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If you really want to be a bassist then you need to learn everything. You need to read music and learn your scales, you need to play slap, tap, and funk; you need to learn to play with your fingers and a plectrum; you need to learn the speed of fingers on both sides of the board; you need to master at least one song from each each genre of music, and, you need to have the courage to want to be the best bassist in the world. Playing bass is a form of art, crafts, hobbies, skills, professions, and a form of entertainment all rolled into one. And the unique style of playing these instruments are as varied as the many players. Here they are:
Fingerstyle
Perhaps the most popular style of playing, fingerstyle is a method that will take you on the road to some other techniques. Most players start by placing your thumb on the other thumb or pickup and use the first two to three-digit string picking hand. This can provide a more fluid movement of the strings and allow a softer voice than the use of the pick. This style also led to techniques such as nail picking, dual pull, and walking bass.
Finger picking myself clear enough. Pick any fingernails used to pluck the strings down. Dual picking is a popular method of overlaying a voice often heard in jazz, R & B, indie, and even some newer alternatives. Forcing players to concentrate on the two notes at the same time with the fret hand plucking two strings plucked by hand.
Walking bass is a very common style in jazz and R & B. Most consist of playing quarter notes up and down the tone scale for a few bars. It's bumpy rhythm with arpeggios and not give up on simple chord progressions. Some bassists may become bored with running plays bass and tried to gussy it a bit. Walking bass, however, is like a baseball game. This is a game of patience and anticipation. This is not about flash and fast. It's about flow. It's about providing a smooth rhythm that allows all members of the band to shine.
Plectrum
Or better known as a pick. This is a popular style of rock, punk, metal, and alternative. Instead of using the finger pluck the strings, a pick that is used, such as a standard guitar. This style is usually not popular with bassists purist but used by some due to the use of staccato and speed. This is also the transition easier for the guitarist who switched to bass and did not have much practice with finger picking. Indeed, however, somewhat hamper the ability of players to use methods such as finger tapping and dual pick.
Slap Bass
Arguably the most popular with the style of game out there, and of course one of the most fun to play, acoustic bass is the act of using the thumb of the hand to pluck the strings produce slapping sound appears when using your fingers to pluck the same string at the same time. The restless hand and then used for notes, hammer-ons, and slapped muted.
Many attribute the discovery of the acoustic bass to Larry Graham (Sly & The Family Stone, Graham Central Station). However, slapping can also be traced back to players like Pops Foster, Zardis Chester, and Bill Johnson. This is the advanced form of Pizzicato, which is a form of damped picking on an old double bass. Acoustic bass is very popular in funk, jazz, and some alternatives and is essential to learning styles for all the bass guitarist.
Tapping
Tapping is one of the most difficult style to learn and even harder to control. Basically consists of banging and pulled off with both hands on the fret board. Notes do not pick or be picked in the conventional sense. Tapping can be used with chords, scales, and arpeggios. Dampening string is common practice to suppress but not always used. One of the best tappers in the world today is Victor Wooten bass guitar. If you are just beginning to learn tapping, Vic Wooten watch videos and see exactly how much force it can be difficult to leave.
