ---->eigth notes
play fifths ---->triplets
play sevenths ---->sixteenth notes

[HoBoBass]

Hi everyone,
Here is a scale that helped me with my fingering technique (oi oi)
It is the scale of Em. Use one finger for each fret .ie. index finger = first fret

Gl-------------------0-2-3-2-3-2-0-------------------
Dl--------------0-2------------------ 2-0--------------
Al------0-1-2------------------------------2-1-0------
El-0-3---------------------------------------------3-0-

I hope it helps u

Dan

[whatisititisit]

weats bass book

[Buck-O]

does ne1 know any good slap/pop songs or exercises for a slap/pop beginner. i started learning how to slap but just stopped all of a sudden i dont know y tho, but i want to start learning again, neway does ne1 know ne cool easy slap bass riffs.

[Buck-O]

what up guys, some of those exercises i already knew but some i didnt and they are all helpful, tnx guys, but i want to learn to slap bass and i was learning earlier how but i stopped and would like to see if ne of u know ne cool slap bass riffs, or exercises, those u guys put up for slap, i already knew but tnx .

[CKYROCKER]

I just started playing about two months ago, and one tool that helped my finger stregnth was this thing I picked up at the 99 cent store. It's got plastic handles and a metal bar that circles around the top. It's made to improve grip but I can tell my hands are more agile and strong if I use it everyday. Hopefully that can help someone.

[Thunder Fingers]

Originally posted by Buck-O
does ne1 know any good slap/pop songs or exercises for a slap/pop beginner. i started learning how to slap but just stopped all of a sudden i dont know y tho, but i want to start learning again, neway does ne1 know ne cool easy slap bass riffs.

Primus - Antipop

[fleabass2232]

Originally posted by Buck-O
does ne1 know any good slap/pop songs or exercises for a slap/pop beginner. i started learning how to slap but just stopped all of a sudden i dont know y tho, but i want to start learning again, neway does ne1 know ne cool easy slap bass riffs.

Before you learn to slap, you have to learn how to type.

Jesus, this thread hasnt been updated in a long time. Anyway, I cant think of more excercises, but I will give a list of songs that have good bass parts in them that you guys should check out.

RATM - Bombtrack, Take The Power Back, Know Your Enemy, Freedom, Wake Up, Calm Like A Bomb

Iron Maiden - The Trooper, Numer Of The Beast

Metallica - One, Battery, Seek and Destroy, Fade To Black, Until It Sleeps, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Creeping Death, Anesthesia.

Primus - Tommy The Cat, Jerry Was A Race Car Driver, Antipop, My Name is Mud.

Jaco Pastourious - Donna Lee, Portrait Of Tracy, Teen Town

RHCP - Suck My Kiss, Funky Monks, Cant Stop, Around The World, Californication, Higher Ground, Give It Away, By The Way

Limp Bizkit - Re-arranged, Take A Look Around, My Way

Blink 182 - Carousel, TV, Josie

Green Day - Longview, Welcome To Paradise, Chump, Burnout, Warning, Minority.

NOFX - Stickin In My Eye, The Decline

88 Fingers Louie - 100 Proof, Punk Rock Rulebook, BlinkBlinkBlink

Victor Wooten - Everything by him.

Thats it for now, add stuff if you think i missed some songs. :)

[BassPlayinChiaPet]

Anything by Stu Hamm
Wrong Way by Sublime
Beer by Reel Big Fish
Asleep at the Wheel by The Hippos(real good one)
Shake Hands With Beef by Primus
Sonny by NFG
Black Dog by Led Zepplin
Comedown by Bush

those songs all have cool basslines.

[foxide_bass]

This is an exercise for 2 handed tapping (i finds it harder to tap with my right hand), dont worry about key because its only a rough exercise.

