This is by far the most comprehensive and clear, straight-to-the-point video for right hand / plucking hand technique on bass! Thank you very much! First day bass player
First day? We've been waiting for you! I'm glad you found it helpful. Review this lesson now and again. As you progress you will be able to focus on finer and finer details. Stick to it!
I’m a novice at the bass (probably doesn’t need to be said given the subject matter of the video), but decently accomplished in other areas of life, and the insight about watching your plucking hand over the fretting hand is deceptively subtle. It seems to me the underlying idea is “sound bad to play well” - which sound like conflicting thoughts, when really they are not. It also incorporates a delayed gratification ethic leveraged against insight into unconscious human behavior. Great video, very helpful!
@@vorador4365 Great habit to revisit the basics. Just like in sports, the best are really just the best at doing the basics. Or do I say bass-ics. (Sorry for old joke...)
You have nailed the balance between demonstrating and talking. You talk and demonstrate at the same time instead of talking for 10 minutes and then losing the viewer. Well done.
Hi Andrew! I am an italian bass student. I want to thank you, I am not only learning bass but also English! Your lessons are great and you are the person I can understand in English the best! a lot of your love for music shines through in what you do, I admire you very much. ♥♥♥♥
Thank you! I love Italians. You are some of the best people in the world. I am happy you understand things clearly. I write with non-English speakers in mind. It is a lot of editing. I am happy it is working. Keep learning (both languages!) and keep me updated on your progress. There is much more on studybass.com. Ciao!
All other videos on that subject i watched so far left many questions...they're all covered here and presented without unneccessary talking and self display, superb !
I'm new to bass (I bought my first one yesterday). I am watching your videos and they are so great! I can understand all you say. Congratulations, definitely I will see all your material. Cheers.
Oh yes, almost forgot. I had never even seen a Bass before in real life, that is but my admiration for a great bass player from one of the 80's band led me to inquire about the bass which is all about rhythm and rhythm I dig: I was born in Cuba so rhythm was in the air everywhere. Tx again
As a life long guitar player I needed this plucking lesson. Playing bass correctly is not as easy as a lot of us think. I have only recently started my expansion to bass and I found this to not only be comprehensive but very simple to understand too. It honestly helped to improve my playing technique in one afternoon! Great job man and I’ll be coming back! Subbed as well 👍🏻
Welcome! I strongly encourage guitarists to think of the bass as a completely different instrument. From guitar you already know the bass' melodic potential. Approach the bass from the other side and think of it as a tuned drum. Like a harmonic bass drum. Have fun! P.S. there's way more on studybass.com than here on YT.
As a guitar player, bass is a whole new beast. The only thing they have in common is the look. Very few of the things I learned on guitar help for bass (like fretboard knowledge). I’m trying to approach it with a different mindset than on guitar, because I know how annoying guitar players can be when switching to bass.
Clear, succinct, complete! Your coverage of muting strategies alone is priceless. Less than 20 minutes to scatter PEARLS that might otherwise take years to stumble on or good luck if you happen to have the right teacher. Utter, utter bargain of a channel! Thank you.
Thank you! I'm happy you're finding helpful stuff here. There's a lot more on www.studybass.com. The website is a learning system. I don't want anyone to think that StudyBass is a RU-vid channel. :) I hope you check it out. Keep making great music!
Finally a direct video. Don't have to wait 5 mins to hear 1 min of instructions. Plus I like your advice on which technique to use for muting, vs just saying "use them all"
I have been watching you for 30 min and been playing at home self taught bass player and everything he says it spot on and correct I can't wait for more of your lessons as I will take very seriously and thanks for your knowledge bass brother brother we are now 🤘🤘
Great! Keep at it. The key is to practice at least something every single day. It keeps building. There's a lot more on studybass.com. Keep me posted on your progress!
Thanks! I'm happy to hear that. There are many more lessons, exercises, quizzes and more on studybass.com which you won't find here. As far as the views, some of that is due to me not playing all of the RU-vid games. I'm too busy teaching for that. Keep me posted on your progress!
