Clackity sound when finger plucking.

[Poop-Loops]

I never had this issue before because I never played anything fast before. I busted out Powerslave by Iron Maiden and tried learning it. And I keep getting a clackity sound when I pluck the strings. It's almost like they are hitting against the strings, and I don't know how to change that. I know that Harris has a clack to his sound, but I don't want it.

This happens on both my fretted SX and my fretless Dean, so it's definately my technique and not my setup.

Doesn't happen when playing something slower, or even a higher (and tighter) string.

[morf]

Play with a softer touch, or raise the action.

[soulgeezer]

Actually, it sounds to me like you're hitting the strings against the pickups. Try playing closer to the finger board.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by morf

Play with a softer touch, or raise the action.

I try playing with a real soft touch. I ramp up the volume real loud so that I have no incentive to play hard, and make a concious effort to play soft. My teacher taught me that.

And I like my action really low. I guess I could raise it a bit and see what happens, but the action on my fretless is actually higher than on my fretted, and it still happens.

Originally Posted by soulgeezer

Actually, it sounds to me like you're hitting the strings against the pickups. Try playing closer to the finger board.

I play in between the two pickups. They are both pretty low. I don't think I could hit against them.

[morf]

Yeah, would be weird if you could hit the pickups, you'd have to seriously bend that string hard.

I would say keep playing the song, and soon enough you'll be used to this kind of speed and will be able to play it with your right hand much more relaxed, which will ultimately give you alot more control over each note's tone.

[Poop-Loops]

Deal. I guess I should slow down the metronome until it doesn't clack, then progressively step it up when I feel ready?

[morf]

Sure, that might be the best way to do it. Personally though I hate slowing songs down, I just keep playing hard until my fingers get used to the speed and I can completely relax both hands while playing. I had this problem when learning TOP - Funk the dumb stuff, after a couple of months practicing hard I had made alot of progress, though its still not perfect.

If slowing it down has worked for you though, definitely do that.

[Otso]

Also make sure that you don't pluck into the body, but parallel to it (so that you pluck upwards), that way you will avoid the strings hitting the fingerboard.

[elpelotero]

you are probably hitting the strings against the frets...it's very normal when playing speed metal type stuff. some guys like it to cut through a mix, but others like you don't like it as much. you can either raise the action or analyze how you are hitting the strings. you are probably stirking too hard or at an odd angle.

[Muckaluck]

One technique that I use to avoid that terrible clack is play closer to the bridge where the string is tighter. Watch that Jaco series on youtube called Modern Electric Bass. He plays right over his bridge pickup and it allows for a clean and punchy sound.

[dusan]

you'll need to learn how to mute strings with your thumb and ring and small finger also,six is a big noise maker,first go to four,thumb on E string,or between E and A,use ring to mute D and sometimes small for G,and work on,and when using "ride" rhythm fingering on right hand goes as, mid and index sixteen note and ring eight,thumb on E string.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Deal. I guess I should slow down the metronome until it doesn't clack, then progressively step it up when I feel ready?

You should always start at a tempo you can play things right at otherwise you are just practicing making mistake. So it less time to learn something right. To dulute the mistakes so the proper technique comes thru most the time. As they say to learn a lot of information fast, learn a little information slowly.

As for you clacking look at your left hand. Sometime especially when trying to play fast you don't notice you are lightly touching the string above. So when you pluck the one string it causes the string you've unintenionly touch to click against the fret. This especially happens with low action since string are so close to to start with. Remedy is curl your left hand finger a bit more to get more on you finger tips. Or if you play will little curve to finger try moving down a bit more towards end of finger. That is hard. Last like other said raise the action. That is one of the possible ways this can happen. You just have to slow down and watch yourself and discover the culprit.

[MuzikMan]

I get that clacking sound when I strike the strings downward. I have recently started to straighten my wrist and rest my thumb on top of the strings (Garry Willis inspired). This has changed my plucking angle to being more parallel to the strings and it cleans up the sound a lot.

[morf]

Originally Posted by DocBop

You should always start at a tempo you can play things right at otherwise you are just practicing making mistake. So it takes longer to learn something right. To dulute the mistakes so the proper technique comes thru most the time.

Thats true, it does take longer without slowing down. But its also good ear practice because you have to concentrate on noticing your mistakes, even when you're close to being in the pocket.

[Disc]

Originally Posted by elpelotero

you are probably hitting the strings against the frets...it's very normal when playing speed metal type stuff. some guys like it to cut through a mix, but others like you don't like it as much. you can either raise the action or analyze how you are hitting the strings. you are probably stirking too hard or at an odd angle.

This is what your problem is. I do it all the time and kinda like the sound for agressive music. The way to get rid of the clanks is to pluck towards yourself and not towards the bass. Anytime I play I have to be very conscious about my plucking or else the clankyness comes back hopefully I will be able to play like that more consistantly but let me tell you is isnt easy.

[the_fonz]

Originally Posted by dusan

you'll need to learn how to mute strings with your thumb and ring and small finger also,six is a big noise maker,first go to four,thumb on E string,or between E and A,use ring to mute D and sometimes small for G,and work on,and when using "ride" rhythm fingering on right hand goes as, mid and index sixteen note and ring eight,thumb on E string.

oh god, i just had a seizure! i can see forever!

[playibanez]

how are you getting fret noise on your fretless bass?

but some tips to reduce fret buzz. press a little harder on the frets if your not already. try to change your technique so your not picking your fingers up so much. say your playing a bass line that goes 5-7-5. keep your index fretted on 5. also mute either using your thumb or by letting your fingers hit the next string up. also playing closer to the bridge will help alot.

hope that helps

[Ateam]

I get this a lot too. My solution was to cover the pole pieces on my pick ups with a piece of black electrical tape. It worked out. Playing softer would work just as well if not better. But I'm stubborn, and I wasn't really keen on changing the way I play.

[Poop-Loops]

My fretless has covered pickups, so I don't see how that would work, but I'll try it on my fretted which has the pole pieces sticking out.

[playibanez]

Originally Posted by Ateam

I get this a lot too. My solution was to cover the pole pieces on my pick ups with a piece of black electrical tape. It worked out. Playing softer would work just as well if not better. But I'm stubborn, and I wasn't really keen on changing the way I play.

not to put you down or anything. but this is really just masking a really big flaw in your technique : /