Right Hand Archives
A Faster Way to Play Octaves: The Thumb and Index String Crossing Technique
Struggling with fast octave lines? This thumb and index bass technique makes string crossing smoother, faster, and more ergonomic.
How to Build Bass Grooves with 16th Notes: A Practical Exercise
In this Keep It Groovy lesson, Ryan Madora shows how to practice 16th notes on bass with short bursts, improving right-hand technique and building grooves.
The Secret to Right-Hand Bass Technique: Float or Anchor Your Thumb?
Learn the secret to better bass technique - should you float your thumb or anchor it? Master control, economy of motion, and tone with this right-hand guide.
Tapping Technique: Rhythmic Displacement of Melodies
Two-hand tapping on an electric bass can be used in a multitude of ways. In his new “Tapping Technique” lesson, Josh Cohen covers the creation of improvisations in the upper register with the right hand while playing a bass line in the left hand.
Talking Technique: Black Velvet – Nail That Fill
Alannah Myles’ iconic tune “Black Velvet” features a fill that is pretty challenging. Originally played with synth bass, we might be tasked to play that line. Ari covers this (and all the benefits) in this episode of “Talking Technique.”
Talking Technique: The “Alternator” Right Hand Exercise
In this new episode of “Talking Technique,” Ari is giving us the ultimate challenge for our right hand technique. Can you alternate your index and middle fingers throughout this demanding plucking exercise?
Making the Three-Finger Technique Consistent on Bass
This week, a reader asks Damian for advice on mastering the three-finger technique. This is something Damian has spent a lot of time on and offers up a great how-to for exploring every possible variation.
Percussive Techniques for Bass
For the next few weeks, we’ll be going over some more lesson oriented topics. I’m kicking off the series with a look at percussive techniques on the bass, specifically using your plucking hand. There are some easy techniques to approach as well as some more difficult ones. Work on these slowly with a metronome starting with the basic patterns before...
Talking Technique: Short-Scale Bass Shedding
Short-scale basses have recently enjoyed a bit of a resurgence – be it as an alternate tool in a pro’s kit or as a main axe chosen for its sound, lightweight, easy playability and hip factor. In this episode, we’ll explore some right-hand, left-hand, and coordination drills that will help you wrap your mind around the shorter scale. I’m using...
Talking Technique: Alberti Bass
Do you know what an “Alberti Bass” is? If you play electric bass (rather than cembalo in the 1700’s), you are excused if you don’t. That does not mean that we cannot use this keyboard figure to inspire some heavy duty technique shedding: string crossing, right-hand shedding, and coordination. In this lesson, we’ll go over these Alberti-inspired figures over the...
Is Rhythmic Tapping Okay in a Band Setting?
Q: When I play the bass (let’s say on a 4/4 beat), I often tap the strings on the exact beat that the snare drum makes (on the 2 and 4), and I can’t seem to stop doing that. I was wondering: Let’s say I’m playing in a band, having fun, and I start tapping… is it ok to think...
Talking Technique: Pivot Perms & Mirror Image
This episode is part one of a three-part challenge. Those time tested permutation exercises (you are doing them, right?) are getting two fresh twists in this episode: descending by their mirror image for an additional right-hand alternating challenge, and what I call the wicked “Pivot Permutations” – a great fun way to spice up that vital practice. I have a...