Learning how to play bass. (finger picking).... Looking for pointers

[88keys]

I've never played bass until last Friday and I'm borrowing one from a friend; I watched some YouTube tutorials on proper finger picking technique and I worked on some exercises and stuff.

Anyway I'm learned how to play Iron Man on bass yesterday and I got pretty far, but my picking hand really hurts as callouses aren't built up yet so I'm gonna need a couple days before I can pick it up again.

There are some mistakes, but I'm not worried about that so much as I'm concerned about whether I have the proper position and technique for finger picking.

Link to video (unlisted)

 

[Markbnj]

I've never played bass until last Friday and I'm borrowing one from a friend; I watched some YouTube tutorials on proper finger picking technique and I worked on some exercises and stuff.

Anyway I'm learned how to play Iron Man on bass yesterday and I got pretty far, but my picking hand really hurts as callouses aren't built up yet so I'm gonna need a couple days before I can pick it up again.

There are some mistakes, but I'm not worried about that so much as I'm concerned about whether I have the proper position and technique for finger picking.

Link to video (unlisted)

I've never played bass but I would have thought the fretting fingers would be the ones that get abraded.

 

[88keys]

I've never played bass but I would have thought the fretting fingers would be the ones that get abraded.

They do too, but I still have some slight callouses left over from when I used to play guitar years ago. Though finger picking is harder than what I thought.

 

[rbV5]

Geezer didn't play Bass until he joined Black Sabbath either!

 

[Bob.]

Unless you use a pick, both hands will need time to develop callouses. I think the key is staying committed. They will come.

I noticed from your youtube vid that you play close to the bridge. You may know that this produces a different sound and 'texture'. Some play this way as a matter of taste and/or better control. Some prefer further away from the bridge, which gives richer sound and longer sustain.

Here are some links that you may find of interest:

Talk Bass Forum

Playing near the bridge

Why Bass Guitarists play so close to the bridge

learning to play bass guitar

learning to play bass guitar forums

 

[alzan]

I've never played bass until last Friday and I'm borrowing one from a friend; I watched some YouTube tutorials on proper finger picking technique and I worked on some exercises and stuff.

Anyway I'm learned how to play Iron Man on bass yesterday and I got pretty far, but my picking hand really hurts as callouses aren't built up yet so I'm gonna need a couple days before I can pick it up again.

There are some mistakes, but I'm not worried about that so much as I'm concerned about whether I have the proper position and technique for finger picking.

Link to video (unlisted)

Both will the picking and fretting fingertips will hurt until the callouses start building up and it is a slow process. As well the proper position and technique is partially dependent on your finger length, the body style of the particular bass and how you play it sitting down and standing up. Some players wear and play the bass with the fingerboard nearer to the shoulder, others with the fingerboard and body nearly perpendicular to their body. Others still will alter between the two.

I don't know if you pick with just one finger or a couple but you should during your practice try to use your unused digits as well; some of the better bass and lead guitar players use their other digits to great effect. Brian May of Queen for instance will sometimes use his middle and ring fingers for picking which among other things allows him to suddenly "stop" the notes with his thumb and index finger.

 

[Scotteq]

heh - The fingers on both hands will develop calluses... Though for fingerstyle bass players, the right hand generally gets most of the abuse.


Also - it's definitely learning "the hard way"... But if you can master three finger technique for your picking hand, it makes a HUGE difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZQ1KeLCYMM&index=4&list=PLB8grf-HfvPzkJ_F6pthnou8MBj2C2PVi

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/bass_lessons/bass_three_finger_right_hand_technique.html


In Action with Gary Willis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZVoj0Q1iVk&index=6&list=PLB8grf-HfvPzkJ_F6pthnou8MBj2C2PVi Though, he does a LOT more with his right hand than just the 3 Harmonics, etc

 

[88keys]

Right now I'm using 2 fingers for now, but once I'm more coordinated, I'll be using 3.

 

[tynopik]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XphowYhQ4O4

 

[effowe]

Learn from the masters..

Flea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avf2S5MOEeg

Jaco Pastorius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrO7DZSYinQ

I was going to post some Les Claypool stuff but it's just other people explaining how to play his riffs. These two videos are more technique oriented so might be of better use to you.

 

[Northern Lawn]

There's a torrent on Kickass torrents with lots of bass books in tab and notation, some with audio files included. All the big songs from the big rock/blues, pop etc.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Learn from the masters..

Flea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avf2S5MOEeg

Jaco Pastorius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrO7DZSYinQ

I was going to post some Les Claypool stuff but it's just other people explaining how to play his riffs. These two videos are more technique oriented so might be of better use to you.

Eh, Flea? Try Cliff Burton....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O9zMnwD65Q

I took Bass lessons for 2 years back in highschool after having a foundation in Piano. LOVED me some Cliff Burton/Early Metallica songs. I had no problem with keeping up the pace with guitarists by just using my 2 fingers.

Keep at it, best thing I can recommend is having one on one lessons so that the instructor can give you pointers and tell you of any bad habits he notices you doing.

At 29 I started taking guitar lessons again after a few year hiatus, it's never too late .