There are, in fact, 10 levels of bass playing, according to YouTuber Ichika Nito
Talk a guided walking bass tour through the various styles and techniques, from one-finger to slap and beyond
One thing’s for sure: there’s a lot of great bass playing out there – just ask Thundercat.
But according to Ichika Nito – he of the ethereal guitar tuning – there are actually 10 levels of bass playing.
First on that scale? One finger playing, of course.
From there, Nito demonstrates two- and three-finger technique, hammer-ons and pull-offs, slapping, harmonics, tapping and more.
As for Level 10? Watch to the end to find out.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.

“They had to fight to get the bass that high in the mix. I thought it was too much”: How do you anchor a band like Pleasure? If you’re Nate Philips, you do it with a formidable slap technique

“Hard to believe that rehearsals begin a week from Monday. We begin again. Every time a rebirth. Every time an adventure”: Another former Smashing Pumpkins bassist is joining Garbage on tour