I've just bought a bass a few days ago, never played one before, and I've been watching videos on youtube with lessons, but this one helped me fix problems that none of the other ones even mentioned. Great video, thank you for everything
I am a transitioning guitarist to bass player. In general it is pretty easy. But I was fristrated with ringing notes making the sound muddy. I did a search for how to control that and landed here. Dude - you provided me the perfect lesson to work on. Hopefully I can master these techniques. Thanks a ton.
Great! I've had a lot of guitar player students. I always encourage them to think of the bass as a completely different instrument. Think of the bass more like a tuned drum than simply a low-pitched guitar. You might find you play it differently. Hopefully you check out the rest of the lessons on www.studybass.com. Keep me posted on your progress!
Thanks for the clarity, the detailed explanation and the relaxed manner of delivering it all. It seems you cover everything that can go wrong, and help with it even before it happens. Feels great to follow you. Thanks!
Thanks! I'm happy you're learning! You can really thank my students. After 30 years of teaching lessons I've heard just about every question there is. There are many more lessons on www.studybass.com open to all. Everyone talks about my calm manner. I don't really poke around youtube, but apparently everyone else is like a loud furniture salesman on TV! lol
The clarity, and approach towards developing the mindset to receive what is to be instructed, is inspiring not only to learn what is being taught, but how to retain the right mindset while learning. This has no reason to be free, other than the goodness of empowering others. Thank you for this!
This is exactly the style of instruction I have been looking for in video-based beginning bass lessons. Really excellent technique lessons right off the bat. Can’t wait to learn more from you Andrew!
Great! There are many more lessons on studybass.com. They don't all have video, but I highly recommend going through the lessons in order. Keep me updated on your progress!
Wow! That was indeed one the best lessons ever found here onRU-vid. As someone already said, it's hard to believe this is actually free content. And Scott Devine said in his videos tha people should "skip the RU-vid bass lessons roulette." If that would apply, I wouldn't have landed here. Don't get me wrong, Devine is in fact a great teacher and an amazing bass player, but hey, nobody is perfect. Studybass, thank you very much for sharing such awesome stuff! Cheers!
Thank you! I'm happy it helped. There's more on studybass.com. There are tons of great lessons to be found all over--local teachers, books, videos. The algorithms, however, are not teachers. Their goal is to keep you on their platform as long as possible to make money off of your (practice!) time. In fact, they work you like a slot machine--they pay out just the right amount randomly to keep you hunting for more. I hate it and interact with it as little as possible; I suggest the same to my students. My lessons have gotten buried by all of the money-making ones, but 2023 marks 20 years of free lessons, exercises and more on studybass.com. There are no ads. I appreciate any support I get, but I feel everyone deserves to learn, so the lessons are open to all. They are organized and based on my 30 years of teaching private students. I hope you check out the curricula. Keep me updated on your progress!
@@StudyBass Thank you very much for the reply, Andrew! i've already subscribed to your YT channel and also signed up (for the free account, so far...) on your web site. You just got yourself another student! I'm sure will check all your vids and free content. Again, thank you very, very much for your help and support! Be seen ya! 🙏
I agree with all the positive comments your video has received. The information is always straight to the point, no nonsense talking, and also providing alternatives. I am actually looking for an opinion on thumb plucking. Could you please share your opinion?
Oh my God, that's the video I was missing so much. I'm trying to learn by myself (without an amp) and I was always asking myself if I was doing right, and other bass players were telling me that anyway was fine, so I was getting frustrated. And now I see it was totally wrong and can finally continue to learn. Your website is amazing, love the exercises there, hope it soon will be updated. xx from Brazil.
This is the 4th video in a row I have watched on this topic. Previously I learned that I was plucking too hard. I learned that it's not my job to make the bass loud, it's the job of my amp. That's the only thing that was really clear to me. My plucking still felt uncomfortable. After watching this video, I seem to finally be feeling comfortable as I play and the subject is finally clear to me. Studybass guy, you get a like and a subscribe from me.