Left hand
1 = index, 2= middle, 3 = ring (no 4, but if you like just add your pinky in, it doesnt matter about time or rythem for now)

Right hand
a = index, b = middle (again, add ring and pinky as ability progresses)

G|-----5-------5--|
D|---7---7---7---7|
A|-5-------5------|
E|----------------|
1 a 1 a 1 a 1 a

G|-----7----------7-----------------------|
D|---5----------6--------5--------------6-|
A|-7---------5------11------5----7-11-5---|
E|-------10-----------10------10----------|
3 2 3 a 1 2 3 b a 1 1 a 3 b 2 1

G|------7----11------------11--------7--|
D|---7----------6-------10------10-----6|
A|-5------10------6---7------------5----|
E|------------------5--------10---------|
1 3 3 a b 2 2 1 3 a b a a 1 3 2

Sorry about the spacing out of the tab

Hope I helped

EDIT| Copy and paste this into Notepad, then just play around with the spacing so it lines up, sorry, i can get it perfect but the forum keeps messing the fretting guide. Any questions email me foxidefox@hotmail.com or if you want me to email you the exercise perfect.

[Kamiko]

This is a pretty extensive list, it's too bad it isn't pinned as important anymore. :(

btw, foxide_bass, you can try using the code tags to keep the tabs monospaced so it won't look so messed up anymore :)

oh yeah...bump :D

[TwistedVelvet]

awsome
Hey guys, these are very awsome, and i just lkearned so much.

I guess this one is one to inprove finger arrangment.

|------------------------------7-8-9-8-7-------------------------------|
|---------------------5-7-8-9-------------9-8-7-5--------------------|
|-------------5-6-7-----------------------------------7-6-5-----------|
|0-3-5-6-7--------------------------------------------------7-6-5-3-0|

-0-1-1-2-3--1-2-3-1-1-2-3-1-2-3-2-1--3-2-1-1-3-2-1-3-2-1-1-0-

^^^^^^^^^^Finger Arrangmemt

keep up the posts

i posted this on another thread dont pay attention to that one cause i scread up and did it on that thread, ...

bassi3
Fëanor band member

Registered: May 2001
Location: Holland
And again a very quick recording:

http://www.bassi3.nl/feanor/riff1.mp3


Ronald

Ronald did this on the other thread ...

by the way i tryed to record this and all the mic does is record the sounds out of the com...and this is relevent cause ill do another tip like this but with the sound...ro.. im asking you, or any one else.

[hooligans]

Originally posted by Eddie-the-Trooper
Primus - Antipop

I agree, this song helped me greatly with pop and slap, its simple yet it improoved my skill greatly, I reccomend beginner slappers to check it out :)
Originally posted by fleabass2232
NOFX - Stickin In My Eye

I, myself, would reccomend rancid's version. why? The bassline is faster, and the intro is a bass intro instead of guitar which makes it more fun :D


and about some of the primus listings, for tommy the cat and jerry was a racecar driver you need a six string, and I doubt any beginners would have one, but that's just my opinion

[skankachic]

these posts are really helping me with my bassin, but still got one problem....
I JUST CAN'T MUTE!!!!!!
i've been trying and trying, but it just aint happening like..so aanyone got any tips to help me ....please????:( :( :confused: :confused:

[NIRVANAbassist]

does Gb mean g flat?

[stevieraycharlesmingus]

Originally posted by hooligans
and about some of the primus listings, for tommy the cat and jerry was a racecar driver you need a six string, and I doubt any beginners would have one, but that's just my opinion
you can do both with a 4 string

[nicolaB]

Could someone please post something about playing with a drummer, and other band members. I auditioned today for a band and i got in, and we were all playing around at lunch, in the music room, at school, but i've never really been in a band before, so i don't know anything about improvising, and playing in tempo with other members. I know after playing with them for a while i'll probablly get the hang of it, and all of them could help me, but im afraid they'll kick me out because i can't play well with people. So any help? Are there any tricks with improvising? Should i start using a metronome every time i practise by myself?

