Beginner trying to get rid of fret click

Brian Mearns · #1 12-08-2008, 06:15 PM

I've been playing for just a month or two, and I'm having a hard time with the string clicking on the frets on the E string when I finger a note. I don't know anything about adjusting the bass, but I'm open to learning as long as I don't ruin it.

Any suggestions for adjustments or technique would be great.

Thanks,
-Brian

Michael Case · #2 12-08-2008, 06:20 PM

Could it be your right hand is striking the string in a more downward motion causing the string to clack against the strings? Try "hooking" the string from underneath with your right hand finger.

ysand · #3 12-08-2008, 06:20 PM

Lots of clicking and clank!

mikeyswood · #4 12-08-2008, 06:20 PM

It is nothing to do with the bass. That is all technique. Congrats on finding that early on in your playing. Now that you have identified it, work on fretting softly.

James Jamerson had insanely high action and I prefer action just a BH from the fret. It is in your ability to learn how to fret these actions and everything in between.

Some players never identify that so your are far ahead in your learning. Party on Wayne!

Brian Mearns · #5 12-08-2008, 08:18 PM

Thanks for the feedback. It's not a right hand issue, the sound occurs even with my right hand in my pocket; it's just the noise of the string striking against the fret when I press it down with my left hand to select the note.

Mikey, thanks for the props...I'm not clear what you mean by action though? I've seen it in a bunch of posts, but I'm unfamiliar with the term, likewise with "BH". I can prevent the noise by pressing very slowly, but I'm talking very slow! Far from practical for actually playing anything. Is this just something I can work on speeding up with lots of hearty practice, or are there other tricks to fretting softly?

Thanks, again.
-Brian

rcadble · #6 12-08-2008, 09:40 PM

Hey,

I just spent about 5 minutes or so trying to figure out what could potentially cause problems. Assuming your gear is fine, these could be some problems:

- Your left hand is pressing frets too late
- Your left hand is not pressing down on the frets hard enough
- You're pressing on the fret (the piece of metal) itself, not in between the two pieces of metal.
- Your right hand isn't plucking in a smooth manner, perhaps you're popping (plucking from the very bottom of the string up) or just playing too hard.
- You're letting go of frets too slowly after sounding a note

Try experimenting with some of the aforementioned problems and see if any changes helps.

Hope I've helped.

GreggBummer · #7 12-08-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Mearns

It's not a right hand issue, the sound occurs even with my right hand in my pocket; it's just the noise of the string striking against the fret when I press it down with my left hand to select the note.

I agree with the others who posted here, it is more than likely a technique issue.

However, it COULD be a set up issue. If you want to rule it out, take your bass in to the shop for a set up. A neck adjustment, bridge adjustment, or a new nut may solve the problem. Also, if you bought your bass used the strings could be years old and a new set wouldn't hurt anyway (although the age of the strings has nothing to do with the buzz).

Another option, and I would try this first, is to video yourself playing. You can use a cheezy video cam and post it to youtube. Just make sure it is well lit and we can see both hands. Don't be bashful about your playing, you are trying to get better. Post the link here.

Last, and here is the long term solution, If you don't have a teacher... get one! You can learn a lot from having someone help you. Even if money is tight, see if you can afford one or two lessons a month. I have been playing bass since 1987 and I still take lessons.

Keep up the good work... learning by discovery is the best kind.

mambo4 · #8 12-09-2008, 10:16 AM

I scanned the posts and have to ask:

Is this clicking happening when you are amplified?

my bass clicks alot when I'm unplugged because I pluck harder to hear the string...there is always a certain amount of fret clicking that wont translate to the amp and thus is not an issue. Only concern yourself with clicking that you can hear thru the amp...you will never gig without being plugged into something.

FYI " action " is essentially how high above the fretboard your strings sit. Lower (or "fast") action means the strings are easier to fret, but requires lighter, cleaner technique; while higher action takes more muscle to fret but is more forgiving to heavy right and left hand wailing on the strings. Most players prefer lower/faster action. "BH"? never heard of it.

If you are clicking audibly while amplified, with just your left hand, then you are most likely over doing it with your fretting: slamming your fingers down against the fret board really hard and fast. Realize you can fret quickly without fretting heavily. You may be keeping your fingers too high above the strings when they are not fretting, forcing you to move them more than neccessary. If you are just starting out, then in all likelihood you left hand grip is far tighter and heavier than needed.

Try this exercise (taken form Gary Willis' book) :
Fret a note and pluck so it rings cleanly. Keep plucking while slowly , gently, easing up on the left hand pressure. Eventually you will hear a rattle as the loosened string beings vibrating against the fret. Then, slowly increase pressure until the rattling stops. The exact point at which the rattling stops is the ideal amount of pressure you should apply-more is wasted.

mikeyswood · #9 12-09-2008, 03:55 PM

Action is the distance between the strings and the frets. Some like high and some like low. I prefer mine to be a BH (butt hair) off of the frets. If you press the first and 12th fret I like my basses to get no more than one busines card in the 7th fret.

