3rd String Moves when I pluck the 4th

[Kalazama]

Hi. I've been playing bass for all of two days and today I noticed that when I pluck the 4th string the 3rd one also vibrates.

[PhiDeck]

Damp it.

[AnonymousInvent]

Part of playing is muting strings from vibrating when you hit others to sound. You can mute strings which are not being played with your plucking hand or your fretting hand, depending on what you are doing with each hand in a particular piece. The problem is figuring out how, between the two hands, to stop other strings from sounding while hitting others

[BassmanSBK]

When you pluck one string, ALL of the others vibrate--whether they vibrate audibly depends on what note you are plucking, how the bass was constructed, the properties of the piece of wood they used, etc., etc.

That's why learning how to mute the strings you don't want ringing, while plucking the one you do want to ring, is a skill that you are going to have to develop.

This is the point where it dawns on you that every guitarist who says, "Bass is easy." Is full of . . . beans. To play bass right (that is, to play it well) is every bit the challenge of playing guitar well. It takes a lot of work, but there's a payoff at the end:

The chicks will still ignore you. But you will know that it was you who got their asses out of the seats.

Good luck!

[Stumbo]

Each will pick up vibrations from other strings (resonate) and starting moving.

Palm muting or muting with some type of material under the strings near the bridge or sometimes a large stretch hair band is placed the strings near the nut to reduce the vibrations of other strings.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jpUbIh2UclM/Sx...DZU/babbit.jpg

http://www.bassmute.com/bassmute/bm_mainframe.html

Carol Kaye's method of muting open strings with felt

1 Get that dead flatwound string sound
2

[Kalazama]

Thanks for your responses, but how would I mute it? And are there any alternatives? It's also affecting my tuning, which is very annoying.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Kalazama

Thanks for your responses, but how would I mute it?

by having the bass in your hands instead of the computer keyboard

seriously, it's just a part of being a string player, using both hands to keep the strings you don't want still while allowing the one you do want to ring out.

it's as much a part of the skill set as learning scales, notes, songs, etc., and will only come with time spent playing the thing.

(don't cheat with foam mutes or hairbands; you'll only fail to learn the right way to play by doing that.)

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Kalazama

Thanks for your responses, but how would I mute it? And are there any alternatives? It's also affecting my tuning, which is very annoying.

Read/study my previous post and the links in it.

[calebbarton]

I play with a pick most often. When I do, I either use the pinky side of my PICKING hand to mute the strings that I am not playing. I just lift up the part of my hand that is touching the string that I want to play when I want to play it...If that makes sense. Or you can mute strings with your fretting hand. For instance, when I play a C on the A string, I just make sure whichever finger is fretting that note hangs over a touch so that I am just barely touching the E string. This mutes that string while the rest of my hand mutes the other strings.

Thats just what I do. When I play finger style, its a little different as I use mostly my fretting hand to mute OR my thumb on the plucking hand to mute the E/A strings.

You will figure it out. Just be aware of it when playing so that you can find the best way to do it.

[Kalazama]

Thanks. I suppose I'll use my right hand to mute the strings because im a small guy and that seems easiest.

[type C basses]

Originally Posted by AnonymousInvent

Part of playing is muting strings from vibrating when you hit others to sound. You can mute strings which are not being played with your plucking hand or your fretting hand, depending on what you are doing with each hand in a particular piece. The problem is figuring out how, between the two hands, to stop other strings from sounding while hitting others

I've never heard it said any better.

Originally Posted by calebbarton

You will figure it out. Just be aware of it when playing so that you can find the best way to do it.

Except for here.

These two answers combined is the perfect approach.

[darkstorm]

Originally Posted by walterw

by having the bass in your hands instead of the computer keyboard

seriously, it's just a part of being a string player, using both hands to keep the strings you don't want still while allowing the one you do want to ring out.

it's as much a part of the skill set as learning scales, notes, songs, etc., and will only come with time spent playing the thing.

(don't cheat with foam mutes or hairbands; you'll only fail to learn the right way to play by doing that.)

LMAO, Is true exactly. I use pick all the time and my pick hand and to some extent my fretting hand does muteing as desired.

Heres a pic of full mute with pick hand.

[darkstorm]

Originally Posted by Kalazama

Thanks. I suppose I'll use my right hand to mute the strings because im a small guy and that seems easiest.

What??????? Big guys maybe use their left hand? You best go find some friend whom plays bass or guitar to help you then. And No you cant use naked foot for muting strings with toes when you think both hands are to busy to be able to mute as desired. Mute with picking hand when thats best and with fretting hand when thats best. But anyone who learns to play uses both hands. To some extent at same time together. It just depends how your affecting the sound via fretting and picking hand nuances. O btw useing your foot would get in the way of the bands being exprressiver with their mutes and its hard to play standing up if useing foot for mute unless you do lotsa yoga or somesuch. Lol.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Kalazama

Thanks. I suppose I'll use my right hand to mute the strings because im a small guy and that seems easiest.

you'll be using both hands.

[ehque]

One of the techniques, and one of the more orthodox ones, is to use your thumb on your right hand to mute strings lower (in pitch) than the string you are playing. The fingers on your left hand mute those that are higher (in pitch) than the string you are playing.