[bassopotomous]

^^^^^^^
play with a metronome anyways
thats a good question, someone please answer it

[KaptainKool]

here's a good link for tapping exercises

http://www.cyberfretbass.com/misc-wisdom/classic-lessons/tap1.html

I now embark upon learning the Peanut Theme song in 2 weeks. I just started tapping, all I know is what's in those lessons. :upset:

[crazyfingures87@aol.com]

heres a exercise I use to do that I made up that helped me with speed.

g-1----------------------------1------------------

d----3---5-3----------------------3---5-3-----------

a---------------5-3---0-1-0----------------5-3-------5-

e--------------------------------------------------3-5--

For beginners just play that as fast as you can for as long as you can, it will help your speed and get your fingures stronger.

Also for speed work on, your hammer ons, pull offs, and open string hammer ons.
If you wanna increase your slapping and popping skils, work on double pops, double slaps, hammer ons, pull offs, open hammer ons, ghost notes, maybe left hand slaps, slapping and using chords and when you get more advanced double thumping.

[crazyfingures87@aol.com]

Also try to be as verstile as you can. Master playing with slapping, fingures, picking, tapping, learn as many techniques you can ill post some good slapping exercises from a book I have later on.

But for you pick players heres some fingure exercises, play this with your fingures, start off with a slow tempo and speed it up each time doing it

g------------------------------------------------------------------------

d-----22------22--------22--------22----------55------55--5--3------------------------

a--------------------00-------00----------33--------33------------5-------------------------

e-00------00---------------------------------------------------------------

another exercise I use to do is

g-------------------------------------------------------

d------------------5-7-5h7-6-5-------------------------------------

a--------4-5-7------------------------------------------------

e--5-7------------------------------------------------------

also you can use scales as exercises, heres the c scale
assending decending
g---------------2-4-5------5-4-2---------------------------

d------2-3-5------------------------5-3-2-------------------

a-3-5---------------------------------------5-3---------

e-------------------------------------------------

when doing these exercises, you should be using your pinky on your freting hand because I no I had trouble using my pinky when I was a beginner, also with your plucking hand, just start out with two fingures , your fingures should look like two legs walking.

[ksh75002]

This is an exercise I use when warming up

----7---8----5---6----7---8--5--6-----7---8---5---6---------
--5---6----7---8---------------------------------------------
---------------------5---6--7--8-----------------------------
-------------------------------------5---6---7---8-----------

Its from a Bass Learning Video by John Patitucci he calls it "the spider"

[ksh75002]

does Gb mean g flat?

yes it means g flat

b next to a note means flat (half step down or 1fret down)
# next to a note means sharp (half step-up or 1 fret up)

[JamersonBass]

here's a great excercise to build up coordination and get fingering patterns in your muscle memory.

permutations:
choose any four frettable chromatic notes.
for this example, i'll use the 7th through the 10th fret of the G-string. (D,Eb,E,F)
the index finger will always fret the D, middle will fret the Eb, ring finger: E, and pinky:F

before you begin, keep in mind that anytime the middle finger is being used, the index finger should be applying slight pressure to the neck, anytime the ring finger is used the middle and index finger should apply slight pressure, and anytime the pinky is used all fingers should apply some pressure. this will help the weaker muscles/tendons of your 3rd and 4th fingers, helping to prevent strain and possible damage.

play the 4 notes in chromatic succession: index(finger 1) on the 7th fret, middle(2) on the 8th fret, ring(3) on the 9th, and pinky(4) on the 10th.
consider that to be 1,2,3,4.
next, begin playing permutations of that:
1,3,4,2
1,4,2,3
1,3,2,4
1,4,3,2
1,2,4,3
2,1,3,4
2,3,4,1
2,1,4,3
2,4,3,1
etc...etc...

this is a fairly easy and mindless excercise, but it prepares your fingers for difficult lines you may encounter in the future. remember to concentrate on proper hand technique, and strive to make each note full and beautiful. start slow and practice on different strings and on different areas of the neck.

[Thunder Fingers]

Lovely! this is going printable! :p played for a year, but evrything could help! :D

[Thunder Fingers]

this thread seen dead so i took ther time to but the exercise into word...

