| A bass players approach to picking is vitally important | | | | 4. Alternating picking strength/agility under-developed |
| to the way the notes will come out sounding. Things | | | | It doesn't take long for a bass player to develop |
| learned (or not learned) early on can have unpleasant | | | | some speed and control with alternate finger picking. |
| effects on the overall tone that player gets from his | | | | The first step is to play one note on each string, |
| her bass. For a lot of bass players, just making a | | | | alternating between your index and middle fingers. |
| some simple changes in the way the hand is | | | | Try to play the notes as full and even sounding as |
| positioned makes a big difference. For others, the | | | | possible. Get the motion down so that all the notes |
| motion used to pluck the strings is creating a harsh | | | | plucked sound good. Then start playing scale patterns |
| tone. Here is a list of five mistakes many bass | | | | slowly, keeping an eye on form and tone.Calluses |
| players make in their basic hand technique: | | | | build up quickly making it painless to strike the strings |
| 1. Arm not resting in the right spot | | | | all day long. |
| What part of the forearm a player rests against the | | | | 5. No awareness or control over tone |
| bass may seem unimportant, but it's the beginning of | | | | When a bass player is concentrating on fundamental |
| the optimal picking hand setup. It's best to rest the | | | | technique, they are usually focused on execution and |
| forearm so that it touches the bass closer to the | | | | attack, and may not be listening to the overall tone |
| wrist than the elbow. This prevents the wrist from | | | | he/she is producing. Once a bass player learns the |
| having to arch too much. Too much arch in the wrist | | | | proper setup and technique, it's important to start |
| can start to cause injuries, especially to more | | | | trying to get a nice full, even, sweet sounding tone. |
| aggressive bass players. Rest the arm where it's | | | | It's a lifelong pursuit, so the sooner a bass player |
| most comfortable on the back of the bass (against | | | | becomes aware of their tone and starts to shape it, |
| the half of the forearm closest to the wrist) so that | | | | the sooner they will sound like a pro. |
| there is about a forty-five degree angle in the wrist | | | | Bass players should also know how to effect the |
| when the picking fingers touch the strings. | | | | tone by slightly varying the the picking attack and |
| 2. Picking hand not properly positioned | | | | placement. A player should be able to pick hard, loud |
| The picking hand should hang directly over the pickup | | | | notes or soft quiet ones with the same steady and |
| area. Picking the strings right around the pickups will | | | | even control. |
| give a bass player the strongest, most consistent | | | | Bass tone can be greatly effected by picking in |
| tone. Keep the picking hand at a right angle or | | | | different spots between the bridge and the end of |
| perpendicular to the strings. A bass player can pull his | | | | the neck. Picking closer to neck will produce a very |
| her elbow in closer to the body making it easier and | | | | boomy bass sound. This comes in handy for playing |
| more comfortable. The fingertips curl around to rest | | | | certain styles. Picking close to the bridge makes for a |
| easily against the strings. | | | | tighter, punchier, mid-range tone. Many bass players |
| 3. Plucking the strings incorrectly | | | | tend toward this area as it makes the notes ring and |
| Sometimes bass players don't use the best motion in | | | | stand out a bit more clearly. |
| their basic picking attack. Common mistakes include | | | | Bad picking hand habits will make it difficult for a |
| lifting the fingers really high and slapping them down | | | | bassist to have much control on the instrument. |
| against the string when plucking a note, or hooking | | | | Making a few simple tweaks to hand positioning and |
| the finger on the string and pulling it upward toward | | | | picking attack can improve a bass players agility and |
| the ceiling to pluck. The angle of attack should be | | | | overall tone dramatically. It doesn't take long to build |
| into the instrument, making the tone full and round. | | | | up speed and control of attack with alternate picking. |
| It's very important to keep the picking fingers | | | | The player can then move on to sculpting their own |
| completely relaxed! Try to imagine that the string is | | | | unique sound on the instrument. Bass players who |
| not even there and that you're trying to tap the | | | | don't learn these things spend a lot of time struggling |
| pickup. Imagine you're playing 'through' the string. Let | | | | to play parts that aren't really that hard. Don't be one |
| your relaxed fingertips roll off the strings so it leaves | | | | of them! |
| it vibrating with a nice full, even sound. | | | | |