Another Guitarist like Rand...

[WhoCares]

The main guy from Code of Perfection ( http://www.codeofperfection.com/ ) Thorsten Koehne is exactly like Rand...

I started playing guitar at age 11. Beeing lefthanded I just took a normal guitar and turned it around without changing the strings, which since then became a trademark of my playing.


So Rand is not alone! and by the way, Code of Perfection are pretty good if you like guitar virtuoso rock (a bit like Joe Satriani perhaps...)

[Transient]

i think hendrix did that too

[WhoCares]

but didn't Hendrix restring his right handed guitar as a normal left handed?

As far as I know, Rand and Thorsten both play their guitars strung UPSIDEDOWN... (which essentially means they can pickup any right handed guitar, flip it over and play...) Although as Kelly mentioned in another thread, Rand now buys left handed guitars, and strings them upside down. I could be wrong... but I'm sure it's what I read...

[Erabatuk]

Heh first post on this site! Anyways I can relate to this since I'm a lefty and initially I used to play on right handed guitars since I was influenced by my mates to play and they were righty's. On buying my first guitar I had to switch to normal string set up since the guitar came stringed already. It only took a few weeks to adjust, and since I was still in very early stages it didn't hinder progress much.

With Hendrix it's always a common misconception that he played with strings like that. But he didn't; he learnt on natural left handed guitars but used right handed ones since he prefered the tone controls and the pick-up switches high and close to his chest for ease of access (perfect example is the Woodstock footage). On various footage you can see the strings are normally strung.

I'm not too sure but I think the story behind Rand's playing is his Mother owned a guitar store and he picked up right handed guitars to learn to play. Don't know how he copes with it, but hell the sound he gets is pretty damn awesome...

[WhoCares]

welcome!

[Erabatuk]

welcome!

Thanks dude!

[Carnisbass]

I'm new here too!!

Not new to Atheist though. Loved them since I was 16 now knocking on the door of 32! Played bass guitar in a tech(ish) metal band in my youth. Roger and Tony were my gods and was lucky enough to meet Tony in London when he was playing with Pestilence, think I was a little drunk though as all I remember saying was something like 'Hi!! Your Tony Choy!!'. As soon as I heard Atheist I knew the only way to play was with FINGERz! Christ did that hurt for a while!!

Thanks to Kelly and guys for getting this all back together! I am on a knife edge waiting for Bloodstock and have really really enjoyed listening to the old hooks again. Looking forward to a beer with you guys when you get over here to the UK!

Just dug out my old Vinyl so will be needing the odd signature!!

P.S. Atheist are the only metal band I listened to post 1995. They are the only truely original band to ever put records out. No 'tune my guitar to 'c' to sound heavier' crap just awesome playing and brilliant ideas over and over! ALL HAIL!!

By the way I play(ed) my bass the right way up with the string up the right way....

Wasnt Kelly a 'leftie'?

[mayhcaek]

Dan Swano does this too. Lefty, plays right-handed guitar, doesn't restring it. Kinda crazy but still \m/.

[AndThePsychicSaw]

Hendrix plays a right handed guitar with the strings switched so that it is just like a left.

Rand plays with the strings NOT switched so it's upside down.

On the video of Air I posted a while back It is really noticeable because he is playing the leads on like the 2nd string from the top around the 7th fret and shit and that would be really low if the strings were changed. But it was high. Also when he's playing Powerchords he plays them Inverted on the bottom strings. I didn't notice it at first, but when I heard how he played and looked, it was very very noticeable.

[zyquix]

I've never even known why the low E string need to be on the bottom (player's perspective). I read somewhere Rand could write shit that a normal player wouldn't normally write because of the way the strings are. So if creativity spews from change, why not? Other than making it easier to teach it, or to learn other bands' songs, I can't think of a reason why someone wouldn't change it up.

[Azathoth]

Perhaps this lead to the creativity of Atheist.

[SwedeMetal]

I read somewhere Rand could write shit that a normal player wouldn't normally write because of the way the strings are. So if creativity spews from change, why not? I can't think of a reason why someone wouldn't change it up.

Because the guiatar industry is full of traditionalists that hate change.

[Transient]

but didn't Hendrix restring his right handed guitar as a normal left handed?

As far as I know, Rand and Thorsten both play their guitars strung UPSIDEDOWN... (which essentially means they can pickup any right handed guitar, flip it over and play...) Although as Kelly mentioned in another thread, Rand now buys left handed guitars, and strings them upside down. I could be wrong... but I'm sure it's what I read...
i know, i just thought hendrix played it upside down + upside down strings


maybe not, i dunno

[SteveFlynn]

I'm new here too!!