[Hiro]

well, this is one i like a lot, it´s a rapid bass lick i have made just now for you ;) check it:


------------x----------------------------------------
----------------------------------5h7 5-----------
----------------4h5------5-5h7---------7-7---
--0----x-------------x------------------------------


you should do this at a very fast tempo, this helps you to coordinate hammer ons on slapping and different methods of slapping at the strings :D

[Thunder Fingers]

This one is good finger exercise:

------------------------------------
-----------------------5h6p5--------
-----4-----4-5---4-5-7-------7-5-4—-
-6-7---6-7-----7--------------------

its the guitar intro to Muse - Plug in Baby, what the hell we need guitarists for? :D

[Hiro]

Some just crazy MASTER OF PUPPETS!!!!!!!!!! :thumb:

cool exercise for fingers, very useful if you have the "now-famous-push-two-strings-with-the-same-finger syndrom".
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
--------2----------3-----------4-------------3-----1----2-2--
-0--1------0--1-------0---1--------0----1-------0------------

And this one is from anesthesia . pulling theeth. cool exercise, at inverse of the other one, but very usefull for classical music(i thing you´ll guess why while playing :D )

-----------------------------------------------------------
---7-7---9-9----10-10------9-9-----7-7----6-6----7-7-----
-------0------0--------0---------0--------0-------0---0---
-----------------------------------------------------------

Go!! :thumb:

[rdavidson510]

heres a technique my teacher taught me to strengthen your fingers. se, i play a 20 fret bass and im 5'3", so i have small hands. Most of the time, when im not using my fretting fingers, i have them curled under the fretboard, which is a bad habit. that makes you slow down since you have to pickup your fingers each time. so, heres a little trick to keep your fingers straight
OK, take the hand you fret with and out strech all of your fingers. Now, bend all your fingers so the tops of each finger touch the inside of your hand. now your fingers should have a flat surface pointing up (assuming your hand it pointed directly up). make sure your thumb though is still outstreched. Now, one at a time, try to strech your fingers up so they are fully outstreched, then back down.
I can only do my index and middle doing this, barely get my ring off the ground.
Confused still? Bah, yeah i suck at directions. i'll post pictures later.

[insanelysane]

hey, i just wanted to say thanks to all of you who have posted exercises and stuff, because it really has helped improve my playing, and i give you guys major credit for taking the time to post all this stuff. Thanks :thumb:

[Emptysix]

Just started myself so this should help me loads. I seem to have a bit of trouble with my 4th finger (pinky). I keep wanting to use my 3rd finger instead. It's good to have things to practice with that way I can make my time more dedicated instead of just screwing around.

[Nortatem869]

Always use ea Metranome. OI uses a Quick time it is really cheap and loud and you can plug in your head phones to it or even play it thru your comp. It also Plays 440 cycle A note so you can tune your bass by ear and not with a tunner. This is something everyone shound know and if they don't it is never to late to learn

Having a tuner is great and all, but sometimes you just do not have one handy. Tune your A string first with a Tuning fork or Metranome. then on the A string hold down the 7th string and tune the E string. Check the A by Plucking the E on the fth fret and the A open so they play the same note and do not beat against each other. Then do the same on the a string and tune up the d string. Always tune your string up, never down. Tuning a string down the string will slowly grow out of tune faster . The tune the g of the D also on the 5th fret and you should be in tune.

A more percise way of tuning and a bettter hearing excersize is to tune using harmonics. After tuning your e off of the A string in the first tuning exercize, place a finger directly over the fith fret on the E string and then on the seventh of the A string. the bell ring of the harmonic on the a should be a whole octave higher. work your way to the g the same waytill you are tuned up.

When I first learned how to tune my first bass I practiced all day taking my basss way out of tune and bringing it back perfect. This also gets your ears plenty of exposure to what a bass should sound like and what it shouldnt. In a few years you could tune it totally by ear with out aid of tuner and or harmoincs and fret open string relation tunings.

As for Excersizes. I think no one addressed Warm ups. before you learn how to do a 5 fret stretch, practice seperating your fingers on both hands. I use the edge of my desk and and try to make my fingers do the splits. not to hard be gentle at first. Then I start re grouping my fingers Starting off with the easy rabit ears to Devil horns change up over and over then the index and ring and middle and pinkyI do it for speed and dexterity. i then do the same exercise but to further stretch out my fingers. Extending them, bending them back as far as I can and maing a fis really fast and making it tight and back again. it is torurous but it builds up Strength,Stamina, speed and dexterity.

