guitarnbass

[quote name='Nate' post='25374' date='Jun 30 2007, 07:32 PM']Victor Wooten Stanley Clarke Larry Graham Abe Laboriel Marcus Miller They're some of the best slap teachers..... Listen and copy them! Good musicians don't borrow - they steal. Copy things and adjust them for your own style...[/quote] I don't know, those guys thump the strings, and double it up, it's a completely different approach to the way Mark King slaps, infact, it's really a different technique all together. I can slap no problem but can I thump it, barely, and I think it's much harder.

I wouldn't say slap the way mark king slaps it, you can do it 2 ways I know of, thumb up like mark king, or thumb down like you are in the video. I use the thumb down, but the back of my wrist is kind of anchored on a B, but still, it feels just as natural, that wrist movement. Never encountered a problem in using this approach, I don't have any problem with speed. The way I got good with slapping is by starting just the octave slop pop thing, the most basic, then you start with slap-double pop, using the e to the d, then the a to the g, e to d is harder, there's a string in the way of your fingers but it's fine when you get the hang of it. Then, double slap-pop, takes a lot more practice, wears your wrist down at first. So, you can do slap pop, double pop, and double slap, next is hammer ons, easy enough, but I took something from stu hamm where I use my left hand as a slapping mute, if you don't fret with your first finger, but hold it so it mutes the strings, fret it like you would a bar chord, but leave the rest of the fingers in the air, then use the rest of your hand, mainly the 2nd and 3rd finger together, you use that to slap the strings, it's tricky at first, but when you get the hang of it... I guess it's hard to explain without demonstration, but anyway, then you can incorporate that into the rest of what you're able to do. I think of slapping as a lot of different combinations, once you can get to it any which way, that's when the fun begins, but anyway, don't slap up if slapping down feels comfortable, both methods are effective in my opinion.

I seen a website like that a few months back, top of the range strats, but the special feature was this petrolium kind of finish, but with an array of colours, looked really neat, don't know what they're called but god knows there's hundreds of luthiers in this country making their own customized strat copies.

Anyone have this on recording in a cycle of 5ths loop or something they could email me? I'm guessing there's a fair few that practice over it.

well, just adjust in little increments. Eye the neck, does it bow back? You want it bowing forward just a little, not too much.

On a bass I got for 305 from Japan, I paid 91.00 custom fees, but then, a bass is big. I got a computer part shipped but it was well sealed and inside covered in gift wrap, marked as $14 on the parcel and so I didn't have to pay anything. I didn't know it was coming from the US until after the guy sent it, but he's been sending thousands of parts using the same method, and hasn't yet been caught out, so I guess if you can convince the people sending it to do that, you won't have to pay. Actually, now that I think about it, I've bought my EMG's from the states from a guy who just marks the parcel down so I didn't have to pay, I got guitar pickups from him too a few times, all stuff I wouldn't have been able to get if I were to pay the stupid prices the stuff is here. [quote]They simply won't let you have the bass until all the paperwork is sorted.[/quote] Not always.. I got a conklin from the states, got the bass first, then the parcelforce bill, which I never paid, and that was like a year ago. Was lucky, but it happens.

good times

Like the guy said, bass day.

I like the look of that bass, anychance of some quality pictures? it's ok, just found some on the google images.

I bought 2 stagg items before, one was a drum stool, the other a mic stand, the mic stand fell apart on the first day, and the drum stool lasted a week, put me right off them really, get what you pay for. btw, I reckon there's some better alternatives on ebay you might wanna check out, and I agree about the squire. If I were you, i'd probably save a little more, and get a fender standard fretless, or a used one on ebay.

Tell you the truth, obviously it'd improve the strength of your fingers, but that doesn't mean improving your technique in the slightest. Like I said, I have pissweak fingers, but it doesn't stop me playing tough or fast lines on the bass. It's like this, if you use excessive amounts of pressure to play something, you'll wear your hand out in no time. The trick of playing with good technique is playing with the lightest touch, using the least amount of pressure and movement as you possibly can, and that can only be achieved by playing the bass; working on that light, floaty feeling, letting go of tension you don't need in every part of your body, and minimizing those finger movements. Fact is, things like gripmasters are no substitute for practicing the bass, there is no good substitute. 1 hour of solid technique practice with a metronome is enough for anybody on the bass in one day, and if you can manage that, you won't need a gripmaster. Remember as well that for those gripmasters to be effective, as in improve the strength in your fingers(not make you play better), you need to use it regularly, and I don't mean excessively, but if you just pick it up now and again, every other day, it won't do squat.

How do you know we haven't owned gripmasters? I had one years ago, sold it on ebay.

See, this is what happens when a bloke tries to do the cleaning..

Exactly, I doubt he's ever really used one, but they'd pay people like him loads to endorse their stuff, cause he's such a technician...

[quote name='David Nimrod' post='22031' date='Jun 22 2007, 05:44 PM']That's exactly what was on my mind pretty much the whole time I was there. I kept a *very* close eye on the procedures. Still worried though...[/quote] You should be, the only 2 times I was in hospital over here I got MRSA, can you believe that?... Shifted it thank god but jesus, I heard of people losing limbs and even dying. Scary stuff..

Practicing bass is damanding enough for your fingers, I think that if you practice enough and practice properly, using a gripmaster would be ott. Also, how strong do your fingers need to be? Mine are long and weak as anything, but I don't have any problem getting around, maybe if I wanted to do full bends at the 3rd fret I might struggle but it's not like I'd ever do that anyway... If your bass is hard to fret, lower the action and use soft strings.

could have been worse, could have got MRSA at A&E

Best way to increase dexterity and strength in the fingers is to >playpractice

So, which one is your favourite? I like the look of the status, never played one though.. ahh, just noticed they're basses you've owned...

[quote name='lukeward2004' post='20761' date='Jun 20 2007, 01:58 PM']If you want a good song suggestion for something funky, musical and with a good rhythm, watch this: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tu08cgOzXg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tu08cgOzXg[/url] Andrew Levy is a master of writing musical and groovy basslines IMO - someone to study for sure.[/quote] found that pretty boring to be honest, sounded really generic. I guess what I would say is learn your favourite tunes and licks, cause if you're just practicing scales all the time...

don't like the look of that..

Jesus christ, that's so much gear... I couldn't live with all of that stuff.

Yeah but they're so expensive, especially when that new feeling dies so soon.

That new string zing dies after about 2 hours of play, at least with all the brands I've tried. My last bass strings were on my bass for 5 months, pretty dead but unless you're recording or gigging, what does it matter?