How do you play?

spamegg · Post by **spamegg** » Mon Mar 10, 2003 5:12 pm

I've read most of this thread and haven't seen my style yet. For the first ten years I played with a pick exclusively, but I started playing fingers (index and middle) about 15 years ago. However, I play with my fingernails. In this way I can vary between a nail only biting attack or a flesh only soft rounder tone or anywhere in between instantly as the song demands. I've got to say, I've got *very* strong fingernails and I wouldn't recomend this to anyone who doesn't (I've only ripped a nail off a couple of times over the years). I'll still use the pick on quarter note driving lines, but everything else is the fingers.

weemac · Post by **weemac** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 12:45 am

I too use finger nails with a method derived from classical guitar playing, although I use this method more on Steinberger and Gibson basses. I guess like so many others "with a rick, use a pick"
The funny thing is that it does not seem to matter what bass I'm playing or what method I use, I still sound like me!

spamegg · Post by **spamegg** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 5:53 am

Intereseting... I also started on classical guitar and then moved to bass a couple years later. I've still got long fingernail on my right hand (except for the pinky).

headbanger · Post by **headbanger** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 6:06 am

I use two fingers mostly, one finger for really fast stuff(yes I try wormdiet) & some thumb for octaves. A traditional slap bass approach that's had to adapt to fast pick style. I like to bounce the string off the frets each note for the REAL Rick sound which you don't get from a Fnda. I put my thumb on the rear screw of the PU surround or along the edge of the guard or on the toaster. I mute with 3rd & 4th fingers. Am I a typewriter?

rekesbass · Post by **rekesbass** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 4:48 am

I use a lot of the tecniques mentioned but, I would say the Geddy one finger madness is probably my most used..then there is the 3 finger(index,middle,ring) approach which is often used with the Geddy approach..when I need a pick sound,I grip my index finger with my thumb and middle and use down strokes with my fingernail acting as the pick.there is also the flamenco approach,which is like a spanish guitarist using three fingers\nails and down strokes on chords(ala Les Claypool)..now, when I started playin bass,no one told me "you can't slap\pop on a Ric" so I also use that style as well..and get a great slap tone that would rival any EBMM stingray.as far as using a pick goes,I have a hard time holding on to that little bugger,therefore find myself "strangleing" the snot of it which leads to right hand\forearm fatigue.so I don't use a pick very often. my anchor point varies depending on the sound I'm lookin for.. my technique remains the same on all my basses though...play it hard and dig in and gently carress when needed(I would'nt want my Ric to get a complex or think I hate it

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Wed Mar 12, 2003 8:58 pm

I usually play two-finger fingerstyle and let my thumb float. When I do use a pick, I use different ones depending on which strings are on which RIC...could be anything from a .75 Herco Gray to a 2.0 Adamas Graphite.