This month I'd like to talk about technique, specifically right-hand articulation. I've heard a lot of bassists fuss over their right-hand technique over the years, many of them claiming to have settled on a one-size-fits-all method of articulation that's ideal for any musical circumstance. I've always preferred to take a more pragmatic approach and use whichever right-hand technique sounds best and feels the most natural for any given situation. For instance, sometimes I find using a plectrum or my thumb to be more effective than playing fingerstyle, or vice versa.
For "galloping" rhythms, like the main part to "Achilles Last Stand" (Presence), or the intro riff to "Immigrant Song," which we looked at last month, I prefer to use a pick so I can get that growly, "clangy" sound. Back in the Sixties when I was doing a lot of freelance session work on bass guitar I would often be called upon to play with a pick-"More 'click,' please" When playing fingerstyle, I usually use my index and middle fingers to pluck the strings, mostly in a strictly alternating fashion, but not always-sometimes it feels awkward to do that. Occasionally, I'll attack a note with both fingers for a stronger attack. That's how I played the pumping 16th notes during the intro to "Out on the Tiles" (Led Zeppelin III). For certain parts, I actually prefer to use just my index finger. This may not seem like the most "efficient" way to play, but I like the consistent attack that results from using one finger. This is the same reason guitarists sometimes choose to use consecutive downstrokes, instead of alternating downstrokes and upstrokes, to strum or pick fast eighth- or 16th-note rhythms; even though it may not be the easiest way to play a part, the resultant uniformity of attack is well worth the effort spent.
I feel I have the most control over dynamics and "touch" when plucking with my index finger-it's one of the things that's often helped me get a nice, round tone out of my instrument. As far as facility is concerned, I've found that I can actually be quite nimble playing this way if I relax and economize movement.
A good example of a part that I wrote and played using this single-digit approach is the main riff to "Good Times, Bad Times" (Led Zeppelin) (see Figure 1).
Notice that the run in bar 2 is built upon the D root-fifth-octave shape in the 5th position. This figure can be rather challenging to perform at tempo because of all the string crossing involved. It just seemed so much simpler to me to use one finger instead of two or three to play this part because I didn't have to think about which finger I'm using to pluck which note or string. When crossing from a higher string to the one just below it, as in bar 2 of FIGURE 1, I usually use what's called a rest stroke. To do this, simply drag the finger over the lower string after plucking the higher string.
FIGURE 2 illustrates the a cappella bass break heard at the end of the first chorus (at 0:54). If you listen to the recording you'll notice the fairly consistent attack and tone which is the result of using the same finger to pluck all the notes.
Another noteworthy example of this technique in action is the chorus part to "Ramble On" (see Figure 3) from our second record. In bar 2 of this figure I'm pedaling on the root, A (D string/7th fret), in a steady 16th-note rhythm, and jumping up to the fifth, E (G string/9th fret) and the fourth, D (G string/7th fret). Again, notice the even, controlled attack of the notes here.
After having used this technique for a few years I started getting to the point were I was very comfortable plucking the strings with just one finger. I would use it to play the fast jam part of "Dazed and Confused" (Led Zeppelin) (see Figure 4). When performing this part live, Bonzo and I would push the tempo and play it ridiculously fast for minutes on end while Page wailed away on the guitar. I found that by using hammer-ons, pull-offs and rest strokes, I could play this repeated figure quickly and cleanly as long as I wanted to without becoming fatigued.
As you develop your own style, keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way to play. Use whichever technique feels good to you at any given moment.