Electric Bass Guitars Playing Techniques

May 17, 2010 - PRLog -- Most electric bass players would play while standing up, especially those in a band. But sitting down is also accepted especially if you are playing for folk or jazz music.

Xaviera Arata Editor of the  Learn To Play The Guitar  website -- http://www.LearnToPlayTheGuitar.tv -- pointed out;

“…But whenever it is standing or sitting, bottom line is you should be comfortable with your position…” Added Xaviera Arata

When handling your bass guitar, the ideal position would be that the bass strings cross between your belt and belly button with a slight upward angle.  This would allow you to play you guitar, maximum level, even if you are sitting down or standing up. To be totally comfortable, make sure that your left hand can move from the bottom to the top of the neck and your right hand can reach all the strings. If you feel your hands are strained, adjust the height or the angle.

Fingerstyle

Fingerstyle technique is something which is rarely done nowadays.  This is considered to be the oldest bass-playing technique. Picks are more commonly used to emulate or copy the fingerstyle tone. But there is nothing wrong with learning how to do both.

There are many patterns when learning how to use the fingerstyle. You can research some patterns and learn them, you can practice with one pattern and then try moving to another pattern effortlessly. There are a lot of websites that offer fingerstyle lessons. But when you are practicing and learning on your own, use a metronome since this would help you maintain time and beat.  This would also help you speed up your fingerstyle picking.  

Using the pick

The use of pick has been garnering much popularity, a borrowed technique from electric and acoustic guitar players. Guitarists would use pick for different reasons, some because it is easier to use, it can increase the speed of the fingers or they just like using it. Pick using can be used for different genres like rock, jazz and other styles.

There are different styles or techniques of picking, it can be alternating or sweeping downstrokes and upstrokes.  There is a hybrid of alternate and sweep which is called the economy picking. Economic picking actually intends to minimize the movement of the right hand and avoid the motion of jumping over a string before you can pick it.

Slap Bass

The slap bass style became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It would create a popping bass sound which has been one of the signature sounds of funk music. In this technique the string is pulled away from the body that when it is released it slaps on the neck creating a distinctive sound.  

When a slap bass is performed during concerts and shows, it makes the bassist look really good. Which is why a lot of people are interested in mastering this technique. There are some critics of this technique too. They would quote that his can ruin the musicality of the song.  

Tapping

Tapping is something very popular in European rock and in fusion or metal genre. With tapping, all you need to do is tap the strings to the frets. This would sound a note, but it is important to amplify your electric bass guitar first or you would be unable to hear the music.

“…Hand tapping no longer involves one hand, there is the two hand tapping which is something that Van Halen uses…” Added Xaviera Arata

Further information, resources and reviews of the best learn to play the guitar guides you can get online by visiting: http://www.LearnToPlayTheGuitar.tv