LeftyBassist.com

We recently discussed the idea of a thread for sharing techniques, etc. for us upside-down strung lefties, so I thought I'd start one and see if we can get this started! I'm hoping we can get a good discussion going here, and make this a place we can share whatever tips, techniques, ideas, tricks we've each developed through this unique/backwards playing style.

Here's a quick & crappy vid of something new(to me, I bet some of you have been doing this for years!) I've been working on - doing slap/pop funk, using my fingers for the "slap" and thumb and/or index finger for the "pop". I don't get quite as much percussive tone using my fingers to slap, but it's becoming more natural with practice, and I hope to get more "thump" in time.

http://youtu.be/97zbu23-Ydo


Has anyone else worked further with this? Do have a different technique to share and discuss? If so, please do!!!

No one interested in sharing?

Can't speak for others, as I don't play "righty style"... although, sometimes, I think it would have been more advantageous to learn that way! Here's one of my favorite upside-down bass players, Keith Horne, demonstrating various styles, and slapping-popping starts in earnest at 4:47.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYmf1LJg8V8

That was awesome, thanks for sharing!!!!

Knew you'd like it Pete!

I'd never heard of Keith Horne, but after watching that video I searched out a few others. I found an interview with him(apparently set at Christmas time), and in it he states that he's not actually left-handed. He just learned that way!

I read an interview with him several years ago. I thought it'd be cool to hear from someone who plays like I do.
Instead, the only thing I remember are really harsh words for bassists who play with a pick. It was very TalkBass if ya know what I mean. Disappointing.

And I'd love to help the OP but I know nothing about slap and pop.

I'd love to hear ANY tip, etc. that you use which are a direct result of playing strung right-handed!

I only posted that example as its one of the most obvious(to me anyway) adaptation us upside-down players encounter. I don't play with a pick, but does the combination of pick+inverted strings cause you to do things differently than a normal lefty? Or did you happen to choose to use a pick because of your stringing?

Interesting... haven't seen that interview. He plays guitar very well, so he knows how to use a pick... some years back I bought his CD, and conversed with him through emails. Comes across as a real nice guy...

Nah, when I was getting started everyone I like used a pick some or all of the time. It's the sound I've always liked.

I always liked the sound too(major Chris Squire fan!), I just always found fingerstyle easier & stuck with that.

I used to keep my fingernails long enough that they(somewhat) functioned as picks, but it was tricky to be consistent what with them growing/breaking and such.

I started with the Punk scene in 1976, so a pick was pretty much a prerequisite.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qy2Sa0EvwS0

Check out Stan Sergeant, another great inverted player.
I sent him an email a while back asking about his technique. He said that the attack (slap) is done by stirking with his index and ring fingers, and he does the pop with his thumb.
Seems like a pretty nice guy and a class act; he could have just ignored my email.

Sweet! Thanks for sharing that!!!

You're welcome.
By the way, that should have read index and middle fingers, not index and ring.

I posted this on youtube & just now realized that the bassist is playing upside down lefty! Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9tJY1c2Nq4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9tJY1c2Nq4

I think that's Gerald Johnson?

although the theme of this video is comedy, this old video was one of the ones I looked at to figure out how people pop and slap when inverted.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cc-WM_ ... &index=244