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OT - question for the bass players [message #92178] Wed, 31 October 2007 12:55 Go to next message
Bill L is currently offline  Bill L   UNITED STATES
Messages: 766
Registered: August 2006
Senior Member
I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
sounds closest to playing with fingers?
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92179 is a reply to message #92178] Wed, 31 October 2007 14:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
steve the artguy is currently offline  steve the artguy
Messages: 308
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>sounds closest to playing with fingers?

Bill-

I'd say bite the bullet and learn to play with your fingers.

In my mind, fingers means an acoustic bass sound. I play with my fingers.
My bass is a hollow body, and the strings haven't been changed since about
1985. I'm told almost every gig that it sounds amazingly like someone playing
an upright.

The strings that were on it before this were nylon wound, and they sounded
even more like an upright.

But then, maybe that isn't the sound you're going for...

-steve
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92180 is a reply to message #92179] Wed, 31 October 2007 15:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John [1] is currently offline  John [1]
Messages: 2229
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
learn with your fingers and learn to NOT hit the strings hard to get your
sound. get a controlled motion so you are only moving the strings in the
plane of the front of the guitar. then you can use more force for expression.
even the hardest rock bass players do it this way.

John
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92183 is a reply to message #92178] Wed, 31 October 2007 16:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dc[3] is currently offline  dc[3]
Messages: 895
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
I'm in the same boat. Use the pick, it takes years to play
well with fingers. Besides I love the sound of a pick on
bass.

Just remember to wait for the pocket! We guitar guys are
always rushing...

DC


Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>sounds closest to playing with fingers?
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92185 is a reply to message #92178] Wed, 31 October 2007 16:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Carl Amburn is currently offline  Carl Amburn   UNITED STATES
Messages: 214
Registered: July 2005
Senior Member
You could try a felt pick. I haven't seen one since the '80s - not to say
they aren't around, but I wouldn't know where to look.

I do agree with everyone else to suck it up and learn with your fingers too.
:)

-Carl

"Bill L" <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote in message news:4728df18@linux...
> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92191 is a reply to message #92185] Wed, 31 October 2007 16:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Aaron Allen is currently offline  Aaron Allen   UNITED STATES
Messages: 1988
Registered: May 2008
Senior Member
Ditto this on both parts. The closest I ever got to 'finger' sound was in
the late 80's with felt picks, but they're still not the same animal. I can
run circles around myself using 3 fingers to pluck with as opposed to
picking.

AA

"Carl Amburn" <carlamburn@hotNOSPAMmail.com> wrote in message
news:472903e4@linux...
> You could try a felt pick. I haven't seen one since the '80s - not to say
> they aren't around, but I wouldn't know where to look.
>
> I do agree with everyone else to suck it up and learn with your fingers
> too.
> :)
>
> -Carl
>
> "Bill L" <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote in message news:4728df18@linux...
>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
>
>
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92194 is a reply to message #92178] Wed, 31 October 2007 18:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Neil is currently offline  Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
Senior Member
Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>sounds closest to playing with fingers?

Gibson EB-0 short-scale bass, Tapewound strings, felt pick...
using that combination, there's no disticntion between a picked
& fingered bass lol!

:D
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92197 is a reply to message #92178] Wed, 31 October 2007 18:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jamie K is currently offline  Jamie K   UNITED STATES
Messages: 1115
Registered: July 2006
Senior Member
Take Neil's surgically removed finger tip and mount it to a pick.

If Neil didn't keep his extra fingertip, then the second best
alternative is to learn to play bass with your fingers. If you can play
classical or flamenco guitar, or even finger-picked folk guitar stuff,
you can play bass with your fingers.

If you can't play any of that stuff on guitar then you're not really a
guitar player then, are you? (ducking ;^)

"They call 'em fingers but I've never sing 'em fing!...

....oh, there it goes." -Otto, on the Simpsons.

Cheers,
-Jamie
www.JamieKrutz.com


Bill L wrote:
> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92198 is a reply to message #92194] Wed, 31 October 2007 20:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Cujjo is currently offline  Cujjo   
Messages: 325
Registered: June 2007
Senior Member
I second the tape wounds...I pley 80% with a pick...not that I am a killer
pr anything..
Rotos are my fave flats and rounds...I like thier tapes too!
Try muting the strings while picking


"Neil" <OIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>
>Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>>with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>>sounds closest to playing with fingers?
>
>Gibson EB-0 short-scale bass, Tapewound strings, felt pick...
>using that combination, there's no disticntion between a picked
>& fingered bass lol!
>
>:D
>
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92199 is a reply to message #92198] Wed, 31 October 2007 20:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Neil is currently offline  Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
Senior Member
Cuj, that was a joke... the combination of an EB-0 bass &
tapewounds produces a sound equivalent to: "woom-woom-woom",
no matter how you play, what style you play, or what position
on the neck you play it in...