Sorry for the slow reply. I've been very busy with the massive studybass.com update. I'm happy to hear this video clicked for you! I have a lot more good stuff on the way. Keep playing, learning and creating music!
Thanks so much for taking the time to teach us hopeful beginners,,! I have a long way to go before anyone-including my neighbors- can actually tell am trying to play the bass. Lol That's how green I am. Am confident now am on the right track.Videosvvery well made and explained! I learned more in a few minutes than in a week of YouTubing. Am sure I speak for many when I say am glad I found your videos!
Thanks! I'm happy you're learning. Be sure to use the free guided lessons on studybass.com. I started StudyBass before RU-vid existed, and there's only a little available here. Keep me updated on your progress.
Your speaking style is so clear and calming. I like when you summarize concepts that you just talked about into a nice, neat package. Thanks for making these videos. I'm gonna recommend your site to one of my friends who is just taking up the bass.
Thank you! People often mention my calmness, and it makes me fear what you're all being subjected to out there. Keep practicing and making music (both of you)!
Having just started on bass at age 48 this was just the video I was looking for. There are tons of good bass teaching videos out there, but none of them seemed to take on these topics, at least not as well. Thank you so much.
I'm mainly a guitar player who picked up the bass about 19 years ago because that's where the work was. I still think like a guitar player, and while it's done the job, there's definitely an absolute ceiling to the skill level I can reach without proper technique like this. Unlearning and relearning the extreme basics is tough after old habits are deeply ingrained, but it really is the only way to progress past "mediocre." To those of you who are just starting on your bass journey, take this stuff seriously. These are excellent lessons and you'll be glad 5 or 10 years down the road that you took the time to learn properly.
Solid advice, I'm a guitarist too, picking up bass to aid in composition. Unlearning bad guitar habits was really tough, if I had another chance at learning an instrument I would've done it the slow and proper way from the start instead of relying on shortcuts. For guitarists, I think the left hand as where most of the bad habits are going to form. We're used to assigning 1 finger per fret, generally, while proper bass technique generally requires you to not use the 3rd finger (ring).
Thanks for this lesson. When I started playing bass I chose the wandering thumb technique. Now I might spend some time and learn the technique where I mute the A string mit my ring finger. As you said, this seems to be more efficient.
Started biting off my fingernails as I started watching this. I usually save them for weekend football game watching. Great lesson, thanks so much! I am a good example of a single finger/pick player and I am struggling with getting my fingers going now. This was very helpful.
I just started playing about a month ago and I can already say that these instructional videos have been a huge asset for me. The part at 16:30 about watching my plucking hand was so helpful and I probably would have never considered that on my own.
Thank you for your lesson! I really like the pace of the lesson, I've found that many RU-vid teachers just blow through so fast that I can't follow what they're doing or even see their fretting. Very frustrating. Your methodical and careful approach is like the Quintessiential Bassist: focused, understated, super precise in order to get just the right tone!
Thank you! Be sure to check out studybass.com. It's a methodical learning system I started 20 years ago before youtube was even a thing. Keep me updated on your progress!
I just want to back up all the comments here saying this is great stuff. I've played guitar for years and certainly know that playing bass is not the same as guitar with only four strings. It was a bit of a search to find useful technical lessons, most just say do this do that, but not how and with detailed demonstrations. This lesson ticks all those boxes, really great stuff👍. Excellent!
Thank you for this tutorial. I transitioned from guitar and I've been doing bass for about a month and a half. Initially I thought I was nailing it and was able to play more advanced bass parts with ease using the wrong plucking technique of pulling from under the string, but just learnt that wasn't correct. I'm currently practicing the correct plucking method, and it does feel uncomfortable and hurts and tires my wrist out, but hopefully I will be able to get used to it and play as quickly and comfortably using the right method!
