Floyd

I used to get hung up on this. I always thought I'd got flying fingers but if I think about what my hands are doing, I can't play. I made a video of my hands when playing and found I'd not got a problem. For my left hand I've got a "whichever finger gets there first" technique. The one closest to the fret usually wins so it works for me.

Mark in our old band had a Stelling with Skruggs pegs. Sounded wonderful

Thanks Paul, I'd had a long day and my brain was getting frazzled.

but then it's got F# not F#m ........

It's in D init.

Animals, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" I'm tying myself in knots with this.

Playing along to something fast and repetative like Running Down a Dream, Tom Petty, helps me. I find it's good for stamina and timing.

Better off out of it. You'd never have been happy as it was. You never know what's around the corner good luck.

Ahhhh........ Janice [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uotnw8IvCA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uotnw8IvCA[/url]

Thanks for the support guys. I'm really really enjoying bass. Should have done it years ago.

I've read that it's caused by gripping tight so now that I'm not barring chords maybe that's what's helped

Does anyone get tennis elbow playing bass? I used to have it when I played guitar but now I'm playing bass it's gone.

Woo Hoo! I recently switched from guitar to bass and just got my first band as a bass player. I've now got 2 months to learn around 50 covers before we start to rehearse

I switched from guitar to bass around 4 months ago. I thought I'd go for a short scale so there wouldn't be too much difference in the neck and I bought an SG. I've spent loads of hours on the SG and played nothing else until a couple of days ago when I went to jam with a mate. I used his P bass and I was surprised I had no problems at all for the 3 hours or so we played. I had to watch my left hand for a while but soon settled into it.

My amps live in the living room and my guitars are always on stands or on the wall. If they are out I play most days, if they were hidden away I don't think I would.

A friend recently introduced me to someone else and said I was a musician. I'd only ever thought of myself as a bass player so when did I become a musician?

Joined a covers band last week so spent the last few days transcribing their numbers before I get down to some serious practise. I've got until February to get 60 numbers under my fingers.

Those playing in covers bands, how many peeps try to nail the authentic bass lines for every number?

Just found this and it's good to know it's not just me. I've been working towards an audition for a covers band and I can play the numbers pretty good until I think about playing in the audition, then I lose control of my left hand. I know the guys and it means a lot to me to get in the band so I'm feeling the pressure.

There's a 3 point bridge on my SG bass. I've had no problems with it. It's easy to set up for string height and intonation is easy to adjust. It will fall off if you take all the strings off but that's the same as with a stop bar bridge. all you need to be carefull of is selecting strings where the silk doesn't go over the saddle. No plans to swop mine out. It's OK.

You're right. I need to play it as I play the rest but floating thumb will be on my practice schedule after this. I've tried anchoring my thumb on strings but it's not as fast as ft. Funny but just focusing on one number has made me realise that my playing a bit sloppy

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1348754542' post='1817769'] Just aim to get a nice round fat sound via the eq. If you're at an audition the last thing you need is extra pressure from trying to play a new technique as well. [/quote]

Batteries in guitars last a long time and if they leak they'll do lots of damage. Put a good battery in your bass and cheapies in the pedals. Pedals are easier to clean out.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1348735376' post='1817410'] I use floating anchor. I move my thumb depending on which string I'm playing. Works well for me. Muting the strings with your right hand is a technique that came in long after the end of the 60's. We've Got To Get Out Of This Place wasn't played muted by Chas Chandler as he used a pick. It was probably recorded with foam under the strings which is why it can sound muted. I have played this song in the covers band and it sounds fine without muting. [/quote] I've got this (and others) for an audition and I'm just a bit bothered about the first few bars when it's the bass and not much else.

Who uses a floating thumb technique rather than anchoring it on a pickup? I've been working on "We've gotta get out of this place" and I couldn't get it muted really clean so I've switched to a floating thumb. I'm picking it up ok and I think I'm playing quicker.