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Basic Tapping, Part 3 : Adam Nitti Technique Series
Meet Adam Nitti –
Welcome back, bass-folk!
My last 2 articles dealt with basic tapping exercises designed to introduce you to the techniques used, as well as right and left hand independence. In this installment, we will move away from the more ‘exercise-like’ nature of our previous lessons and into more practical applications that allow you to create and play some slightly more musical grooves using 2 handed tapping.
The time we have invested so far on permutations and ‘copycat’ lines has hopefully helped you to somewhat equalize the dexterity between your right and left hands. For most of us, tapping using the plucking hand is the more difficult task to master because that hand almost never spends time on the fingerboard. If you have been practicing consistently, now you should have developed enough skill in your plucking hand to where you can now begin to work on right and left hand independence.
Obviously, being able to play independently with each hand is absolutely necessary if you want to become skilled at performing 2 handed tapping grooves and compositions. When beginning to work on these skills on the bass, it is helpful to assign specific tasks for each hand. An approach I like to use involves using the fretting hand for playing bass lines, while the plucking hand plays a melody or chords. Although this is not the only way to create complimentary 2 handed parts, this is the approach we will take in this latest installment as we work on pushing you to the next level in your development.
Exercise 1
In this exercise we will practice tapping out a bass line with our fretting hand that will be used in the remaining exercises for today’s assignment. The bass line is a bossa type line that taps out the root and 5th from a C major chord in a repetitive fashion. You can see it played in the accompanying video clip.
DOWNLOAD EXERCISE 1 BELOW
Download tapping3_exer1-aug09.jpg
Exercise 2
Now we will add a simple melody for the plucking hand made up of whole notes, using notes from the C major scale. Refer to the accompanying video clip to see how it is played. If you are having trouble putting the 2 parts together, even at very slow tempos, then practice each hand’s part individually until you feel comfortable combining them.
DOWNLOAD EXERCISE 2 BELOW
Download tapping3_exer2-aug09.jpg
Exercise 3
In this exercise we will once again add a tapped melody line with the plucking hand, but this time the melody will be a little more involved, incorporating a bit of syncopation to increase the level of difficulty. Once again, if you are having trouble putting the parts together, first practice each part individually.
DOWNLOAD EXERCISE 3 BELOW
Until next time, have fun shedding!!!
Download tapping3_exer3-aug09.jpg
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Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Internationally renowned bassist ALBERTO RIGONI (soloist, BAD AS, Vivaldi Metal Project, TwinSpirits, etc.) is proud to announce the release of his signature bass VPR5 made by renowned Italian luthier Gaetano Costanzo!
The bass is entirely handmade in Italy, without the use of CNC or other machinery, and has rather special features. The VPR is a 5-string bass (but also available as a 4-string) with 30 frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, Music Man Alnico style, passive electronics (volume, tone and a switch to select series/parallel/single-coil mode), alder body, and American maple neck and fingerboard. Gotoh tuners that ensure perfect intonation. The bass is totally painted white (nitro finish) but other colors can be requested. The VPR has a weight of about 2.9 kg and suitable for any genre.
For more information contact Gaetanobass77@gmail.com or visit online at www.instagram.com/gaetanocostanzoluthier or www.facebook.com/GaetanoCostanzoLuthier
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PR SamplePlaying bass with a pick is still a touchy subject in our community. I believe you should be able to use whatever you need to get your sound. Even though I mostly play with my fingers, I like to check out innovative new picks that might have something new to offer, sonically speaking.
Judith and Carlos from Rombo recently contacted me about a new material called CrystalBright that they have been researching for the last 12 months and offered to send some prototype picks. After trying them out, I put together this video with my findings.
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New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
Sterling by Music Man introduces the Joe Dart Artist Series Bass (“Joe Dart”), named after and designed in collaboration with the celebrated Vulfpeck bassist.
Above photo credit: JORDAN THIBEAUX
This highly-anticipated model marks the debut of the Dart bass in the Sterling by Music Man lineup, paying homage to the Ernie Ball Music Man original that all funk players know and love. The bass embodies many of the original model’s distinctive features, from its iconic minimalist design to the passive electronics.
The design process prioritized reliability, playability, and accessibility at the forefront. Constructed from the timeless Sterling body, the Dart features a slightly smaller neck profile, offering a clean tone within a comfortable package. The body is crafted from soft maple wood for clarity and warmth while the natural finish emphasizes the simple yet unique look.
Engineered for straightforward performance, this passive bass features a ceramic humbucking bridge pickup and a single ‘toaster’ knob for volume control. Reliable with a classic tone, it’s perfect for playing in the pocket. The Dart is strung with the all-new Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings for the smoothest feel and a mellow sound.
The Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Bass is a special “Timed Edition” release, exclusively available for order on the Sterling by Music Man website for just one month. Each bass is made to order, with the window closing on May 31st and shipping starting in November. A dedicated countdown timer will indicate the remaining time for purchase on the product page. Additionally, the back of the headstock will be marked with a “2024 Crop” stamp to commemorate the harvest year for this special, one-of-a-kind release.
The Joe Dart Bass is priced at $399.99 (MAP) and can be ordered globally at https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/joe-dart.
To learn more about Joe Dart, visit the official Vulfpeck artist site here https://www.vulfpeck.com/.
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