As for other tricks, now that you have been able to fret slowly, practice it every day and it will become quick. Also, practice on other basses

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Mearns

I'm not clear what you mean by action though? I've seen it in a bunch of posts, but I'm unfamiliar with the term, likewise with "BH". I can prevent the noise by pressing very slowly, but I'm talking very slow! Far from practical for actually playing anything. Is this just something I can work on speeding up with lots of hearty practice, or are there other tricks to fretting softly?

enor · #10 12-14-2008, 03:56 AM

This COULD be a technique problem, but somehow I don't think it is. My guess is that the neck of this bass has way too little relief in it, so that the string is actually clanking against several frets at once. To the poster: hold down the string at the first and last fret simultaneously, and see how much space there is between the top string and the 7th fret. My guess is you have close to none at all, and thus you need to adjust your truss rod (letting go of tension there). Since you're a beginner, don't go for an extremely low action to begin with - having slightly more resistance will help you develop those much needed muscles in your hand quicker. Aim for somewhere around 1,5 millimeters between top string and the 7th fret. Good luck!

JKambing · #11 12-14-2008, 04:03 AM

Like everyone else has said, this could be a technique problem.. However, it may be because your tone knob is rolled off towards treble way too much, causing excessive "click" and string noise.

Listen to all these other (more experienced) TBers, but also check whether its just that your tone knob is cranked up too much. Hope you manage to fix your problem..

sir juice · #12 12-14-2008, 04:51 AM

Place your fingers on your left hand as close to the fret as you can, and play with a light-touch on your right hand.

Don't press too hard with your left hand either, you'll tire yourself out.

wuggles · #13 12-14-2008, 10:42 PM

Yea i just started playing the bass and I get that same matalic clicking sound, but its only when i am pressing down with my pinky finger. Any suggestions on where the best spot would be to press down? In between the marker and fret? or behind the marker? On the marker?

JKambing · #14 12-15-2008, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuggles

Yea i just started playing the bass and I get that same matalic clicking sound, but its only when i am pressing down with my pinky finger. Any suggestions on where the best spot would be to press down? In between the marker and fret? or behind the marker? On the marker?

From what I learned, it's best to fret the note right at the edge of the fret instead of the middle where the marker is. Less effort is required to fret a note. I have, however, seen varying opinions abt this on talkbass...

Jedi Of Syrinx · #15 12-15-2008, 05:57 AM

I dunno... I quite like the 'clank', very Harris... my style 8)

You could use distortion, if that's your cup of tea, that hides it well.

Or if you really don't wanna put up with it/hide it, I suggest using a much lighter right hand technique, place your fretting finger just behind the required fret with a sizeable amount of pressure. Be careful, though, too much, and as others have said, you'll kill yourself and your hands.

wuggles · #16 12-15-2008, 07:34 AM

thanks for the help on that guys! I tried it out think I found that spot you were talking about. pressing down right before the fret realy seems to make a difference. And there is realy no need to put too much force into it either. Lol, I think I wass putting way too much force on it. It's much more fun to play when you start to get some good clean sounds comming out of it.

Brian Mearns · #17 12-17-2008, 01:56 PM

thanks to all the feedback. Sorry I'm so late in getting back, I was expecting to get emails notifying my of responses, and never did, so I thought the thread had died.

To answer some of the questions, the click isn't coming through the amp at all, as far as I can tell. Maybe I'm being too anal about it? I just want to make sure I have a good technical basis going forward. Like I said, I'm able to prevent the click by playing real slowly and carefully, so I've been working on that, and it does seem to be getting better (as in, I can do it a little faster and still prevent click), but still have a ways to go.

I have found, however, that I can also stop the click by starting my attack just before putting my left hand finger on the string. Its technically stopping the note a hair of a second early, though...is this valid technique?

I don't have access to other basses to compare, but I'd say about 1.5 to 2 mm between the string and 7th fret when I've got 1 and 12 pinned.

Thanks again for tall the help. I'll check back for responses more quickly this time, and I'm planning to start taking a few lessons next semester.

-Brian

greenboy · #18 12-18-2008, 06:01 AM

If you play fretless and it's got a brighter tone than many fretless players seem to favor, then click/clack-type sounds can still be an issue. You still have the string comig down on hard ebony or epoxy or whatever. Noticing it's there is the first and most important step. Then it seems like you can combat it with things you already have a grasp on, how you move, how relaxed you play, how you mute. Ironically, I make use of it a bit when playing stuff that was played on fretted basses, to fool the ear into thinking I am playing fretted basses.

mambo4 · #19 12-18-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

the click isn't coming through the amp at all, as far as I can tell. Maybe I'm being too anal about it? I just want to make sure I have a good technical basis going forward. Like I said, I'm able to prevent the click by playing real slowly and carefully, so I've been working on that,

I have never concerned myself with fret clicks that don't make it thru the amp. However, working to clean up your technique should be encouraged! Good technique will clean up some of the fret clicking, but I still hear it after 20 years of playing. But never thru my rig, or thru my headphone amp....It's the amplified tone that matters. If you are not hearing the click thru your amp, its not that big a deal. IMHO.