Re: Jacob's Questions thread!

[MetalJacob]

Okay now I've got a technique question.I think I've been doing this wrong and made it a bad habit.The way dmanlamius shows how to play with finger walking,he says put your thumb on the string below the string you're playing. Well I've been doing that but when I do that it seems that I am hitting the string below it with my walking fingers,making a sort of muted sound. I'm not sure if this is bad or what to do about it.

[Some freaky guy]

Mind taking a pic to show us?

[MetalJacob]

I have no way to take a picture.
Here's where Dman shows it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxgYi9_sek8 at about 6:30

Well let me see if I can explain it better though.When my fingers are are "walking" they go too far and hit the string behind it.So let's say I'm playing the A string,my fingers will play the A but go back and stop on the E. But when they stop on the E string,they hit it, and make almost a muted note sound.

[SuperMaximo93]

In the example you gave would you be anchoring your thumb on the pickup? Because if you are then there's no problem. Many people who keep their thumb on the pickup all the time do it to make sure they keep the strings around the one they're playing muted

[ThreeLetterSyndrom]

Well, it's no problem if you play a little softer and just 'rest' your fingers on the string, I guess. Take a look here: http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-technique/plucking/

[MetalJacob]

Can't explain it better than I already have, sorry and thanks for the input.

[Pippynip]

What I do is I move my thumb and rest it on the string behind the one I'm walking on. I'd say just look carefully, play one note softly and slowly and try and gauge where to kinda stop your finger's momentum, if that makes any sense.

[DavidM96]

basically, play slowly and stop your fingers before they hit the string...i think

[Dropthelines585]

Wait till you master it, you'll be using all the fingers on your right hand and feel awesome about it.

[MetalJacob]

What I do is I move my thumb and rest it on the string behind the one I'm walking on. I'd say just look carefully, play one note softly and slowly and try and gauge where to kinda stop your finger's momentum, if that makes any sense.

That's pretty much what I try to do.

Anyways here's how it sounds:
http://www.mediafire.com/?74l767pj045glmf

[MetalJacob]

Didn't know quite where to put this,but of course the Jacob's Question Thread is perfect!

Okay so I wrote some really good lyrics for my band and everyone agreed that since I wrote the lyrics It should be "my song" with me writing a bass part that is unique(already got that down)a but also writing the vocal part. Now since the whole point of this song was because the lyrics,I don't wanna change em from the state I've gotten them to.(Already been a LOT of editting) But I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out how to fit the vocal part into it.All weve got so far is the bassline,Im showing it to the guitarist tomorrow so we can come up with something, but that still leaves the vocals. Any tips on how to write a good singing part? It's a rather doomy song so it doesn't have to be amazing singing. And it's grunge so even if I did The Melvins type vocals it wouldn't matter but I still have no clue what to do. Thanks In Advance

[DavidM96]

are you able to type the lyrics here? its kinda hard to tell you how to sing if we dont know what your singing

and none of us are gonna steal your lyrics, actually you could just PM some of us the lyrics that was no one else can see them.

[MetalJacob]

Does it really matter? I'm just gonna say they the verses are short,each line 4-6 syllables and same with the chorus.

[Dropthelines585]

Wish I could be more help, but I have the same problem.

[lololiet]

what you could try is: if the verses are short, just stop playing completely and sing the lyrics between the music, if you know what I mean, can give a nice contrast, especially if the music is fast (which, as you're called MetalJacob, I assume it'll be).

can't think of any good examples but a bit along the lines of the Black Dog idea, if you catch my drift.

[MetalJacob]

Thanks for the advice.

It's a pretty doomy song though so it is real slow. :/

[willba]

This isnt really relevant but heres a useful link for bands in general

http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-start-a-band

As for types of singing, normal vocals with 'doomy' lyrics will sound a bit depressing (no offense ). A bit of hardcore style vocals would be good or heavy growls.

[MetalJacob]

That's honestly kind of the point. I'm the person in the band that likes all the really heavy metal and stuff while the rest of them like old school punk or thrash metal, so that's why they said let's do this so we actually have a bit of influence from me in the band.

Also,As I said in my previous post, I was thinking of just doing crazy vocals that don't really fit(but somehow do) like The Melvins.

And the link,not exactly what I was looking for but it could be helpful, thanks!

[MetalJacob]

Next Question! I'm learning an Iron Maiden song and I got the fingering down easily,but I can't play with a pick even close to how fast it is. So do y'all have any tips on how to get faster?

[Dropthelines585]

Three fingers.

[MetalJacob]

Yea I've been practicing that too! But I really wanna do this song with a pick.

[Dropthelines585]

You'll have to go to someone else for that one.

[SuperMaximo93]

I suppose a good exercise would be to alternate pick each string, going up and down the string, and increasing the speed. When you get good at that start practising skipping strings (i.e. going from E to D)

[lololiet]

Steve Harris never uses a plectrum.
He just plays really fast triplets with 2 fingers, I myself use 3 fingers bu that characteristic Galloping sound of Steve is actually easier with 2 fingers I think.

[MetalJacob]

I guess I'll just keep practicing using 3 fingers then. Thanks guys

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