Left to right--John Paul Jones and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin
By Mark Grove
I know you'll email me and be pissed off at this article.
By Mark Grove
I've been still getting some nasty emails saying that bass axeman pick on the upstroke, not down. Well, I still don't think you should up stroke. Now my in box has just been filled to the brim again.
Yeah,yeah, so I'm a prick.
Think about it, even if you're a veteran axeman you should still use down strokes as the mainstay of your bass picking, plucking, and plectrum slappin' technique.
Not as much energy is used up for down strokes, and it's more effective if you're trying to cut through lead guitar and drums.
Even beginner Bass man should use down strokes as the staple of their playing so they get used to to note and chord tone when playing. This way they aren't playing in the wrong key. Its also important to have your bass strings tuned properly, and your amp set up so it won't be muddy or have too much crunch and obliterate the lead guitar and drums.
Even Jason Newsted says to start off by using downstrokes. Hows that for a testimonial. Yes, he actually said that in an article written by Jason in Bass Guitar if I'm correct. If I'm not tell me, and get pissed at me. I think I can handle the truth.
Downstrokes on bass can also give you the ability to variate your chord and note playing in a way that will take your playing to a new level. It just takes practice to get to that level of accomplished playing with downstrokes.
So start using down strokes to take your playing into the stratosphere, or get the crowd you're playing to, going, "I dig this down strokin bottom feeding bass axeman".
Enjoy this tip,
Peace to all players,
Mark
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