For finger tip and thumb fortatude, I pound the hell out of them on talbe tops on my steering wheel, everywhere. I drum my fingers tips on table in different rythems and timings and finger orders. And slap my thumb on the table. Then I am ready to torture my fingers with my bass for an hour of practice

[Nortatem869]

oops I meant seventh Fret sorry

[Nortatem869]

Well After Torturing my fingers with Streatching I some times like to run thru my scales but not in the usual way.

I live to attack all the Octaves of the root note of my scale then play the next note of the scale backwards also in octaves.

g----9---21-19-18
d---2---14---12-11
a--7---19-----17-16
e-o---12-------10-9

ETC

Another Exersize is for those that want to EDDIE VAN HALEN the BASS. Also utilizing octaves.



g---------------------------------------------
d-----------------------------------1-h2--2-h2
a--------------------1-h7-2-h7-4-h7
e-0-h12-2-h12-3-h12

[WhoDoVooDoo]

*bump* So we can see it...

[Random_Hero_Guy_]

This is the simplest way to play 12 bar blues(in my opinion), and simple to solo off it. i use it to help incorperate my pinky into my playing...
Right Hand
I=Index
M=Middle
R=Ring
P=Pinky



E-0-4--------------4-------------------
A------2-4----4--2---0--4-------------4
D-----------0---------------2-4---4-2--
G--------------------------------0------


Edit: Im having spaceing problems for the fingers, so just try and do it all in the order I M R I P P R M.

[DFB]

Hey this thread is long so I just skipped to the last page to post. I'm not sure if you all have already posted a ska exersize or not. If you haven't, please do.
And could some one explain crawling to me? Is it just a scale or is there another pattern to it?

[BassBoy12]

Code:
G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb| E | F | Gb| G |
D | Eb | E | F |Gb| G | Ab | A |Bb| B | C | Db| D |
A | Bb | B | C |Db| D | Eb | E |F |Gb| G |Ab |A |
E | F |Gb| G |Ab| A | Bb | B |C |Db| D |Eb |E |


Is this^ the chords/notes on the neck of a bass??

[bassplayingsucker]

just play the older stuff of flea with rhcp, like higher ground, show me your soul, stone cold bush the solo thing and the whole stuff of stu hamm, but you need to be very good, just to try...

[ocdrumandbass]

i have just found something that my help you if you want to use a PICK. I personally like to slap or use fingers, but the music i play in the band really needs the tone and speed of a pick. for the first while, i was picking the strings where i was plucking them, which was over the pickups, maybe even a little closer to the nut. The sound was messy and was very clumsy to play. Just 10 minutes ago i moved my right hand so it was resting on the bridge (behind the saddles, obviously), and now i find the tone has a lot more attack, and i can play a bit faster also, because the string doesnt move about so much there. you may have to turn up a LITTLE bit more but not too much.

just thought id share this gem of information.

[gothicfreakshow]

even though i've been playing for quite a bit, its always good to go back to basics and this thread has really helped me pick up some more tips that i never learned when i was starting out which have helped me play better.thanks

[codered878]

1 thing to do is play video games, it strenthens your hands and fingers
i had this really long complicated warm up... but when i looked at it it was all messed up.. so just play lots of video games and do what everyone else says

[LightRaven]

Bumping to ensure view on main page

LR

[Az_Holl]

I know this is very simple, but to improve your finger strength, just squeeze a tennin ball whenever you're on the computer or just lying around. Not hard or anything, but you'll find tha your tapping gets a whole lot better. :thumb:

Ive got a bass text book by stanley clarke, jeff berlin and some other guys and doing this with the tennis ball (squeezing it) apparently destroys the tendons in your hand and should be avoided. They say that your hands will get stronger just by practicing.

