I've played various stringed instruments, including bass guitar, since preteen years.
& I've always heard some people suggesting that certain music or styles, usually (but not only) rock, be played with all down strokes.
My own opinion is that at best this is irrelevant; at worst a ticket for trouble.

I recognize that people can do things all sorts of ways & get by , especially if they start young enough to develop their musculature to compensate but I really worry about this as a potential---& unnecessary---danger.
I see bands sometimes where every player is beating that 1/8th note thing to death sometimes at 140+bpm & often with all downstrokes.

I contend, firstly, that by playing all downstrokes one's doing more than twice the work than when combining down/up strokes. That's because of how your hand must rapidly realign itself into position.
Secondly, that at at any speed that blurs a chord strum into a single hit (as opposed to any arpeggiation) or, more definitely, on a single note/single string it's near impossible to actually tell if it's an up or downstroke!

While many will contend that the only way to really "rawk" is all downstrokes, I suggest that you try actually listening to recordings of someone else demonstrating both methods to see if you can tell which is used.

The topic of ergonomics has been explored several times here. Personally, I don't believe it matters. If your wrists are wimpy, then they're wimpy and no matter what you do that is repetative, sooner or later CT or some other ailment will take it's toll unless you take steps to avoid it - like excercise.

Downstrokes, upstrokes, sideways, who cares? If it hurts, stop doin it! If it works, keep doin' it.
I have always been a (ahem) guitar player and I honestly have never heard of this "all down" thing. Sounds silly IMO.

Shark cartlidge and one of the B vitamins work for carpal tunnel if its isn't advanced. I don't know about the all downstrokes thing in rock, but it is mandatory for bluegrass guitar, sounds like shit otherwise.

I've heard of people wanting to do downstrokes, the guitarist in an old band yelled at me for not doing all downstrokes. It wasn't until years later when my music teacher said my picking technique was fine, and that with bass it doesn't really matter.


As far as the vitamins go, which B vitamin are you referring to?

With a bow (arco,) all downstrokes can be a bit difficult. Tried it once, but the faster the music and shorter the notes, the sloppier the playing.

Generally, a downstroke is the accented note. If all notes in a song are downstroked, then you really don't have accents, do you? More like loud monotone.

Just a couple of thoughts.

ATM

With guitar downstrokes and upstrokes do have a distinctive sound- you need to downstroke like a mofo and palm mute to get that tight 'junt' thing going in fast metal or punk. I don't think it matters too much on bass.
Whether or not its bad or painful to downstroke all the time- bass is such a physically demanding instrument that anytime I work on a new technique there is a certain amount of pain involved until the necessary muscles are built up and stretched out.

Using all downstrokes definitely, definitely makes a difference, in my experience. At least when I play. I almost never use this technique, but probably will for one of my bands songs as the direction we're moving in will most likely call for it eventually.

When I play with downstrokes, the pick mutes the string a split second before it strums it, creating a not-quite staccato feel. Very subtle, but it's definitely there. When I use alternating strokes, I use more of a "sweeping" motion and it's very legato. Same deal with the other guy in my band who plays bass. It isn't noticeable unless the notes are in rapid succession, like fast-tempo eighths. Maybe it's just the way the two of us play? Or is it like that for everyone.

Carpal tunnel is caused by bending the wrist while using the fingers...like in typing or fingering. This is NOT the same thing (unless you are really squeezing that pick.)

I think you are more likely to develop tennis elbow if you play with a rigid wrist.

My real problem is that an attack like this is really limiting. I use so many variations of plucking style, first finger alone, 1 and 2, 1, 2 and thumb, 2 and thumb in a quasi-picking motion. I pick up a pick when I play guitar, and for a few tunes, I'd play a full downstroke.

I find all these attacks useful...and there are still more kinds of music for me to learn.

I tend to agree that all downstrokes is a pointlessly tiring way to play...but re: I've watched hundreds of bluegrass players & never seen one that didn't use alternate picking for those fast lead lines.

That's pretty accurate. I agree, there is a difference. Depends on what the sound you're going for, though.

Yep. Ironically we had a Metallica thread today. Hetfield is notorious for the all downstroke thing. It is what makes his sound. Love em or Hate em it worked for him. If the goal were to find the most ergonomic way to play, then it would be called finger acrobatics and not music.

Yeah, downstrokes DO tend to sound heavier for some reason, but, as a few people already mentioned, this applies to guitar more than bass.

However, if, as a bassist, you truly want to link up with the guitar for a unison riff, it really does help to have the same pick-hand approach.

But what the hell do I know, anyway?

Do whatever you want.

Bite me.

d, You're right. I was refering to Bluegrass rythym, like Jimmy Martin plays, pluck, strum, pluck strum.