In this lesson we’re going to look at the bending of strings on bass guitar. String bends can be pretty tough on bass because of the increased string gauges but they are possible and lots of players like Billy Sheehan, Geezer Butler and Cliff Burton have used them to good effect in both solos and…
This lesson we look at how finger permutations can be used to create a meditative exercise to help with finger co-ordination and independence. Finger Permutations These sequences work through all the possible finger combinations in two, three and four-note lines. They are designed to be enjoyed in a relaxed mannor and as a supplement to…
This week I’ll be looking at how you can use the pivot action of the hand, wrist and arm to make certain tricky lines a lot easier! Aligning The Hand Often when playing bass, we tend to keep the hand in line with the neck with the fingers paralell to the strings. Although this is…
This week I’ll be looking a little closer at the bass octave pattern and how we can use it to develop minimal movement in our fretting hand technique. Octaves Octaves are a common feature in funk and disco bass lines and can double up as a great exercise for perfecting our bass technique. We can…
This is the last video in a 3 part series covering the topic of 4 finger picking on bass guitar. This lesson adds the fourth finger into the mix so we can start playing REALLY fast So far in this series on four-finger picking, we have explored the clawhammer technique using the thumb, index and…
This is the second in a 3 part series covering the topic of 4 finger picking on bass guitar. This lesson adds a third finger into the mix so we can start getting some fast flurries. Introducing The Third Finger Once you have mastered finger-picking with two fingers, you will be ready to add the…
This week is the first in a 3 part series covering the topic of 4 finger picking on bass guitar. This lesson covers the basics of free stroke picking with 2 fingers then we’ll be adding an extra finger each week. Four-Finger Picking In this lesson, we are going to begin learning how to incorporate…
This lesson deals with three methods for creating that muted note sound you can hear in old soul and reggae tunes. It’s also useful in creating an imitation upright bass sound. The first technique is that of Palm Muting in the plucking hand, the second technique is muting with the fingers of the fretting hand…