Technique...

#22
Sid the Kid said:
Instead of trying to “rake” the bassline with just your fingers try using your thumb to play the root and fingers for the upper octaves. Not slap style, but more like a classical guitarist would. This is a ton easier if you use the floating thumb technique.

Macho man is probably the best song ever to practice this technique to.
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Exactly this. I 'developed' this technique out of necessity when playing a piece where the bass was copying the piano's left hand part, which was a bunch of octaves. It was much easier that way.
 
#27
Jazz Ad said:
People always seem to think that disco is easy to play.
It is in fact a rather demanding style with a fragile, hard to maintain groove.
Fast octave string jumps are a skill of their own. It takes a lot of practice to play them cleanly.
Don't feel sorry for having it hard. It IS difficult.
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+1 to this!

I was really curious about the "rake" in this song, and after listening to it, I'm not sure that's what I'd call it. Sounds more like a two-finger pop. If the double pop isn't working for you, try incorporating an upstroke instead. (IOW, play the first note as you normally would on a downstroke, and then play the second note as an upstroke using the same finger.) You can get good note consistency, and it tends to be very ergonomic because the upstroke sets your fingers up for the next sequence.

Now, to Jazz Ad's point, here's a great clip of Guy Pratt's right-hand technique on a disco bass line.



(I thinks there's a version of this somewhere that shows the left-hand as well.)
 
#28
This may sound simplistic, but I think you want to find the plucking technique that is most natural and comfortable for you.

I'm getting older....past 70....and have some pretty significant hand problems. I'm also self taught and don't have much technical training, so for me it has been pretty much what I could pick up from others and discover on my own since 1964.

I play mostly blues of all styles these days, along with old rock, Memphis style R&B, and a minimal amount of funk. I find myself using root / octave fingering effectively in these genres. Especially in walking transitions. It's definitely a fundamental in my style. It is most natural for me to do it with my forefinger and middle finger.

My best advice is to try the various suggestions here, find the one that is most natural and comfortable for you and spend some time with it. If it becomes a natural technique for you, doesn't cause injury, and works for the music you're putting out, it ain't wrong.

Hope this helps.

Koog
 
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#29
Koog said:
This may sound simplistic, but I think you want to find the plucking technique that is most natural and comfortable for you.

I'm getting older....past 70....and have some pretty significant hand problems. I'm also self taught and don't have much technical training, so for me it has been pretty much what I could pick up from others and discover on my own since 1964.

I play mostly blues of all styles these days, along with old rock, Memphis style R&B, and a minimal amount of funk. I find myself using root / octave fingering effectively in these genres. Especially in walking transitions. It's definitely a fundamental in my style. It is most natural for me to do it with my forefinger and middle finger.

My best advice is to try the various suggestions here, find the one that is most natural and comfortable for you and spend some time with it. If it becomes a natural technique for you, doesn't cause injury, and works for the music you're putting out, it ain't wrong.

Hope this helps.

Koog
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Playing "Funky" is a natural for me. Back in the day a Guitar player from a band I was in said that I had to have "Black Blood" in my family Bloodline because I can play funk like a Brother....Now before anyone gets all twisted and Offended....It was meant as a compliment and that's exactly how I took it.
My Best friend, who was the drummer said my hand would Glide all over the neck. Said it sounded like Popeye strolling down the street....
Skidly Bop Ba Do Bop A Do Bop A Do Do......
 
#30
To do octave skips ... try rolling your hand so that it points up the neck a little more...
ie elbow away and down a bit. I saw this on a youtube video and it really does make it much easier.
 
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#31
I’m another from the “make some time and take some time” crowd. I’ve actually heard “Hot Stuff” before and have played it in bands, which doesn’t make me more of an expert on this in Talkbass land, but here’s what worked for me..:D

Work on it a little bit every day. You won’t notice huge measures of progress day to day. Over the time of a month to six weeks, you’ll have it, but the key is to hammer at it every day, no days off.
 
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#34
buldog5151bass said:
(thumb for top string, middle for lower).
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Good. Only problem is, as covered in the "string labeling" thread, this is completely backwards from how the vast majority of stringed instrument players have referred to the strings for only what, 500 years or so?

You mean thumb on the lower note, middle finger (or ring even) on the higher octave note. "Higher" or "up" is always PITCH. not physical orientation.

(Flame suit on...)
 
#36
Back when the song was new I played it with index and middle finger. I suspect I did 2,2,1 2,2,1, but it may have been 1,1,2, 1,1,2. These patterns seem hard at first, but after you play them for awhile, you should find one of them settles in.

You could use Thumb 12. I tried this and it's fairly easy, but I don't feel I have as much control plucking with my thumb as I would like.

Another possible angle would be to bring the ring bring into the pattern: 3,2,1, 3,2,1. Although I have been trying to develop my ring finger, I can't play this song at tempo currently.

Here are videos that show two different ways to play it.



Ultimately it's not critical that you double up on every octave note. Play the octaves and double up occasionally when it feels right. For example, maybe you could start by doubling only the fourth octave. Eventually you will be able to do it more and more.
 
#39
Another way you might try and get it under your hands: Play the octave bits as straight eighths till you're there, then add the dotted note on the high side of the figure. Working it from slow to the proper tempo wouldn't hurt either.

I would not want to be 22 again, so repeat after me: 'Old Age and Treachery, Old Age and Treachery …….'
 
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