Action - Hammer on

[ambetanterik]

Hi,

I was wondering if there were any guidelines on optimizing the string action for playing hammer on notes. I noticed playing on a bass with very low action that the volume of the hammered notes is much lower that on a bass with higher action.

Any thoughts on this?

[Slowgypsy]

Originally Posted by ambetanterik

Hi,

I was wondering if there were any guidelines on optimizing the string action for playing hammer on notes. I noticed playing on a bass with very low action that the volume of the hammered notes is much lower that on a bass with higher action.

Any thoughts on this?

I think this is less a setup thing and more a technique thing.

[ambetanterik]

Understand that technique is key and there is definitely room for improvement, however I only notice it on the bass with very low action. On others the volume is considerably higher. I'm convinced my technique is no different on one bass or the other
Anything else that might influence the volume of the hammered notes?

[Einherjar]

Seems like it would make sense that with higher action you are exerting more force on the string to get it to hit the fret resulting in a louder note? Physics or something.

[Slowgypsy]

Originally Posted by ambetanterik

Understand that technique is key and there is definitely room for improvement, however I only notice it on the bass with very low action. On others the volume is considerably higher. I'm convinced my technique is no different on one bass or the other
Anything else that might influence the volume of the hammered notes?

With higher action, there's more distance for the string to travel before hitting the fret. More distance equals more time to accelerate. Also higher action translates into a wee bit slightly harder hit to make it to the fret. I think the mind knows the string is further away and needs to be hit slightly harder/longer to make it to the fret... hence the slightly louder tone. This is certainly an environment of the miniature actions, but in the end... that's what technique is all about...