Great! Though let's not call it THE right way. It is a right way, and it should provide a great leaping off point. Be sure to see the other www.studybass.com lessons. In particular, how to hold the bass. That influences everything else a lot and could be the source of your discomfort. Keep practicing!
I learned the ring finger muting technique going through the lessons at StudyBass, it was so well explained that it became a natural technique for me. I reckon Mr. Pouska didn't went through the wandering and floating thumb techniques on the website because they are a bit less efficient, but is awesome that he showcase them here in the video to have alternatives, awesome vid as always :D
Well, the website is updated now, but I remember that when I first went through that lesson, only the ring finger technique was being explained... or maybe is the only one that I payed attention to? hahahaha, aaaanyways.
Thanks, Mr. Mario! I'm glad you like the video. I'm working on the next one... The wandering thumb method was there, but you saw the glorious light of the ring finger and skipped over it. :) I did clear it up some, and I added the floating thumb part since I have so many students ask about it. Options are good.
I have been playing guitar for 30 + years and I thought playing bass would be easy... No, no, no !!! Watching your video, I discovered why I sound so bad ! You are a good teacher. Thank you so much.
Thanks! Doing anything well is never easy. My standing advice to guitar players coming to bass is to think of the bass as a completely different instrument. Think of it like a tuned drum rather than a guitar. Really, it's both a drum kit and guitar rolled into one. (Which is pretty awesome!) You know the guitar part, so mind the drum aspect. There's lots more on www.studybass.com that's not here on youtube. Good luck!
So much to take in! I started studybass yesterday, and have just been reading so far. I knew nothing about music but now I can name the notes on the fretboard, slowly though.
I am trying to re-learn something I have not done in over 25 years! I am self taught and originally, played by ear. I can't believe how many bad habits I had in the begging! But these videos are taking me in the right direction I feel. Teaching me the right way and exercising my patience with learning music. One day I will get comfortable with playing again and if I stay the course I will experience again the great joy playing music bought me in my youth!
That's great, Rodney! You might not realize it, but you've learned a lot over those 25 years with all of the music you've listened to. Stick to it. Be patient with yourself. Enjoy the process.
What a great video, I've just retied from work aged 66 and now on a pension and realize i have to do something to keep my mind occupied other than gardening which i hate, I have no idea in how to play any musical instrument so i have decided to by a bass guitar, my wife thinks I'm nuts and too old but i told her ill drive her nuts if i don't find a good hobby to pass the time away. I've noticed a lot of cheap basses on ebay with a small amp going for around $300 Australian, i don't want anything fancy or costly, from reading up , there's a lot of cheap bass guitars that are really quite good for the beginner. This video is definitely a great explanation in starting, thank you.
Wonderful! Welcome to music and the bass! The beginning is the toughest part. Practice daily and be patient. It will all start coming together. There many more lessons on studybass.com presented in a structured way with exercises and more. Keep me updated on your progress and let me know if you have questions.
Extraordinary good lesson, many thanks for the great work. My first bass arrived yesterday, and luckily found your video right at the start of my journey!
Thanks! There's a lot more on the website (www.studybass.com/) that's not on RU-vid. You're going to love playing the bass. Consistent *daily* practice is the key. Keep at it!
Really in depth video. Been picking up bass recently and between your guides on the site and bassbuzz's videos I definitely feel like I have excellent resources. This is the first of your videos I've actually checked out though since keeping strings muted when not playing them has been quite a frustrating endeavor starting out.
Thanks! Don't miss all of the exercises for this lesson and all of the other free lessons on studybass.com. Keep me updated on your progress, and let me know if you have questions.
@@StudyBass I will do my best! Is it too awkward to just use your left index finger to "bar" across the G, D, and A strings whenever you play a note on any of those string, thereby muting the 2 open strings?
Well, there are no rules, but I think that would get in the way down the road. The first finger is often pretty busy as it is. I wouldn't give it more jobs when there are other fingers lazing about. The beginning is hard. Just keep working at it daily.
