I'm am just learning how to play a Bass guitar....should I use a pick or pluck with fingers?
961942
I'm a bass player of 25 plus years ! I usually use just my fingers .sometimes slapping and popping ,but then again some people can only use a pick ! You get a softer sound and feel when using your fingers verses using a pick .If using a pick,you get more "attack" ,a little louder ,but sometimes with pick noise ! \nThat's the age old question though .Some prefer picks,and some prefer fingerstyle .Whatever feels most comfortable to you is what you should start out with .If using a pick seems to not be working,use your fingers to pluck .My fingers have never really been sore from playing , it seems like it's gonna hurt to begin with ,but it seems your fingertips will harden a little over time .No hurt fingers here !!!\nHope this helps you !! :o)
278688
assuming you mean fingerpicking, \ndust in the wind- kansas\nhouse of the rising sun- traditional\ntears in heaven- eric clapton\nmy name is jonas- weezer\nlandslide- fleetwood mac (stevie nicks)\ndear prudence- the beatles\nestrella- brave saint saturn (will strum on chorus, though)\n\nmost folk sosngs will utilize fingerpicking
861007
Yes..well, kind of.\n\nTony Levin, formerly of King Crimson and Reunion (Yes) played a type of bass that used stick-type extensions attached to the fingers, then these sticks were used to tap the strings. Very cool, I saw them in concert.\n\nThe bass he used is called the Chapman Stick and the sticks he invented and used are called "Funk Fingers".
201675
Typically, I'll use the B string on my 5 string for material requiring those really low notes.  However, sometimes it becomes necessary to detune my E string due the the left-hand gymnastics that would be required to use the low notes on the B.  That is, some songs simply don't lend themselves to grabbing a C# on the 2nd fret of the B string; it can be MUCH easier if the E string is tuned down.\n\nIf the strings are hitting the pickups, there's a few possibilities: your action is too low to support detuning or the pickups are too high.  Lowering the pickups is the easiest; changing your action will require checking and fixing the intonation.\n\nIf the bass you're using still isn't working right, I'd suggest looking into a rental for a few days from your local music store.  Or, if you don't mind dropping a few bucks, a buddy of mine has the 6 string bass in the sources hyperlink and loves it.  $200 is short money.
457107
How about an electric bass?  That's not too far removed from the Cello, so you could probably pick it up easily.  Things you learn on one would transfer to the other.  \n\nGet good on the bass, then pick up a guitar.
1051388
um...get a teacher or a book, remember that electric guitar is easier if u ever want to try it ( the neck is skinnier)
1158210
If your talking about AC/DCs Thunderstruck, it's a lot easier than you'd imagine. The riff is based on a one string hammer on/ pull off.\n\nhttp://www.guitaretab.com/a/ac-dc/170.html\n\nBy allowing the "inertia" off the open string to sound out your fretted notes on the same string you can play this kind of riff incredibly fast.\n\nThe real challenge in playing fast comes down to cross-picked riffs, or riffs who's notes constantly change back and forth to different strings. Yakety Axe by Chet Atkins is a good example:\n\nhttp://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/c/chet_atkins/yakety_axe_ver3_tab.htm\n\nThe tab isn't exact but it'll give you an idea of what cross picking is about. The best way to become a fast player is to hone your picking technique and your fingering style. Keep the pick as close to the strings as possible at all times using alternate picking. The tip of the pick should barely touch the strings, it just grazes them (don't dig deep). Your fingering hand should also stay close to the fret board. The less finger movement you use the more efficiently you'll be able to reach your frets. Start by playing simple progression, lets say in the 5th position (A or at the 5th fret) . Play a progression that starts on A on the low E string, and moves up to A on the high E string then reverses back to the A on the low E string (all in the 5th position). Use 2 or 3 notes per string. If you know your minor pentatonic you could base a blues run off of it, but it really doesn't matter what you play (this is only an excersise to increase your fingering and picking dexerity). Just commit it to memory. Start slow picking every note (no hammer ons or pulls offs), then slowly increase your speed until you can't keep up any more. Then start over. Pay close attention to your timing playing in triplets (1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3). It's a great exercises and you can do it with countless different runs. It will increase your playing speed if you practice it often. This is just a synopsis of what you need to do. I'd have to write a book if I was to get any more specific.\n \nBelow are some good excersise you could do. They don't span all 6 strings but the concept is the same. \n\nhttp://www.guitartricks.com/freelesson.php?input=M2M1bzVmN2A=\n\nBottom line is: playing fast does not make you a good player. Technique and style come first. Fast playing is no good if it's not coupled with good technique. I've heard plenty of fast players that just don't play well. It's rather unimpressive. Speed and virtuosity are not the same thing.
