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Gospel Instruments => Bass Guitar => Topic started by: B3Wannabe on June 29, 2004, 12:15:08 PM

Title: Basics: Reading a line diagram
Post by: B3Wannabe on June 29, 2004, 12:15:08 PM

The numbers on the fretboard tells you which fret to play, so...

0 would mean you'd play an open string
1 would mean that you press down on the first fret while playing
...5 would mean that you press down on the fifth fret while playing

A "hammer-on" is when you don't play anything with your playing hand. (right hand, if you play right handed, left hand, if you play left handed). You just press down on the fret position. If you do this hard enough, you can make a tone, without using your playing hand.

An common example:

G---------------------------
D---------------------------
A----------------5----------
E---5---7(h)---------------


Reading this example, you'd only hit the string twice with your playing hand: once, on each "5". After playing the first note, you'll quickly play the second, by just pressing the position on the fretboard. This will make the second note sound, after which you'd play the last note, by hitting the second string.

There are 5 ways, that I know of, to play the bass: Slapping, where you use your thumb to play. This makes a kind of twangy thump sound; Popping, usually combined with slapping, where you use your fingers to pull the string away from the fret board. This makes the signature popping sound; Strumming, this is the same technique used on regular guitars, where you 'strum' your fingers across the strings; Hammer-on or Tapping, where you simply press the position on the fret board ONLY; and Picking, where you play the bass with a pick.


Here's a small video that I got from dredakyst. I forgot where he got it from. It shows the guy doing some slapping, popping and hammer-ons:
http://www.brownfloyd.com/gallery/displayimage--567.html

Title: Basics: Reading a line diagram
Post by: B3Wannabe on June 29, 2004, 12:48:28 PM

check out these videos of Stu Hamm. On the National Anthem video, he starts out playing it normally then switches to playing the whole thing on the fret board.

http://www.peavey.com/media/productdemos/bam210/#


Here's on of Victor Wooten:
http://www.victorwooten.com/lessons/lesson1.htm#

Title: Basics: Reading a line diagram
Post by: smabrey on June 29, 2004, 02:12:21 PM

This has been so helpful!!

Thank you so much for the insight!!!!



Grace & Peace

Title: Basics: Reading a line diagram
Post by: Dredakyst on July 22, 2004, 02:49:03 PM

stu hamm is sick..... i was just happy learning my scales.. this cat.. done fipped da script

Title: Basics: Reading a line diagram
Post by: NewBass on December 14, 2004, 05:47:56 PM

B3,

Just viewed the Stu Hamm video... WOW!!!! Now I'm really motivated to play...

NewBass

Title: Basics: Reading a line diagram
Post by: Redemeer01 on December 16, 2004, 08:09:12 PM

Yea what the other guy said.....
He was really good

Title: ...
Post by: insanesquirle on May 16, 2005, 09:46:18 PM

link doesnt work

Title: Basics: Reading a line diagram
Post by: B3Wannabe on May 21, 2005, 06:36:18 PM

Link works now....Sorry I didn't see your message before.