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Slapping causing bleeding
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19-09-2011 4:49pm#1
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Unfortunately I don't know any of the Parenting mods well enough to know if they'd see the joke if I moved this thread over there for a laugh
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As for your specific problem Flecktarn I don't know, I've never managed to make my fingers bleed while playing.
I don't quite follow this. Your index finger shouldn't be hitting strings as such, it should be popping the strings. I don't play much slap but in my experience I pop the string somewhere above the first crease of the finger (as in nearest the finger nail).Flecktarn wrote:]which part of my index finger should I be using? At the moment I seem to be hitting the string 2/3 of the way up from the first joint of the finger? I think my thumb technique shouldn't affect it, should it?0 -
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Watch this then report back.
I've never had my fingers bleed playing bass and I don't of anyone that ever did.
Are you sure that you're not slapping the sharp corner of a pickup or something?0 -
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Unfortunately I don't know any of the Parenting mods well enough to know if they'd see the joke if I moved this thread over there for a laugh.
As for your specific problem Flecktarn I don't know, I've never managed to make my fingers bleed while playing.
I don't quite follow this. Your index finger shouldn't be hitting strings as such, it should be popping the strings. I don't play much slap but in my experience I pop the string somewhere above the first crease of the finger (as in nearest the finger nail).
Sorry maybe I didn't explain that very well. It seems that you ''pop'' the string with the same part of your finger as I do so no worries there.Watch this then report back.
I've never had my fingers bleed playing bass and I don't of anyone that ever did.
Are you sure that you're not slapping the sharp corner of a pickup or something?
100%, trust me I know I'm not hitting the pickup. I must be playing too vigorously or something. I find it hard not too yank the string too hard, down to lack of experience I suppose?Yeah, I'd say around 5 minutes or there abouts to start, or until you feel the finger getting a bit raw then stop. Pain or bleeding should never be a part of playing the bass. You may be hitting the strings too hard.
As for the "Varigrip things"...as far as I'm concerned it's a big NO !! IMO they are useless from a bass playing aspect, as you have all the strength you need from around seven years of age, to play the bass. Work on stamina and dexterity ( completely different from strength ), especially in the fretting hand. The calluses will come when you build up your slapping gradually.
I agree, I was fairly going at it alright.
My fretting hand is good, well for someone playing over a year. It could perhaps do with some dexterity alright though.0 -
GrandSorry maybe I didn't explain that very well. It seems that you ''pop'' the string with the same part of your finger as I do so no worries there..
Are you playing at too low a volume or something? Turn up your amp enough to annoy your housemates and then force yourself to play quietlyFlecktarn wrote:I must be playing too vigorously or something. I find it hard not too yank the string too hard, down to lack of experience I suppose?. You only need to slap the string hard enough to get the note to sound which isn't that hard. Make sure you get your thumb out of the way once you've hit the string so it doesn't mute it.
Having said that about volume, I find I can hear what I'm doing even when playing the electric bass unplugged.
This is a DVD I bought a few months ago. I haven't gone through the whole thing but it seems to me to be well put together.0 -
Grand.
Are you playing at too low a volume or something? Turn up your amp enough to annoy your housemates and then force yourself to play quietly. You only need to slap the string hard enough to get the note to sound which isn't that hard. Make sure you get your thumb out of the way once you've hit the string so it doesn't mute it.
Having said that about volume, I find I can hear what I'm doing even when playing the electric bass unplugged.
This is a DVD I bought a few months ago. I haven't gone through the whole thing but it seems to me to be well put together.
That may indeed be the problem, I have an awful tendency to play unplugged because I wouldn't be bothered to fetch all my leads and cables.
So this may be indeed causing me to strike the strings harder than I should be. My thumb technique is grand, it's just my index finger for popping that's causing the problems. I think I definitely need to practice being a lot easier on the popping though.
Would you recommend that DVD?0 -
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OP, a few lessons from a teacher ( a bassist teacher, as apart from a guitarist who teaches bass on the side ) would be money well spent IMO. Having said that, I see you are based in Mayo, so it may not be too easy to find one. However, as I said earlier, if you have the time to sift through the You Tube clips, you will find lots of good quality slap lessons....for free.
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OP, a few lessons from a teacher ( a bassist teacher, as apart from a guitarist who teaches bass on the side ) would be money well spent IMO. Having said that, I see you are based in Mayo, so it may not be too easy to find one. However, as I said earlier, if you have the time to sift through the You Tube clips, you will find lots of good quality slap lessons....for free.
