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Any bass playa?
 

offline unabomber from Palma de Mallorca (Spain) on 2007-08-01 05:11 [#02108249]
Points: 3756 Status: Regular



Well, due to some weird stuff, finally I have become the
bass player for my band NeoTokyo.
Anyone here plays bass?
I need some advice... Like, how to keep your fingers
safe...

I played three sessions and I have a hole in one of my
fingers and a fckn pain in my left arm. And I played guitar
for years almost everyday, but the bass strings are huge and
a pain for the hand...

Anyone?


 

offline unabomber from Palma de Mallorca (Spain) on 2007-08-01 05:18 [#02108250]
Points: 3756 Status: Regular



btw, the bass we have (not mine) must be one of the ugliest
pieces of shit around....


Attached picture

 

offline swears from junk sleep on 2007-08-01 05:40 [#02108251]
Points: 6474 Status: Lurker | Followup to unabomber: #02108250



No way! That looks awesome.


 

offline unabomber from Palma de Mallorca (Spain) on 2007-08-01 05:44 [#02108252]
Points: 3756 Status: Regular | Followup to swears: #02108251



Well, I love this one...


Attached picture

 

offline diablo on 2007-08-01 06:18 [#02108269]
Points: 3242 Status: Lurker



Good call, a classic Fender bass is the way. I have a
sketchy black copy, plays just about ok, very old strings...


I've never played for long periods, I'm not too good, so
dunno about the finger pain thing, but they should harden
up. You can play with a pick.


 

offline swears from junk sleep on 2007-08-01 06:19 [#02108270]
Points: 6474 Status: Lurker | Followup to unabomber: #02108252



I had a red Fender jazz bass, (well an official Squier copy)
it was ok, but I sold it to a mate because I don't play
anymore. I can do a bit of that Bootsy Collins slap bass
stuff and Bernard Edward's walking disco lines as well. Rock
basslines are really boring, though.


 

offline zoomancer from Kabul (Afghanistan) on 2007-08-01 06:29 [#02108272]
Points: 1215 Status: Regular



hmm you need a second pick for that full round booming sound
mate..
yeah and I played bass for ages
practise lots and develop calouses..thats the only way


 

offline retape from http://retape.net (Norway) on 2007-08-01 07:07 [#02108277]
Points: 2355 Status: Lurker



I have a real american Fender Jazz Bass and I've gotta say
nothing else I've ever played is anything like it.
don't really know about tips though, the only "injuries" I
could get from playing would be sore fingers. never felt any
arm-pains like you describe.
keep it hangin' high.


 

offline nurse from a darkness more than night (Finland) on 2007-08-01 07:13 [#02108280]
Points: 242 Status: Lurker



i'm a bass player.

how to keep your fingers safe...well you shouldn't play so
long that you get sores on your fingers because that takes
longer to heal, worst case scenario is they get infected and
then you wont be able to play for a while.

there are also different string types that are a bit easier
on the fingers. you should try nickel strings instead of
steel strings, also try to get some lighter gauge strings
which have less tension.

other than that you might want to get the bass setup by
someone who knows what they're doing, a bass that has a
decent setup is easier to play.

but it takes practise and a lot of time to strengthen your
fingers


 

offline blaaard from Imatra (close to sky) (Finland) on 2007-08-01 07:40 [#02108286]
Points: 1207 Status: Addict



the pain in your left arm is okay when done right....this is
something you should talk about with a professional
teacher... you need to stretch the muscles in your forearm
so you can actually use your four fingers on four different
frets easily and relaxed.... there are workouts for this...
you need to do it daily... ten minutes a day should be
enough... it'll take a while but at some point playing bass
strings will become second nature and you'll not notice the
strings at all anymore, means that you don't use any
*excessive* force on them, which is something everyone
normally does at the beginning though... watch some videos
of pro bassists like vic wooten or marcus miller and you'll
notice that their hands, arms, shoulders are absolutely
relaxed.

strength is important, but far more important is
flexibility. get lessons.

on the other hand you could say fuck it and play witrh only
one or two fingers and become some kind of punk bassist
which is cooler anyway.....


 

offline blaaard from Imatra (close to sky) (Finland) on 2007-08-01 07:41 [#02108287]
Points: 1207 Status: Addict | Followup to blaaard: #02108286



because look at how incredibly gay wooten, miller, pastorius
and tom pusher look when they're playing.


 

offline Ophecks from Nova Scotia (Canada) on 2007-08-01 07:46 [#02108288]
Points: 19190 Status: Moderator | Followup to unabomber: #02108250 | Show recordbag



Whoa. That looks like a weapon. If someone jumps up on stage
to knife you because you have a stupid looking bass, you
should be able to fight him off.


 

offline vlari from beyond the valley of the LOLs on 2007-08-01 11:44 [#02108337]
Points: 13915 Status: Regular



wear gloves


 

offline unabomber from Palma de Mallorca (Spain) on 2007-08-01 23:41 [#02108449]
Points: 3756 Status: Regular



Well, calouses is what I'm after... but right now only sores
on my fingers...

and the pain in the arm is due to excessive pressure, but
that seems easy to sort out as soon as I start feelin' more
comfortable in the frets.

gloves are not an option. too hot here...


 

offline futureimage from buy FIR from Juno (United Kingdom) on 2007-08-04 05:16 [#02108889]
Points: 6427 Status: Lurker



I play bass but only simple shit (bought a bass for £40 cos
I needed it in some tracks). I'm much better playin drums.


 


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