....which is why it wouldn't matter if you played it with a pick
or with your fingers - it would all sound the same.

Neil




"Cujo" <chris@applemanstudio.com> wrote:
>
>
>I second the tape wounds...I pley 80% with a pick...not that I am a killer
>pr anything..
>Rotos are my fave flats and rounds...I like thier tapes too!
>Try muting the strings while picking
>
>
>"Neil" <OIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>>
>>Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>>I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play

>>>with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>>>sounds closest to playing with fingers?
>>
>>Gibson EB-0 short-scale bass, Tapewound strings, felt pick...
>>using that combination, there's no disticntion between a picked
>>& fingered bass lol!
>>
>>:D
>>
>
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92203 is a reply to message #92199] Wed, 31 October 2007 20:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill L is currently offline  Bill L   UNITED STATES
Messages: 766
Registered: August 2006
Senior Member
Damn, Neil, I thought you were serious. I just bid $950 for an EB-O on
ebay. If I win this thing, you're buying it!

Neil wrote:
> Cuj, that was a joke... the combination of an EB-0 bass &
> tapewounds produces a sound equivalent to: "woom-woom-woom",
> no matter how you play, what style you play, or what position
> on the neck you play it in...
>
> ...which is why it wouldn't matter if you played it with a pick
> or with your fingers - it would all sound the same.
>
> Neil
>
>
>
>
> "Cujo" <chris@applemanstudio.com> wrote:
>>
>> I second the tape wounds...I pley 80% with a pick...not that I am a killer
>> pr anything..
>> Rotos are my fave flats and rounds...I like thier tapes too!
>> Try muting the strings while picking
>>
>>
>> "Neil" <OIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>>> Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>
>>>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>>>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
>>> Gibson EB-0 short-scale bass, Tapewound strings, felt pick...
>>> using that combination, there's no disticntion between a picked
>>> & fingered bass lol!
>>>
>>> :D
>>>
>
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92204 is a reply to message #92197] Wed, 31 October 2007 20:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill L is currently offline  Bill L   UNITED STATES
Messages: 766
Registered: August 2006
Senior Member
Jamie, first you made me actually LOL, 'cause Neil deserved that for the
EB-O thing, but then you made me mad, because I never learned any finger
style except the full-fisted pluck (all fingers at once, you filthy
bastard). I suppose I can see some value in the finger thing if I could
also use it on guitar.

Jamie K wrote:
>
> Take Neil's surgically removed finger tip and mount it to a pick.
>
> If Neil didn't keep his extra fingertip, then the second best
> alternative is to learn to play bass with your fingers. If you can play
> classical or flamenco guitar, or even finger-picked folk guitar stuff,
> you can play bass with your fingers.
>
> If you can't play any of that stuff on guitar then you're not really a
> guitar player then, are you? (ducking ;^)
>
> "They call 'em fingers but I've never sing 'em fing!...
>
> ...oh, there it goes." -Otto, on the Simpsons.
>
> Cheers,
> -Jamie
> www.JamieKrutz.com
>
>
> Bill L wrote:
>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92205 is a reply to message #92203] Wed, 31 October 2007 21:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Neil is currently offline  Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
Senior Member
Fuck... another Scientology scam to get more money out of me...
OK, fine... if you win it, I'll pay - BUT I GOTTA GET THE
BASS, IF THAT'S THE CASE! LOL!

Neil :)


Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>Damn, Neil, I thought you were serious. I just bid $950 for an EB-O on
>ebay. If I win this thing, you're buying it!
>
>Neil wrote:
>> Cuj, that was a joke... the combination of an EB-0 bass &
>> tapewounds produces a sound equivalent to: "woom-woom-woom",
>> no matter how you play, what style you play, or what position
>> on the neck you play it in...
>>
>> ...which is why it wouldn't matter if you played it with a pick
>> or with your fingers - it would all sound the same.
>>
>> Neil
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Cujo" <chris@applemanstudio.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I second the tape wounds...I pley 80% with a pick...not that I am a killer
>>> pr anything..
>>> Rotos are my fave flats and rounds...I like thier tapes too!
>>> Try muting the strings while picking
>>>
>>>
>>> "Neil" <OIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>>>> Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>>>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>>
>>>>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that

>>>>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
>>>> Gibson EB-0 short-scale bass, Tapewound strings, felt pick...
>>>> using that combination, there's no disticntion between a picked
>>>> & fingered bass lol!
>>>>
>>>> :D
>>>>
>>
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92206 is a reply to message #92204] Wed, 31 October 2007 20:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jamie K is currently offline  Jamie K   UNITED STATES
Messages: 1115
Registered: July 2006
Senior Member
I was laughing maniacally when I wrote that bit about Neil - probably
inpired by all the various ghoulish sugar-addict monsters at the door
this evening. :^)

Hopefully Neil will forgive me after he spits beer all over his keyboard.

