A few questions to bass players

[LinkStrifeLeonhart]

Ok, so I'm finally trying to get in the groove of playing the bass in the game since it's the one instrument I haven't paid all that much attention to. I'm also trying to get better in fear that my sister will one day pass me. I'm very competitive so I won't let that happen without a fight.

I've gone through Expert guitar and have GSed quite a few songs, so the difficulty isn't the problem. My main problem is keeping a combo going. After several tries, I believe the problem lies in my upstrumming. I generally upstrum with my index and middle finger, alternating to mimic how I strum for guitar. My first question is this: should I keep upstruming with only two fingers or move onto three or maybe even four? Which works best for you?

My second question deals with how you upstrum. Most of the time I 'flick' the strumbar on the Strat. It seems to work, but for faster passages I tend to mess up a bit or just completely miss the strumbar since my fingers are constantly moving. Other times I'll sorta 'curl up' the tips of my fingers and keep them rested on the bottom of the strum bar. This helps for faster passages but doesn't have the same feedback as flicking does. Nor does it seem as fun or interesting.

So my second question is this: Which is better, the 'flick' or the 'curl up' method? Or is there another method that I'm totally unaware of that works wonders?

Any and all feedback is appreciated and welcome!

[Phane7]

I hold the strum bar like I would hold my guitar pick and just run it up and down by flicking my wrist as though I was strumming one string. I suck at the real guitar, though, so I'm not sure if there's a better way to describe the motion.

[OakTea]

After trying and failing the alternating thing, I found that stretching out both my middle and ring fingers and flicking those up together worked wonders. I can just do it really quickly, don't ask.

I get tired doing this pretty quickly though.

[Caput Mortis]

I use two fingers and pluck the strum bar as if it was a string, I am for teh top part which is actally rounded and shaped like a string, it feels pretty similar when playing as well.

I have the same problem with faster parts though and was going to experiment with using a pick

I also found that playing Bass in Hard mode was easier than trying it in Medium or Easy. In the easier settings I kept playing notes that I knew were there but that werent in the "Tab" for that skill level.

[LinkStrifeLeonhart]

After trying and failing the alternating thing, I found that stretching out both my middle and ring fingers and flicking those up together worked wonders. I can just do it really quickly, don't ask.

I get tired doing this pretty quickly though.

Just got done trying the method you use. It works well for keeping a combo, but it is very taxing. That's probably due to doing the same movement over and over. I believe that alternating helps with this, so I'll keep trying on that.


I use two fingers and pluck the strum bar as if it was string

I have the same problem with faster parts though and was going to experiment with using a pick

I also found that playing Bass in Hard mode was easier than trying it in Medium or Easy. In the easier settings I kept playing notes that I knew were there but that werent in the "Tab" for that skill level.

Oh, I'm doing bass on Expert. There's no problem of missing note syndrome here. I don't have a pick with me and I don't know of the nearest place where I can get one. I can search a bit for it, but my experience with a pick for alt strumming for Expert guitar was less than satisfying.

[AnarchyintheUK]

I bass in real life but actually find it easier to simply downstrum all the time in Rock Band. However with triplets its often easier to upstrum with 3 fingers, and thats the only time I upstrum.

[BStu78]

I think I actually tend to use one finger when playing bass. No more than two, certainly. I'd worry that more might hurt my precision by putting too much force into it. I'd admit, though, that I generally don't upstrum in online quickplay because I'm still a bit more accurate downstrumming, even though I feel more "into it" upstruming on bass.

[LinkStrifeLeonhart]

I bass in real life but actually find it easier to simply downstrum all the time in Rock Band. However with triplets its often easier to upstrum with 3 fingers, and thats the only time I upstrum.


I think I actually tend to use one finger when playing bass. No more than two, certainly. I'd worry that more might hurt my precision by putting too much force into it. I'd admit, though, that I generally don't upstrum in online quickplay because I'm still a bit more accurate downstrumming, even though I feel more "into it" upstruming on bass.

Hmm... I'm trying to upstrum only to give playing the bass a much different flavor than playing the guitar. If I alt strum then bass just becomes an easier guitar chart (no offense meant by that). So far with triplets I'm finding that I tend to use my index twice then use my middle finger for the final note. It works sometimes, but the accuracy isn't there.

Thanks for all the advice so far. It seems that I might just need to practice a bit more with upstrumming, but I'm not all too sure that's all of it. Of course it would help if there was a bass solo tour :P

[LoupyLouie]

I upstrum using the curl method with 3 fingers. For a lot of quick repeating notes I grab the strummer between my thumb and index finger and alternate up and down.

[Kobal2]

I shamefully downstrum the bass. I tried to upstrum a number of times ; if only for the achievement, but I just can't do speedy, steady, reliable upstrumming, even on Should I Stay :/. FTR, when I try I usually play with my knuckles (that is, the point where digits turn into palm, not the first digit articulation) level with the strum bar, and flicking my fingers, or sometimes just index+middle finger up... no dice. I'm much more precise with my thumb alone.

I also tried with palm upwards, fingers curling up, but it's very tiring on the wrist.

All in all, it's aggravating to me, because when I listen to music and "air guitaring" along, I usually upstrum against my thigh... I'd say upstrumming would be easier if one could get the guitar to rest low and off-center, with the strumbar above the thigh instead of centered on the navel, but the Strat's strap configuration doesn't allow it.

[CaptainFeral]

I downstrum with a stiff thumb except for during fast-note moments where I walk (two finger upstrum.)
This is mainly because I have a deep love for slap bass.
Just imitate walking motions with your fingers to simulate bass strumming, it'll feel weird at first but you get used to it. Just pretend like your hand is doing a doggy paddle with your index and middle finger. ...Or if you use my technique of thumb-down walk-up, imagine your hand is doing The Robot. <cue Daft Punk music>

[SnowFreak13]

When I upstrum i just alternate with my index and middle finger, in the flick method as you described it.

Real bass is easier to upstrum though, hahaha.

[SM2535]

I mostly downstrum, as if I was simulating playing with a pick. I alt-strum the fast passages, as I find that is much more reliable for hitting notes than trying to upstrum with my index and middle fingers.

I alt-strum all the triplets. Seems to feel the most natural that way.

Until the controller with the split strum bar comes out, that will most likely be the way I'll play in the future.