Thanks! I'm happy it helped. I recommend going through the guided lessons on studybass.com. There are many lessons with supporting exercises and more open to all. Keep making music and keep me updated on your progress.
I have tried them all and floating thumb works best for many reasons. Look at his wrist when he doesn't use the floating thumb technique at the end of the video. You want to have your wrist in a neutral position as much as possible. Thanks for the video.
Sorry for the slow reply! Thank you. I'm happy you found it helpful. You'll find many more free lessons on studybass.com. Keep me updated on your progress.
9:50 This part is so helpful for playing September by Earth, Wind, and Fire. There’s the pattern where pluck the open A-string twice, then hit the 12th fret on the G-string then the 14th fret on the G-string. I always struggle stopping that A-string from ringing out, thank you!
Precisely! The problem shows up every once in a while and, if you don't have it, it is real trouble. Check out the string-crossing exercises on studybass.com (most of the lessons are there, not on RU-vid). Keep practicing!
Great! Welcome to the bass! I always tell my students coming from guitar to think of bass as a completely different instrument. Think of it as a pitched drum rather than just a low-pitched guitar. They look similar and there's overlap of course, but guitar and bass have different functions. There's much more on studybass.com to explore. Keep me posted on your progress!
Thank you so much, this is by far one of the best videos to understand most of right hand do's and dont's for starters. I was having problems with which technique to use when muting the A string and the G string, greetings from MX!
I’m a beginner bassplayer and I enjoyed this lesson. Do you also have a lesson how to get the fingers of both hands more flexible? The pinky and ringfinger is going all over the place when plukking 🤗
Welcome to the bass! You're going to love playing. Yes, all of the exercises are on www.studybass.com (don't worry, they're free). Use the StudyBass Study Guide and the lessons and exercises are all methodically arranged for you. Keep me updated on your progress, and let me know if you ever have questions.
You remind me of a nicer version of my dad, he's a professional bass player among other things, but so hard and mean and demanding it crushed my desire to learn, but growing up around it I still picked up piano but had an aversion at a point, but now as adult I bought a bass a few times and this time really having fun thanks to your easy-going but straightforward instruction..Hope you grow and thrive!
Sorry to hear about your rough start with music. I'm sure he meant well. Parents teaching their kids doesn't always go well. Keep going. Even the not fun parts are pretty fun!
Great! Welcome to the bass. I always urge guitar players to think of the bass as a totally different instrument than the guitar. Think of the bass as a tuned drum. Of course, it does much more. But, this is a perspective guitar players often miss. It's like learning a drum kit with notes. Keep practicing!
Well that was one great tutorial! As a long time guitar player starting bass for the first time, I've watched a few others videos on the subject, and this one is by far the clearest and most complete I stumbled on :) Thanks a lot
@@StudyBass That's great stuff! I've checked some more of your videos, and seems there are a lot of very valuable content on your website :) I've own my bass for only 8 days, but I'm really having fun everyday, and already getting improvement on my plucking and muting (which, coming from the guitar, is the most difficult I feel)
Thanks for you comprehensive exploration of each technique! I'm more of a thumb muter when it comes to the a string, but I will try out the other methods!
I agree with your take on the wandering thumb, the ring finger mute is (IMHO) more elegant and more efficient. I _do_ use the wandering thumb on a 5-string, however as I only have some many fingers to work with (four, actually) and I also use a 3rd finger to pluck with at times. I am one of those old, self-taught bassists (read: LOTS of bad habits) so I've come to your (EXCELLENT) website to correct these long-standing - and wrong-standing - bad habits! So play on, good sir, I am all ears! Or all JAW, if you look at my avatar pic...
Great! Let's not call them bad habits--there's no one right way to play or progress. You're here now and ready to do new things. Just a little focused work *every day* will really add up and move you in the direction you want to go. Keep at it!
