Behringer Bass Guitar PACK BT108BPK-PB503-BK User Manual

ULTRABASS

BASS GUITAR PACK

PLAYING TECHNIQUES

Picks

Hold the pick (plectrum) firmly between your thumb and index finger. Your BASS GUITAR PACK contains three picks. Most bass

players start with a thin pick and use thicker ones when they have improved their playing technique.

Playing with a pick

Here you can see the correct way for the pick to strike the strings. Relax and dont constantly think about what youre doing. This will

help you to feel comfortable while you play.

You can use the pick to strike the strings on your bass in two ways: striking down from above (downstroke) and striking up from

below (upstroke) Simply try striking one string alternately from above and from below (alternate picking) at a steady pace. You might

find a metronome very helpful here, so that you can achieve a constant rhythm and evenness of playing. Start off at a very slow

tempo and strike the string in time with the metronome (one stroke to one tick of the metronome). Once you feel confident playing at

this tempo, you can begin to increase your speed gradually.

Playing with your fingers

Many bass players prefer to pick the strings with their fingers. In this case you should use the index and middle fingers of your right

hand and pick the string alternating from one finger to the other.

To do this, rest your thumb on the E string (topmost string) and pluck the A string below it with the tip of your index finger in such a

way that your index finger finishes up resting on the E string above it. Now pluck the A string the same way using your middle finger.

As soon as your middle finger comes to rest on the E string, lift your index finger and pick the A string again, and so on. Try to play

all the four strings on your bass this way, again using a metronome, if possible, to achieve a steady rhythm. Just remember that you

have to lift your thumb off the E string when you want to play it. In this case you should rest your thumb on the body of the guitar.