Best way to learn bass?

[xfMike]

Hmm, to continue from tf5 posts, a couple more examples of bassists that play with a pick as opposed to fingering it.

Motorhead/Lemmy Kilmister plays with a pick (and distortion) so it sounds like a real low and angry guitar to your average listener. Ace of Spades is a good example of this.

Metallica/Cliff Burton (Kill 'em All to Master of Puppets) played only with his fingers (and with distortion every now and then). Cliff played very fast and often times was mistaken as a guitarist as he used distortion as well as a wah pedal (Anesthesia, and a part in Orion, and the intro to For Whom The Bell Tolls)).

The interlude of Orion is a nice example of a softer finger picking style, as fingering usually takes the bite out of each note as opposed to hitting it with a pick.

Metallica/Jason Newsted (...And Justice For All -> S&M concert) played with a pick, and you can hear a difference in the older songs when they are played live with a pick as opposed to Cliff's playing.

For thump/slap Red Hot Chili Peppers would be the most well known example of slapping. I'm not a bassist, so I can't explain how you would slap/thump and such, but I understand how to go about doing it and what it sounds like.

Steve Wonder's Superstition is a good example of a slap technique as well as some funk. Rage Against The Machine also fits the bill has using slap (Guitar Hero 2 "Killing In The Name").

Primus is probably one of the best examples I know to use slap bass. (Guitar Hero 2 "John The Fisherman").


Also, if you want to develop a "double thumbing" technique/some crazy slap stuff, I suggest looking into some Victor Wooten stuff (check him out on YouTube).

Good luck on your bass.

[Rev0lver]

You know who else plays with a pick? Pete Wentz. You can be just like him someday.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

I am not a bassist (heck I'm note even a guitarist yet) so take my opinion with a pinch of salt (or for the forum veterans, a ton of salt).

I know the differences not from playing, not the exact science of it, just because of the music I love. One of the few songs I would ever consider playing on bass (I'm a bit picky - i just want lead myself) would be YYZ. Finger bass.

The other songs my mate (learning bass) is learning is Radiohead. (National Anthem is the PERFECT example of a fantastic, catchy, but very simple bass riff). Finger bass too.

I suppose you'll just have to play some tabs, and see which you prefer. But learn both - it means you can alter whenever you want.

[tf5_bassist]

Hmm, to continue from tf5 posts, a couple more examples of bassists that play with a pick as opposed to fingering it.

Motorhead/Lemmy Kilmister plays with a pick (and distortion) so it sounds like a real low and angry guitar to your average listener. Ace of Spades is a good example of this.

Metallica/Cliff Burton (Kill 'em All to Master of Puppets) played only with his fingers (and with distortion every now and then). Cliff played very fast and often times was mistaken as a guitarist as he used distortion as well as a wah pedal (Anesthesia, and a part in Orion, and the intro to For Whom The Bell Tolls)).

The interlude of Orion is a nice example of a softer finger picking style, as fingering usually takes the bite out of each note as opposed to hitting it with a pick.

Metallica/Jason Newsted (...And Justice For All -> S&M concert) played with a pick, and you can hear a difference in the older songs when they are played live with a pick as opposed to Cliff's playing.

For thump/slap Red Hot Chili Peppers would be the most well known example of slapping. I'm not a bassist, so I can't explain how you would slap/thump and such, but I understand how to go about doing it and what it sounds like.

Steve Wonder's Superstition is a good example of a slap technique as well as some funk. Rage Against The Machine also fits the bill has using slap (Guitar Hero 2 "Killing In The Name").

Primus is probably one of the best examples I know to use slap bass. (Guitar Hero 2 "John The Fisherman").


Also, if you want to develop a "double thumbing" technique/some crazy slap stuff, I suggest looking into some Victor Wooten stuff (check him out on YouTube).

Good luck on your bass.

very very good list. and the correct term for what Mike called "thump/slap" is "slap/pop", called such because you "slap" the strings with your thumb, and then you "pop" with your fingers, pulling up on the strings and snapping them, creating that "pop" sound.

Vic Wooten's double-thumping is something that I NEED to learn, but never get around to it... He's super fast with it though.

and gh2master is right, Geddy Lee plays primarily finger-style on almost everything he does, if I remember correct, so YYZ is a good example of that technique.

and while we're on the topic of GH2 bass tracks, Jordan is a fake bass part. it's not real bass, it's programmed, along with the drums.