Thanks! I'm happy it helped. Hopefully you'll check out the rest of the lessons on studybass.com. There's a lot more there than here. Keep making music!
Thanks! I've seen a lot of people learn this stuff so I know all of the common questions and problems. You can really thank all of my students over the last 30 years or so. There's a lot more on www.studybass.com to checkout. Keep me updated on your progress!
Hey Andrew, I just wanted to let you know that I think the lessons on your website are brilliant. The way you've divided and ordered the lessons is just perfect. They're so complete and to the point. Especially all the theory, it's so in-depth and usable. I've been playing bass for a few months now, and studybass has helped me A TON. Love the recent update to the site as well. Thank you for doing what you are doing. I hope I can play like you one day!
Thank you for the kind words! I am happy the site has helped you and you like the new update. I've still only scratched the surface of what I am trying to do. There's a lot of new content on the way finally. The update slowed me down, but had to be done. "Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master." -- Leonardo da Vinci Aim high and keep practicing!
Hi! I am a drummer testing some bass VSTs. Haha. And therefore also going nuts with upgrading some Donner guitars and a bass. I just changed the strings and set the tross rod right and now I am on the string action... Long story short: I love bass slides. And I noticed that the E string are kind of like rattling when doing a slide. Especially when sliding up. I guess that is always the case, except for a very high string action? OK? Thanks for your content, mate!
Wonderful lesson! Clear, consistent, informative. Thank you. As Italian is my mother tongue, I suggest you pronounce "glissando" with a double "s", like in "ass". Try Google translate if you do not believe me....
Thank you! Yes, of course you are right--you speak Italian! I need to remember to explain and say these terms in 1) the authentic way, and 2) the way you often hear them (in America or elsewhere). Keep making music!
Do you have any tips about finger positioning and strength? My fingers keeps going flat at the knuckle when I try to slide. I try to concentrate on it but it ends up messy.
Slides are one of the trickier techniques to get a feel for. For almost all students they're really messy for a while and then they just click. My guess is you're pressing too hard. It shouldn't require much pressure. Use just enough for the pitch to sound out. Remember, you're not trying to press the string into the fretboard--you're only trying to *touch* the string to the surface of the fret. A flat first finger isn't necessarily bad. On fingers 2, 3 and 4 you can let lower fingers bunch up next to them for some added support. (i.e. Group 1, 2 and 3 together as a unit pressing with 3.) I'd suggest practicing some long, slow slides up and down so you can focus on a light touch the whole time. In the context of a song you will get distracted trying to play the right notes or rhythms. Slide around taking your time. Keep practicing!
Great lesson as always. Despite looking at where I want to end up I always overshoot or undershoot when I do longer octave slides. Would love to learn more about that final slide, actually, as I have trouble making it loud enough both going up and going down!
Slides are one of the hardest techniques for people to pick up. Just keep trying. It will work itself out. You wouldn't think so, but there's a lot of subtlety and nuance to them. Thanks for making music!
Whenever I slide on my strings they start to buzz, no matter how hard I push down on them or how light I do it, I even slide slowly and I can't find the problem, my bass guitar is in new condition, is there a certain hand technique I should be using that could help lighten the buzzing sound? (or even better, eliminating the buzz?)
I recommend getting a pro to set up your bass--yes, even a brand new bass. Your new bass traveled a great distance and the difference in climates and shipping can alter its playability. When it is set up properly, you'll know it's your technique not the bass. To find the best local guitar pro ask around a lot. Don't just take it to a music store. Call music shops or ask other musicians who they recommend for a major repair like having your bass refretted. Then you'll get the name of a top local luthier. Buy a new set of strings, take your bass and new strings to their shop and ask for a "setup." It shouldn't cost much. It'll be worth it. If you still get buzzing after that, report back.
I find sliding from low to high pretty easy, but any tips for the other way round? Low go high let's me use my muscles to pull it tto the note, but i find it harder to push my arm out.
It sounds like you may be pressing too hard as you slide. Imagine pressing only to the higher plane of the tops of the frets. Experiment with as little pressure as possible to the point where you often mute the note. Work up from there. Slides are one a few techniques that eventually just click. Be patient; it's coming.
Thanks! Yes, you want to eventually release the pressure but leave your finger in contact with the string to mute it. It takes a while to get a feel for slides. One day they just click. Keep practicing!
I love that bassline! Just keep practicing. Slides are slides. But, you have to get a feel for these, and that takes time and patience. As I say in the Music from the Inside Out video, really imagine the music in your mind as you play. Don't make the mistake of trying to "calculate" the timing or distance of the slides. That is, don't think with your fingers. Instead, hear the music in your mind and play off of/react to that. Beyond that, slow it down. Work on getting just one of the slides right instead of trying to do the whole tune at once. Getting the tight staccato notes throughout is essential, too.
