I now know, though, where I got the bad habit of fretting with the side of my finger instead of the tip. I am having to reteach myself proper posture (especially with my thumb) and to push the string straight down with the tip of the finger. Bass scales practice is reinforcing it for guitar, and guitar scales practice is reinforcing for bass. Some day maybe I'll even be able to play a lead lick or two. Ten minutes a day for each instrument. It's not fast progress, but it's progress. That idea of practicing slow as you have to for good form is really working out. I use a metronome and play only as fast as I can and do all the right form. Lots to remember. Alternate fingers, thumb in the right position, curl the fingers, press with the tips, and relearning the scale forms. Working on minor pentatonic forms first.
Anyway, I forgot how much fun it is playing electric bass. I've been using my fretless with the flatwound strings. It sounds good for a cheap axe. It's a Yamaha. I forget the model number, but it's solid ash body, a bolt through ash neck, and an ebony (??) fingerboard. I'm not sure about that fingerboard, but it's nearly black. I think it ran $199 used in near perfect condition gosh about ten years ago now. The frets are painted on in gold paint. That helps a LOT with getting something close to the right notes. Anyway. Yamaha makes a good cheap bass for anyone interested.
- Zurf