Not new to Atheist though. Loved them since I was 16 now knocking on the door of 32! Played bass guitar in a tech(ish) metal band in my youth. Roger and Tony were my gods and was lucky enough to meet Tony in London when he was playing with Pestilence, think I was a little drunk though as all I remember saying was something like 'Hi!! Your Tony Choy!!'. As soon as I heard Atheist I knew the only way to play was with FINGERz! Christ did that hurt for a while!!

Thanks to Kelly and guys for getting this all back together! I am on a knife edge waiting for Bloodstock and have really really enjoyed listening to the old hooks again. Looking forward to a beer with you guys when you get over here to the UK!

Just dug out my old Vinyl so will be needing the odd signature!!

P.S. Atheist are the only metal band I listened to post 1995. They are the only truely original band to ever put records out. No 'tune my guitar to 'c' to sound heavier' crap just awesome playing and brilliant ideas over and over! ALL HAIL!!

By the way I play(ed) my bass the right way up with the string up the right way....

Wasnt Kelly a 'leftie'?


Wow! Thanks a lot man!!! And you're right, the only way to play bass is with your fingers. Hell I play guitar as well as drums, and with a pick, I'm about as good as 75% of the bass players out there....so... good for you for going down the right path toward bassdome..... It's a pet peeve with me.... PLAY BASS WITH YOUR FINGERS

[Bassshredder]

Wow! Thanks a lot man!!! And you're right, the only way to play bass is with your fingers. Hell I play guitar as well as drums, and with a pick, I'm about as good as 75% of the bass players out there....so... good for you for going down the right path toward bassdome..... It's a pet peeve with me.... PLAY BASS WITH YOUR FINGERS

YESSSS!!!!!

Pick players make me want to :suicide:

[zyquix]

I think it'd be ok to use a pick once in awhile, only if you've proven you can play it with your fingers, meaning play it with a pick if you want a particular section to sound the way it does with a pick rather with your fingers, not to make the line easier to play.

[SteveFlynn]

I think it'd be ok to use a pick once in awhile, only if you've proven you can play it with your fingers, meaning play it with a pick if you want a particular section to sound the way it does with a pick rather with your fingers, not to make the line easier to play.

Well put.... using a pick at times to achieve a particular sound that you can't with your fingers and vice versa.........no problem with that.

[quigonkick]

Lefty bassist here...

I'd just like to take a moment to say:

"Everyone is born right-handed. Only the greatest overcome it."

*dodges flying fruit*

[quigonkick]

YESSSS!!!!!

Pick players make me want to :suicide:

Okay, now I've had some time to think about this. So I guess you aren't a fan of Motorhead, Overkill, post-1988 Slayer, Nevermore, Megadeth, Napalm Death, Sepultura or The Beatles? Heck, I even saw Stu Hamm use a pick!

Just messin' with you, shredster.

In my humble opinion ( :soapbox: ), I think bass players need to be good at the four major food groups:

1) Fingerstyle
2) Pick
3) Slap-n-pop
4) Tapping

I happen to excel at stinking up the place at each of these. Most of my playing is with a pick, though I am trying to convert to fingers - and MAN is it a bear!

[cl8on]

I agree with what you say about those four major playing styles.

Fortunately for me, I started playing with my fingers and still find that the easiest method. I am currently perfecting my slapping now and then.. on to tapping.

[zyquix]

I don't play bass so I don't know, I heard you're supposed to only slap the E and A strings and pop on the D and G strings, but when I'm screwing around in class on guitar, sometimes I bust out the "Play that Funky Music" riff, and I pop (both with thumb and fingers) all the strings (E, A, and D,). If it were a bass, would that be the correct way to play it, or are you not supposed to pop with your thumb either?

----2-0-2-----0h2
----------0h2-----
0-0---------------

is the riff by the way. First 2 E's are popped with thumb, the rest are finger popped.

[epitaph]

There isnt really a right way. You may pop or slap any string you wish with any method you want.

[quigonkick]

There isnt really a right way. You may pop or slap any string you wish with any method you want.


Agreed!!!


Also, I think that fretless and upright should at least be thought about by any and every bassist. I know all that stuff would cost a fortune, but you know, a LOT of other musicians might say "deh, you play bass? hea's a tuba! hit it!" and expect you to be John Phillip Sousa incarnate. You might as well do your best to be prepared for ANY circumstance, right?