Thanks! You will learn more learning it by ear than by tab. On RUclips you can even use the slow down feature in settings. I'll give you some hints. The notes are mostly from Gm7 (G Bb D F) with some whole-step and half-step slides. At the end of the groove I walk down A - Ab back to G. Between the A and Ab I slip in a minor tenth (low A to high C). Keep learning!
When you can, stop in a music store and try out some different basses. That'll tell you. Experiment with your finger pressure. It might also be your strings or eq settings. Of all the techniques, slides sound off until they suddenly click for you. Keep playing and practicing!
Students often get this from pressing too hard. Experiment: try using as little pressure as possible. You may also be plucking too hard. Pluck more lightly and turn the amp up. See if it happens on very soft plucks. It could be the setup of your bass, or possibly the strings you use may bring out more fret noise. Trying other basses at a music store is always a good way to see if the problem is you or your bass.
Good question. You don't see those in charts really. It's a feel thing. But, / x \ would work or an approximate pitch in parentheses between two slides.
If you are referring to the slide at 08:30, then you can try notating really fast descending notes with a slide in between each note. For example: using 32nd or 64th notes [c \ b \ a \ g \ f \ e \ d ...] That pattern can be extended to your satisfaction. If you are using a notation editing software, slower notes (32nd) will slow down the slide and faster notes (64th or 128th) will speed up the slide. I hope this helps.
![Slap Bass Technique Guide [7 funky exercises]](/img/1.gif)
dude youre the first person who explained it well and i could understand thanks you saved me
Thanks! I'm happy it helped. Hopefully you'll check out the rest of the lessons on studybass.com. There's a lot more there than here. Keep making music!
Your technique is perfect. Your hand looks so fluid.
The fluidity comes when you no longer think about it. Keep practicing and you'll get there, too!
Your explanations are so clear and organized in a logical fashion. Thanks a lot for this video
Thanks! I've seen a lot of people learn this stuff so I know all of the common questions and problems. You can really thank all of my students over the last 30 years or so. There's a lot more on www.studybass.com to checkout. Keep me updated on your progress!
Hey Andrew, I just wanted to let you know that I think the lessons on your website are brilliant. The way you've divided and ordered the lessons is just perfect. They're so complete and to the point. Especially all the theory, it's so in-depth and usable. I've been playing bass for a few months now, and studybass has helped me A TON. Love the recent update to the site as well. Thank you for doing what you are doing. I hope I can play like you one day!
Thank you for the kind words! I am happy the site has helped you and you like the new update. I've still only scratched the surface of what I am trying to do. There's a lot of new content on the way finally. The update slowed me down, but had to be done.
"Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master." -- Leonardo da Vinci
Aim high and keep practicing!
Every lesson you post is a gem. Thanks to you I'm improving rapidly, Sensei.
Thank you! I'm really happy you're doing the work and seeing progress. Keep at it!
Ur tutorials are actually amazing thank you for sharing your knowledge
Thank you! Keep learning. There's a lot more on studybass.com.
Hi! I am a drummer testing some bass VSTs. Haha. And therefore also going nuts with upgrading some Donner guitars and a bass.
I just changed the strings and set the tross rod right and now I am on the string action...
Long story short: I love bass slides. And I noticed that the E string are kind of like rattling when doing a slide.
Especially when sliding up. I guess that is always the case, except for a very high string action? OK?
Thanks for your content, mate!
This is very systematic well designed course. Easy to understand.
Thanks !
Wonderful lesson! Clear, consistent, informative. Thank you. As Italian is my mother tongue, I suggest you pronounce "glissando" with a double "s", like in "ass". Try Google translate if you do not believe me....
Thank you! Yes, of course you are right--you speak Italian! I need to remember to explain and say these terms in 1) the authentic way, and 2) the way you often hear them (in America or elsewhere). Keep making music!
holy hell that joke at the end made me cringely laugh lol.. Keep up the good work :)
Rodney Dangerfield's jokes were great...
"I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous - everyone hasn't met me yet!"
Studybass Hatsoff !
Thank you, friend!
Do you have any tips about finger positioning and strength? My fingers keeps going flat at the knuckle when I try to slide. I try to concentrate on it but it ends up messy.
Slides are one of the trickier techniques to get a feel for. For almost all students they're really messy for a while and then they just click.
My guess is you're pressing too hard. It shouldn't require much pressure. Use just enough for the pitch to sound out. Remember, you're not trying to press the string into the fretboard--you're only trying to *touch* the string to the surface of the fret.