I don't think I'd bother, really, not trying to sound smart! I think just a fair bit of practice and Youtube videos is whats needed, oh and to crank up the volume.Well the only other bass DVD I own is this waste of money (happily I only spent €10 on it but still) so I don't have a lot to go on. There are some clips of Ed Friedland on YouTube that you might want to check out to see what you think.If you do happen to come across a decent bass instructor then please let me know. I'd even travel to Mayo if I had to.
Yeah I think Youtube may be the holy grail for my lessons. Will do! I haven't heard of anyone in the area at all, at all. Plenty of guitarist's though as usual!
Cheers man I really do appreciate the offer. That's the thing I love about this forum, you don't get shot down for being a newbie, you get very kind offers, compared to some of the bass related forums. Seriously thanks a million, I mean it!
Oh yes, one final question, like most starting off my aim is quite poor with my thumb, however I have tendency to mute the strings I'm not trying to play with my fretting hand. Should I be doing this or should I just try and get the aiming perfect from the start?0 -
That's fair enough but for what it's worth that DVD cost me a massive £8.60. So it cost me less than a tenner to avoid having to sift through the masses of YouTube videos to find ones where the players know what they are talking about and are able to explain themselves properly. Furthermore I don't need to worry about sound quality, video quality or have an active Internet connection.I don't think I'd bother, really, not trying to sound smart! I think just a fair bit of practice and Youtube videos is whats needed, oh and to crank up the volume.
Just to be clear, what I meant was if you found a decent bass teacher I'd take lessons off them tooFlecktarn wrote:Cheers man I really do appreciate the offer..
As Quillo wrote, start slowly, just concentrate on slapping the strings in order at an easy tempo but make sure your hand and wrist positions stay consistent. For example:Flecktarn wrote:Oh yes, one final question, like most starting off my aim is quite poor with my thumb, however I have tendency to mute the strings I'm not trying to play with my fretting hand. Should I be doing this or should I just try and get the aiming perfect from the start?
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Ignore the low B if you haven't got one obviously.0 -
I don't think I'd bother, really, not trying to sound smart! I think just a fair bit of practice and Youtube videos is whats needed, oh and to crank up the volume.
Lessons from a teacher or not, is entirely your call. However, technique is one aspect of bass playing where sitting opposite a teacher, where he/she can see your mistakes and advise/correct accordingly is very beneficial. The guy on the You Tube clip cant do that. An hour's lesson like this with a good teacher is equivalent to three or four hours of video clips IMO. Either way will require a lot of practice...and patience. 0 -
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That's fair enough but for what it's worth that DVD cost me a massive £8.60. So it cost me less than a tenner to avoid having to sift through the masses of YouTube videos to find ones where the players know what they are talking about and are able to explain themselves properly. Furthermore I don't need to worry about sound quality, video quality or have an active Internet connection.
Just to be clear, what I meant was if you found a decent bass teacher I'd take lessons off them too.
As Quillo wrote, start slowly, just concentrate on slapping the strings in order at an easy tempo but make sure your hand and wrist positions stay consistent. For example:
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Ignore the low B if you haven't got one obviously.
Fair point alright about the DVD!
:o My bad!Lessons from a teacher or not, is entirely your call. However, technique is one aspect of bass playing where sitting opposite a teacher, where he/she can see your mistakes and advise/correct accordingly is very beneficial. The guy on the You Tube clip cant do that. An hour's lesson like this with a good teacher is equivalent to three or four hours of video clips IMO. Either way will require a lot of practice...and patience.
Yeah just the problem of getting a genuine bass teacher in Mayo is proving be difficult. If I do get someone though I'll make sure to pick up on them.The problem with learning of youtube is that there is an awful lot of guys and girls who have bad technique and you would learn wrong.
A few who are good:
MarloweDK - http://www.youtube.com/user/MarloweDK
Dave Marks - http://www.youtube.com/user/davemarks
Remember to keep you thumb parallel to the strings when you slap. Maybe try lowering your action and using a lighter gauge of strings as well if you think youll be learning slap for a while.
Yea these would be the main ones i could think of.
Also do try and get a teacher. I dont see why unlike "classical" instruments you shouldnt feel a need to get a teacher. Ask for a free lesson the first time to see if you get along with him/her.
Id contact this guy - http://www.doublebassireland.com/Home.html. I know its a double bass website, but he's bound to know players who play both electric and upright. I have also heard he's very good for repairs and sourcing a double bass for you if you decide to get into double bass. If you do get a teacher again.
Thanks for the linksand advice man, much appreciated! I'll check them out!0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En1U1P9di64
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