But seriously, you can do the finger thing and you don't need me to tell
you how. But I will anyway. Hold your RH so your fingers are
perpendicular to the strings. Alternate first and second RH fingers on
the E string and try a repeating one note bass line (half notes or
quarter notes). When you get that down, add a second note on the E
string and alternate between the two notes as you alternate between the
two RH fingers.

When you get that down, add a third note, etc. Pretty soon you'll be
doing walking bass lines and other cool bass parts. It'll feel natural
after a while. Really.

And then you'll be ready for classical guitar runs that are done with
the same two-fingered RH technique interspersed between the
two-fisted-pluck you already know, and thumb-1-2-3 arpeggio variations.

It would behoove me to practice that stuff, too, except right now I'm
trying to get two Dixie Dregs pieces and a Jeff Beck song down before a
rehearsal tomorrow, and it's all w/the pick...

Cheers,
-Jamie
www.JamieKrutz.com


Bill L wrote:
> Jamie, first you made me actually LOL, 'cause Neil deserved that for the
> EB-O thing, but then you made me mad, because I never learned any finger
> style except the full-fisted pluck (all fingers at once, you filthy
> bastard). I suppose I can see some value in the finger thing if I could
> also use it on guitar.
>
> Jamie K wrote:
>>
>> Take Neil's surgically removed finger tip and mount it to a pick.
>>
>> If Neil didn't keep his extra fingertip, then the second best
>> alternative is to learn to play bass with your fingers. If you can
>> play classical or flamenco guitar, or even finger-picked folk guitar
>> stuff, you can play bass with your fingers.
>>
>> If you can't play any of that stuff on guitar then you're not really a
>> guitar player then, are you? (ducking ;^)
>>
>> "They call 'em fingers but I've never sing 'em fing!...
>>
>> ...oh, there it goes." -Otto, on the Simpsons.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> -Jamie
>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>
>>
>> Bill L wrote:
>>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92207 is a reply to message #92204] Wed, 31 October 2007 22:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JNeil is currently offline  JNeil
Messages: 4
Registered: December 2007
Junior Member
Goddamit, if anyone gets to use use my removed fingertip in
this manner, it's gonna be the winning bidder in my next ebay
auction: "Prog Guitarist/Composer's Fingertip - Can be Mounted
on a Pick for Dramatic Effect - Bidding starts at $100k"

lol

Neil


Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>Jamie, first you made me actually LOL, 'cause Neil deserved that for the

>EB-O thing, but then you made me mad, because I never learned any finger

>style except the full-fisted pluck (all fingers at once, you filthy
>bastard). I suppose I can see some value in the finger thing if I could

>also use it on guitar.
>
>Jamie K wrote:
>>
>> Take Neil's surgically removed finger tip and mount it to a pick.
>>
>> If Neil didn't keep his extra fingertip, then the second best
>> alternative is to learn to play bass with your fingers. If you can play

>> classical or flamenco guitar, or even finger-picked folk guitar stuff,

>> you can play bass with your fingers.
>>
>> If you can't play any of that stuff on guitar then you're not really a

>> guitar player then, are you? (ducking ;^)
>>
>> "They call 'em fingers but I've never sing 'em fing!...
>>
>> ...oh, there it goes." -Otto, on the Simpsons.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> -Jamie
>> www.JamieKrutz.com
>>
>>
>> Bill L wrote:
>>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play

>>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that

>>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92224 is a reply to message #92178] Thu, 01 November 2007 03:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
rick is currently offline  rick   UNITED STATES
Messages: 1976
Registered: February 2006
Senior Member
i taught myself this year and fingers are the best.



On Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:55:42 -0400, Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com>
wrote:

>I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>sounds closest to playing with fingers?
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92229 is a reply to message #92205] Thu, 01 November 2007 06:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill L is currently offline  Bill L   UNITED STATES
Messages: 766
Registered: August 2006
Senior Member
Great, you got the bass. And, Neil, we only need the cash to feed the
Eternal Flame that burns hundred dollar bills on Hubbard's tomb.

