Fretting...is it really that effortless?

Goose72 · #1 12-30-2008, 10:38 AM

I have been watching some videos (particularly the Lakland video where the guy is showing off the new pickups in then 44-94) and watching some better bass players sit and groove, and even playing in 4 piece band situations. Their playing always looks so effortless, especially on the fretting hand, they can manuever all over the place with ease. How hard do I need to fret the thing? My thumb cramps up because I put so much pressure against my thumb from the back of the neck...I know I'm doing it wrong... can anybody give me some advice?

Thanks!

ehque · #2 12-30-2008, 10:41 AM

Fretting should be effortless if your bass is set up with a low action. Assuming your bass is quality enough to take a low action without buzzing out, a really light touch is all you need.

Learn the correct amount of pressure by fretting a note and playing it, then slowly taking pressure off while playing it repeatedly. You'll be surprised how lightly you need to press to prevent the strings from buzzing.

Honk'n_down-low · #3 12-30-2008, 10:50 AM

You only need to apply enough pressure to press the string against the fretboard behind the fret. Place your finger right behind the fret and press enough to make the note ring without buzz.

You should not have to apply much pressure to effectively fret the string. Relax - be loose and breath as it will help you stay relaxed.

It is good to warm up some before playing anything challenging - part of this is physical and part is a state of mind.

It looks effortless - when watching pro's play because they have spent the time necessary to play efficiently and practice practice practice always makes perfect - there are no shortcuts.

Be patient - if you are beginning - invest the time you will see progress - if you don't have an instructor - then find the best bass player in your area that offers instruction. One thing to note is not all good players are good teachers - so ask around and if you start taking and instruction from someone and it is not what you want - then try someone else.

Keep a journal of what you practice - and have a plan for what you are working on and working toward.

Ask lots of questions here - this place is full of knowledgeable players and teachers.

**RedsFan75** · #4 12-30-2008, 10:59 AM

In addition to what's been said previously....

I find that for me, it's not only the fretting that has to have a light touch, but my picking hand. What I find is that I dig too deep on the picking (plucking), and get too much string vibration, causing fret rattle if I'm not pressing the frets hard. I'm making a concerted effort to lighten up on both ends.

standupright · #5 12-30-2008, 11:21 AM

get your action checked

you don't need to make contact with the string to the fretboard.

bassteban · #6 12-30-2008, 11:28 AM

Having enough power/headroom helps me play lighter(assuming we're amplifying).

standupright · #7 12-30-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

Having enough power/headroom helps me play lighter(assuming we're amplifying).

i run the pickups hot and then adjust volume from the amp....allows for a much lighter touch.

bassteban · #8 12-30-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by standupright

i run the pickups hot and then adjust volume from the amp....allows for a much lighter touch.

Taking it a bit further, if you've ever had the volume up WAY too high & couldn't get it down right away(busy line/can't stop)and were forced to play VERY light, you figure out real quickly how to play lightly.

lambro · #9 12-30-2008, 11:57 AM

low action without buzzing is not a sign of quality, its a sign of low action without buzzing...

the element is relaxation, light touch is different than relaxation, you can have a light med heavy touch and still be relaxed, the mass of your fingers attack and touch will contribute your your tone

watch Federer hit his backhand, very relaxed, same with fretting, practice develops muscle memory, and confidence, this allows speed and articulation.

break your practice into subsets of function, build upon that

standupright · #10 12-30-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

Taking it a bit further, if you've ever had the volume up WAY too high & couldn't get it down right away(busy line/can't stop)and were forced to play VERY light, you figure out real quickly how to play lightly.

yep.....i adjust my volume when playing by how hard or light i play, a technique developed from me playing doublebass

dougjwray · #11 12-30-2008, 12:07 PM

Here's another thing: When I was 20, I took beginning lessons on the upright with the great Richard Davis. After a short while, the thumb on my fingering hand was really getting sore. I asked him about it, and he got a delighted look on his face and said, "That's good!" What he was pleased about was the fact that I wasn't palming the neck. He assured me that with practice, I'd develop strength and the pain would go away. (True.)
So, at least you seem to have proper technique!
But I do agree with everyone else, too, about getting a good setup and letting the amp do most of the work. Keep at it and enjoy yourself!