653607
Depends what sound you want. If you want a traditional strat sound like Jimi Hendrix had, get singlecoils, if you're looking for more of a sound like Jimmy Page or someone else that uses a Les Paul has, get a humbucker.
995617
Absolutely!!  But don't focus on the brand name of the guitar - focus on the sound you want to achieve from your guitar.  What kind of pick-ups and position of the pick-ups best suit your style of music.  Your objective is to use as minimal effects as possible to generate the sound you are looking for.  I say research the pick-ups then go to a music store, sit down and have a good time with the variations of pick-ups, then decide.
1083302
I have found that the best retirieve to catch bass would have to cast it out as close to weeds, or logs, or rock cover as you can, keep your rod tip up and you line taut.  Let the worm sink and usually you will get the hit on the initial fall.  If not, let the worm sink to the bottom.  Then give the worm a few tugs, very small tugs, remember, you have to make it look real, so huge tugs make it look like a super worm, and may result in a hit, but, not many.  After you have given 2,3 maybe 4 little tugs on the worm, let it sink again.  I have found that most hits occur as the worm is falling.  So it is a must to keep your line taut, or you won't even feel the strike.  You must also keep your eye on your line where it enters the water.  Sometimes, you don't feel the hit, even with a tight line, but you will see your line either twitch, or move off to one side or the other.  Be ready to set the hook.  I prefer the YUM dinger in the 4 inch model and 6 inch model, in the watermelon seed color with gold flakes. They have a small slit in the worm to hide the hook in, resulting in easier, and better hook-ups.  Bill Dance once said "Any color and size of worm is good, as long as it is 6 inches and purple."  Try watermelon seed first, it seems to work everywhere.  Purple, black, red, and watermelon seed  also seem to work well.  But you have to experiment to find a good color. Here are a few sites to get you started.  I also have found that if the YUM dinger doesn't work, the YUM 6 inch ribbontail usually does.  If niether of those work, I try the YUM hawgtail, and almost always catch bass with 1 of the 3.  I would be lying if I told you that these three soft plastics have not improved my catch ratio per fishing trip, than any other plastics, and lures combined. I have found that using worms, I have found that it makes little difference on the water condition, when fishing a worm.  I have caught bass in muddy water, clear water, and in between with a worm, as well as at night. Bass have a "sensor" called the lateral lines. The bass can feel the worm before they see it.  In fact the largest bass I have ever caught was caught on a YUM dinger, at 2 a.m. during a full moon. But I have also had good bass at night when it was cloudy out. I prefer to Texas rig my plastics, most always wieghtless, on a 1/0 worm hook.  Have fun, and tight lines.
139632
I agree with am1benz answer. I would add, however, that when I first started playing bass for a rock band (I used to be a classical guitarist) I found it to be much easier than guitar, but as I started playing more complicated music (Latin, jazz, fusion) I found it required even more work to play well than the guitar, because the strings are heavier, and required greater dexterity in my fingers in order to play fast and with a consistent tone and attack.
215850
Get a acoustic guitar. If your just starting out.
597737
Try a variety of picks.  Also, practice finger-picking.  And when you practice, spend a lot of time playing along with songs you know and like.  This will make the session more enjoyable as well as challenge you to learn different techniques, rhythms, chord structures, and familiarize yourself with your own abilities and limitations.  This will speed you along faster than practice alone and reward you when you are actually able to play a bass line.\n\nDon't worry about spending money on high-end equipment until you feel you need to invest in it.  Go to a pawn shop, used music store, or classifieds for used bass heads and amps.  You will find some good deals, and many used amps actually sound better than new equipment because it has aged and been played.  New equipment tends to sound "new" and may take time to break in.  Take your bass with you when you try out amps, most places don't mind and actually encourage you to try out different amps.
251594
schecter makes a good 5 or 6 string, but if you are just starting out 4 string would be much more practical. In that instance, I recommend getting a Fender J bass.
468310
I would choose white, but then again, for bass I would go with a rattle trap cuz the noise will get a bite no matter what the color...
1024290
Practicing on an acoustic will actually help you to sweep faster on the electric.  It's a great way to practice sweeping.  Here's a site that explains a little about the sweet sweep techniques! \n\nhttp://www.cyberfret.com/techniques/sweep-picking/index.php
360903
Find your local instrument store and pick up a used acoustic bass (no amps, no cables, ready to go) a cheap ten dollar tuner and a book with CD that shows scales and riffs. You can prob'ly leave spending under $200 on the right day. Or, Guitar Center or one of the other big stores sells fairly decent starter sets including the bass amp cord tuner bag book and some other thing under $200. But decent means when you learn what you're hearing you'll wanna sacrifice your instrument to the gods. But ya gotta start somewhere.