A flat first finger isn't necessarily bad. On fingers 2, 3 and 4 you can let lower fingers bunch up next to them for some added support. (i.e. Group 1, 2 and 3 together as a unit pressing with 3.)
I'd suggest practicing some long, slow slides up and down so you can focus on a light touch the whole time. In the context of a song you will get distracted trying to play the right notes or rhythms. Slide around taking your time.
Keep practicing!
Thanks for the reply. Your videos are super helpful and informative.
There's even more on the site. Keep at it!
Great lesson as always. Despite looking at where I want to end up I always overshoot or undershoot when I do longer octave slides. Would love to learn more about that final slide, actually, as I have trouble making it loud enough both going up and going down!
Slides are one of the hardest techniques for people to pick up. Just keep trying. It will work itself out. You wouldn't think so, but there's a lot of subtlety and nuance to them.
Thanks for making music!
I looove the intro !!
Thanks! I'll have to listen to what I put on there. Keep making music!
❤
very helpful!!
Thanks! Keep making music!
Whenever I slide on my strings they start to buzz, no matter how hard I push down on them or how light I do it, I even slide slowly and I can't find the problem, my bass guitar is in new condition, is there a certain hand technique I should be using that could help lighten the buzzing sound? (or even better, eliminating the buzz?)
I recommend getting a pro to set up your bass--yes, even a brand new bass. Your new bass traveled a great distance and the difference in climates and shipping can alter its playability. When it is set up properly, you'll know it's your technique not the bass.
To find the best local guitar pro ask around a lot. Don't just take it to a music store. Call music shops or ask other musicians who they recommend for a major repair like having your bass refretted. Then you'll get the name of a top local luthier. Buy a new set of strings, take your bass and new strings to their shop and ask for a "setup." It shouldn't cost much. It'll be worth it.
If you still get buzzing after that, report back.
I find sliding from low to high pretty easy, but any tips for the other way round?
Low go high let's me use my muscles to pull it tto the note, but i find it harder to push my arm out.
It sounds like you may be pressing too hard as you slide. Imagine pressing only to the higher plane of the tops of the frets. Experiment with as little pressure as possible to the point where you often mute the note. Work up from there.
Slides are one a few techniques that eventually just click. Be patient; it's coming.
Really great video! So what do i do with the sliding out of a note? Where should i send my finger? Should i mute?
Thanks! Yes, you want to eventually release the pressure but leave your finger in contact with the string to mute it. It takes a while to get a feel for slides. One day they just click. Keep practicing!
Great video! Do you have tips on sliding in the style of Suavemente by Elvis Crespo? They are so cool and I just can't get them!! 😅
I love that bassline! Just keep practicing. Slides are slides. But, you have to get a feel for these, and that takes time and patience. As I say in the Music from the Inside Out video, really imagine the music in your mind as you play. Don't make the mistake of trying to "calculate" the timing or distance of the slides. That is, don't think with your fingers. Instead, hear the music in your mind and play off of/react to that.
Beyond that, slow it down. Work on getting just one of the slides right instead of trying to do the whole tune at once. Getting the tight staccato notes throughout is essential, too.
Great lesson. please can you send me the tablature of the music you play at the beginning of this video, from 0/00 to 0:20. it's possible?
Thanks! You will learn more learning it by ear than by tab. On RUclips you can even use the slow down feature in settings. I'll give you some hints. The notes are mostly from Gm7 (G Bb D F) with some whole-step and half-step slides. At the end of the groove I walk down A - Ab back to G. Between the A and Ab I slip in a minor tenth (low A to high C). Keep learning!
Mine always sounds really fuzzy :/. Not sure if it's a problem with my bass or my technique.
When you can, stop in a music store and try out some different basses. That'll tell you. Experiment with your finger pressure. It might also be your strings or eq settings. Of all the techniques, slides sound off until they suddenly click for you. Keep playing and practicing!
I slide fine, but the frets make a clicky sound. How can I fix this?
Students often get this from pressing too hard. Experiment: try using as little pressure as possible. You may also be plucking too hard. Pluck more lightly and turn the amp up. See if it happens on very soft plucks. It could be the setup of your bass, or possibly the strings you use may bring out more fret noise. Trying other basses at a music store is always a good way to see if the problem is you or your bass.
How does one notate the final slide? XD
Good question. You don't see those in charts really. It's a feel thing. But, / x \ would work or an approximate pitch in parentheses between two slides.
If you are referring to the slide at 08:30, then you can try notating really fast descending notes with a slide in between each note. For example:
using 32nd or 64th notes [c \ b \ a \ g \ f \ e \ d ...]
That pattern can be extended to your satisfaction. If you are using a notation editing software, slower notes (32nd) will slow down the slide and faster notes (64th or 128th) will speed up the slide.
I hope this helps.