Neil wrote:
> Fuck... another Scientology scam to get more money out of me...
> OK, fine... if you win it, I'll pay - BUT I GOTTA GET THE
> BASS, IF THAT'S THE CASE! LOL!
>
> Neil :)
>
>
> Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>> Damn, Neil, I thought you were serious. I just bid $950 for an EB-O on
>> ebay. If I win this thing, you're buying it!
>>
>> Neil wrote:
>>> Cuj, that was a joke... the combination of an EB-0 bass &
>>> tapewounds produces a sound equivalent to: "woom-woom-woom",
>>> no matter how you play, what style you play, or what position
>>> on the neck you play it in...
>>>
>>> ...which is why it wouldn't matter if you played it with a pick
>>> or with your fingers - it would all sound the same.
>>>
>>> Neil
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Cujo" <chris@applemanstudio.com> wrote:
>>>> I second the tape wounds...I pley 80% with a pick...not that I am a killer
>>>> pr anything..
>>>> Rotos are my fave flats and rounds...I like thier tapes too!
>>>> Try muting the strings while picking
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Neil" <OIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>>>>> Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>>>>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only play
>>>>>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>
>>>>>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
>>>>> Gibson EB-0 short-scale bass, Tapewound strings, felt pick...
>>>>> using that combination, there's no disticntion between a picked
>>>>> & fingered bass lol!
>>>>>
>>>>> :D
>>>>>
>
Re: OT - question for the bass players [message #92239 is a reply to message #92229] Thu, 01 November 2007 11:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Neil is currently offline  Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
Senior Member
lol.

:D


Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>Great, you got the bass. And, Neil, we only need the cash to feed the
>Eternal Flame that burns hundred dollar bills on Hubbard's tomb.
>
>Neil wrote:
>> Fuck... another Scientology scam to get more money out of me...
>> OK, fine... if you win it, I'll pay - BUT I GOTTA GET THE
>> BASS, IF THAT'S THE CASE! LOL!
>>
>> Neil :)
>>
>>
>> Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>> Damn, Neil, I thought you were serious. I just bid $950 for an EB-O on

>>> ebay. If I win this thing, you're buying it!
>>>
>>> Neil wrote:
>>>> Cuj, that was a joke... the combination of an EB-0 bass &
>>>> tapewounds produces a sound equivalent to: "woom-woom-woom",
>>>> no matter how you play, what style you play, or what position
>>>> on the neck you play it in...
>>>>
>>>> ...which is why it wouldn't matter if you played it with a pick
>>>> or with your fingers - it would all sound the same.
>>>>
>>>> Neil
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Cujo" <chris@applemanstudio.com> wrote:
>>>>> I second the tape wounds...I pley 80% with a pick...not that I am a
killer
>>>>> pr anything..
>>>>> Rotos are my fave flats and rounds...I like thier tapes too!
>>>>> Try muting the strings while picking
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Neil" <OIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only
play
>>>>>>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination that
>>
>>>>>>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
>>>>>> Gibson EB-0 short-scale bass, Tapewound strings, felt pick...
>>>>>> using that combination, there's no disticntion between a picked
>>>>>> & fingered bass lol!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> :D
>>>>>>
>>
Re: OT - question for the bass players - video proof [message #92271 is a reply to message #92239] Fri, 02 November 2007 08:27 Go to previous message
steve the artguy is currently offline  steve the artguy
Messages: 308
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
Bill-

thanks to YouTube, there now is video evidence that I do indeed make semi-bass-like
sounds with my old bass. There was also some sort of high shrieking audio
coming from my mic, but a combnation of modesty and/or embarassment prevents
me from revealing any details as to their origin or nature.

"The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness":
http://www.youtube.com/v/yLhfiF4TXho

"Enjoy Yourself"
http://www.youtube.com/v/yfCQfT6v7qo

recorded in amazing lo-fi (both video and audio) by the guitarist's (Gary
Grubb) wife. The fellow in the middle is Chris Samson, as nice a guy as you
could meet, and a decent singer and songwriter.

This was last Friday, after minutes of intense rehearsal outside the Petaluma
Vet's Auditorium. We were opening for David LaFlamme's band. Yes, we heard
"White Bird." The guy's still got it.


-steve


>>>>>>> Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> I'm a guitar player. I want to play more bass, but i really only
>play
>>>>>>>> with a pick. Do you know of a bass, string and pick combination
that
>>>
>>>>>>>> sounds closest to playing with fingers?
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