hello,

I've been playing guitar for about 6 years and bought a bass 10 days ago and have been practising hardcore since then. I play some classical and fingerstyle on guitar, so adapting to right hand finger technique for bass has been pretty easy for me (I just need to work on my groove ). I've watched a bunch of videos and read lots of articles, and I think I have pretty good right hand posture.

However, when I use the bridge pickup, or pluck near the bridge on the A, D or G strings, I get a funny buzzing sound. At first I thought it was because the action was too low, but after raising the action and checking the neck relief I soon realised it wasn't that. The strings also were quite close to the pickups since I lowered the action so I lowered the pickups too...but same problem...it's not a problem with the pickups, because I get the same problem at any string/pickup height (both plugged into the amp and not plugged in).

It's actually my plucking fingers. When I pluck a string I use "rest strokes", where after I pluck the string, my finger follows thru to rest on the string below (except on the bottom E string). If I don't use rest strokes I don't get this noise...I even removed the E string, then tried plucking the A string and the problem wasn't there.

Now, I've read in lots of places that this is the "correct" way to pluck the bass strings, and I've watched a lot of videos and ppl seem to pluck like this.
However, when my finger comes to rest on the string below the one i've just plucked, it creates a noise, and this is the cause of the problem I described above.
You can't really hear this problem when I use the neck pickup and pluck near the neck (which I prefer doing)..but obviously sometimes I'd like to pluck near the bridge, and this problem makes me sound pretty bad.

any ideas on how to reduce this noise? obviously if rest strokes are the norm, then some amount of noise is expecting from your finger coming to rest on the string..how can i reduce this?

Many thanks!

Bass is a noisy instrument, period. Not to worry about the thumps. Just about every fingerstyle player does it, including the ones that sound awesome. It'll never be noticeable in a performance context.

Bass is a noisy instrument, period. Not to worry about the thumps. Just about every fingerstyle player does it, including the ones that sound awesome. It'll never be noticeable in a performance context.


+1 ... don't focus on the little noises...it will just detract from your playing...

try to just focus on the groove...

you'll soon learn that all those other little bang, pop, spip, spop, plop, and ping sounds can be worked tastefully into a groove and actually ADD to the sound...

this is what makes a bass sound "real", as opposed to some computerised synthesiser thingy...

cheers guys! encouraging words!

However, these thudding buzzes i'm hearing are pretty loud and intrusive. Although I've yet to jam anywhere near full volume with my band yet, so who knows. I'll keep my eye on it and see how it goes. ;)

Why don't you post a sound clip of it if you can, and we'll be able to see if it's anything abnormal or if it's just you having very good ears.

Do these noises make it through into the amp? Sounds like you might have something lose in the bridge or one of the pickups that rattles around when you pluck. Try 'muting' different parts bits of hardware with your left hand (assuming you are right handed) and plucking normally with your right to see if you can find the offender.

Do these noises make it through into the amp? Sounds like you might have something lose in the bridge or one of the pickups that rattles around when you pluck. Try 'muting' different parts bits of hardware with your left hand (assuming you are right handed) and plucking normally with your right to see if you can find the offender.

Good advice. I remember an Ibanez I had back in the day that had a loose spring on one of the bridge saddle adjustment screws that would rattle like heck when i played. I think I finally wedged a piece of tape or something in there to stop the noise.

You can ignore that noise for awhile, but chances are if it's bothering you now, it'll only bug you more as your ear for the instrument develops. I say get to the bottom of it!

This happens with me sometimes on my old bass, its usually the nut under the nobs that is loose, so just take u knobs off then tighten them.

hello,

here's a link to an mp3 of the problem

http://www.b-bro.net/mybass.mp3

the first part is me plucking the A string near the bridge without using a reststroke , (i.e. my plucking finger doesn't hit the E string at all). This sounds fine (bar bad timing ;) )

the 2nd part is me plucking normally with rest strokes, and here is where i hear the thudding buzz problem

the 3rd part is me just tapping the E string with my fingers, which shows the noise that's created when I use normal rest strokes on the A string.

the 4th part is me plucking the A string normally, but using the neck pickup and plucking over the neck pickup.

Give yourself some more time on it.

I had the same problem only worse because of my big fingertips. I don't think it is really as bad as it sounds to you when you are playing but it just doesn't quite sound right. I fixed the problem by changing my finger technique to pull up and outward to clear the lower string instead of using it as a rest stop. It took a little while to adjust to the change but it sounds better to me.

try lowering your pickups too .. it almost sounds like a click that your getting from plucking hard on the string and it getting in the way of the magnetics of the pickups.

Your problem is you're not muting the lower string enough and you're making it sound a note. Work on it...then problem solved.

Your problem is you're not muting the lower string enough and you're making it sound a note. Work on it...then problem solved.

Yeah, I think this is it. How are you muting the E string? Do you anchor your thumb? Where?

This sounds a lot like you are getting some harmonics from your finger following through and disturbing the E string. Do you plant your thumb on the E? maybe it's a pinch harmonic? That would explain why you only get it when playing in certain spots on the string

In the words (probably not exact words, but close enough) of Wooten, if you can't get rid of it, make it groove.

Muting strings and proper finger on bass is a bigger deal than on guitar. Bigget issue for guitarists is usually string squeak and it is for basses for recording. Bass you need to master muting with both hands and when to mute with which. On the right hand there are times for a rest type stroke, but many times you snap your finger back to mute the string. Look for some Gary Willis videos on YouTube I know he's done instructional video that has probably made it to YouTube. Also fretting with the left hand is more important to be behind the fret, where on guitar strings are light enough that fretting almost anywhere in a fret is fine, but bass needs to be behind the fret to avoid string rattle. There is more to technique on bass than guitar, enjoy.

many thanks for all your replies and advice guys!

Ye, i kinda knew that it was my fault and not the instruments. I use a floating thumb technique. When I play the E or A strings my thumb rests on the pickup. Then as I move up to the D and G strings my thumb comes down to mute the E and A strings.

I guess I'll just keep working at it!!

i wish i knew how to do that.

many thanks for all your replies and advice guys!

Ye, i kinda knew that it was my fault and not the instruments. I use a floating thumb technique. When I play the E or A strings my thumb rests on the pickup. Then as I move up to the D and G strings my thumb comes down to mute the E and A strings.

I guess I'll just keep working at it!!

lay your thumb on the E when you play the A... ;)

good luck

If you are resting your thumb on the E string it should dampen the noise alot, then just make sure your finger slows down after hitting the A string so it doesn't hit the E too hard. There will still be noise but it shouldn't be noticable.

Just wanted to add one thing: mute whichever strings you're using to stop your rest strokes with your left hand. That should take care of the extraneous noise.

Unlike a classical guitar, it doesn't take much to produce a noise on a solidbody bass. Even perfectly clean right hand rest strokes will generate unwanted noise without the left hand's help.