[exit]

Well, im a beginner but i kinda made a little (primitive) riff. After i made it (I sure hope this aint an existing one :upset: ) I noticed its godo as an exercice for speed and using your fingers quickly. Well, at least i think so

so here it goes
These are the finger i use (i try to use em all)


A--4---------------
E----5-3-6-4-5-5-5
---1-3-1-4-2-3-3-3

Okay, so probably for most of players thsi is a lame riff, or very easy or hardly cant be put up as an ex. on speed and fingering but well, I only started playing 10 days ago and im doing it on my won so pls dont flame me for it :D

[Krazy Bass]

This is the simplest way to play 12 bar blues(in my opinion), and simple to solo off it. i use it to help incorperate my pinky into my playing...
Right Hand
I=Index
M=Middle
R=Ring
P=Pinky

E-0-4--------------4-------------------
A------2-4----4--2---0--4-------------4
D-----------0---------------2-4---4-2--
G--------------------------------0------


Edit: Im having spaceing problems for the fingers, so just try and do it all in the order I M R I P P R M.
Not to be an ***, but for if your going to tab something at least tab it correctly.
E on the bottom!

G--------------------------------0------
D-----------0---------------2-4---4-2--
A------2-4----4--2---0--4-------------4
E-0-4--------------4-------------------

[cheesepuff]

Tip for people wanting to practice using their pinky more, try playing a Drop-C song in standard tuning on a 5-string, there'll be times when you pretty much HAVE to use your pinky, it helped me.

[Thunder Fingers]

Updated of the Word document i made of this thread a year ago...:

[Jace The Bass]

Here's a warm up exercise

G----------------------------------2-3-4-- ---------------------1----3-4---
D------------------------2-3-4------------ ------------1---3-4-------------
A--------------2-3-4---------------------- --1----3-4----------------------
E--1-2-3-4--1---------1---------1--------- -----2---------2--------2--------

The numbers are the fingerings
Do the same with your other two remaining fingers
You can use any four frets if you wish but you get a real stretch on the first four

Anyway enjoy

[RyKnOwIsGoD]

a little easy way to remember the notes for sheet music, or just in geral

lines
G
B
D
F
A

Spaces
A
C
E
G

The order going line, space, line ,space, line, space etc
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A

And the acrnoym
for lines
Gay
Bird
Does
Fine
A$$es

For spaces
ACE G the rapper, haha it helped me

[reidster90]

Ok, many bass players I have found who try to do old school punk or hardcore covers have a hard time working up the stamina to downstroke that much, so they simply do the alternating picking or play with three fingers. This is not okay! I am here to teach you how to become the king of a technique many bass players have shunned, put in the long run can be very useful. I am talking about the dreaded DOWNSTROKE. Now in many of the early hardcore/punk bands, bassist HAD to use a pick and HAD to play downstrokes until their ***** popped off. Punk then was very minimalistic, and you weren't considered a punk bass player unless you could go at 155+bpm woth all downstrokes. Many pick players in mainstream rock bands would have the alternating duh-dum-duh-dum-duh-dum sort of rolling bassline. In punk, the bass player, the bass would need to go DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH so the song would have that frantic feel. Grab a pick, what ever thickness you prefer. You won't need that much give though so you might want to use a thicker one. Hold the pick in the standard OK sign position and start picking the lowest string. Do NOT rest on the bridge. Play somewhere near the P-pickup if you have a P-bass or between your two pickups if you have a soapbar or J pickup bass. Slowly pick up speed, and use a metronome if needed. As you get faster and faster, be sure you don't faulter and hit the bottom of the string. If you can do this at a considerably fast speed (at a minimum of 160 bpm) you are doing fairly well. Many of these bands I'm talking about go much faster, but this will be a good starting point. Try it on all the strings making sure its bold and consistent. If you cramp up, take a break, but shake your wrist around and keep it in constant movement, sort of like jogging after a long run. here are some bands that have this technique in a majority of their songs

1. Cro-Mags
2. Circle Jerks
3. Fear
4. Black Flag- especially the opening to "Six Pack"

Try these out and keep working at it, and soon you'll see how much speed and balls you can add to roots and riffs with minimal movement.

-Reid-O