adube810 · #12 12-30-2008, 12:19 PM

good amplification really is key to playing with a light touch. ive been playing for about 6 years and like to think i have pretty good technique and im a college student, and in college all i have is my crappy 15w fender rumble amp, and i feel like i play like crap on it. but now im home, and play through my gk700rbii/210 and im like wow, im such a better player on this. i dont have to be constantly fighting with the amp to put out enough power or to get the tone and right bass response (<- one of the most important things)that i enjoy/feels right under my hands and fingers.

JustOpenYourMind · #13 12-30-2008, 12:55 PM

Try playing for ten years an then you'll be able to get a decent tone from almost anything and your playing will be effortless.

A good setup helps, but really, you give any pro or any experienced bass player a bass with a not so good setup (within acceptable limits of course) and he'll be able to cop a good tone and it'll seem, especially to a beginner, like his playing is effortless.

I played an all tube SVT for the last few years, thought it sounded great, and it did but lately it broke and it is off to repair. with my band, for rehearsal I'm using an old solid state fender 100w 15 inch combo, my first bigger amplifier. I used to think this amp sounded like crap and Back in the day I used to Eq the crap out of it to get a nice tone. Now I tried it flat, and my bandmates even commented on how surprisingly nice that little combo sounded. The amp did not get better, I did. I've been playing bass since I'm thirteen and I'm now 23, almost 24. I'm no pro but I'm miles away from when I began.

lemur821 · #14 12-30-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose72

My thumb cramps up because I put so much pressure against my thumb from the back of the neck...I know I'm doing it wrong... can anybody give me some advice?

Get that thumb off the neck. No matter how hard you need to fret, you need to not be doing it by squeezing with your thumb. In actual play it's better to keep the thumb on the neck for stability, but you should practice without it often to fix your fretting technique.

bburk · #15 12-30-2008, 05:51 PM

I found a good practice method to understand that you don't need to squeeze with your left hand is to spend a little time learning to play without letting your thumb on your left hand touch the neck at all.

Instead *lightly* pull with your arm to get the appropriate pressure to fret. Then with that in mind go back to using your thumb. But remember you really only use your thumb as a reference and as a pivot point, the real work is in the fingers and arm.

Goose72 · #16 12-30-2008, 09:52 PM

Ok this all makes sense! Thanks for the help!

I have a MIM Fender J bass and I really like the bass, and it fits my desired tone and image perfectly, atleast IMO. But I recorded a couple songs using my friend's Washburn 5 string (set up was amazing! I didn't know you could put strings that low!). It was great for the recording and soloing around, just grooving during breaks and such, but we had a "jam session" with a band (2 guitars, and drums) and I felt boring because I was afraid to get into it, because when I get into it, I fret harder and finger harder. Can you get a really good set-up on a J like that? I mean the strings were almost on the frets! I have never played anything like it, and there was no buzz whatsoever! I have a Gotoh bridge on it and the neck is very straight (atleast I consider it to be).

standupright · #17 12-30-2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose72

Ok this all makes sense! Thanks for the help!

I have a MIM Fender J bass and I really like the bass, and it fits my desired tone and image perfectly, atleast IMO. But I recorded a couple songs using my friend's Washburn 5 string (set up was amazing! I didn't know you could put strings that low!). It was great for the recording and soloing around, just grooving during breaks and such, but we had a "jam session" with a band (2 guitars, and drums) and I felt boring because I was afraid to get into it, because when I get into it, I fret harder and finger harder. Can you get a really good set-up on a J like that? I mean the strings were almost on the frets! I have never played anything like it, and there was no buzz whatsoever! I have a Gotoh bridge on it and the neck is very straight (atleast I consider it to be).

this...this is where you need to concentrate....it is way too easy to get your bass in a death grip when feeling then groove......enough of doing this over and over and it becomes a love affair with your bass AND the music.....you know when you are in the grip...in the groove.....the discipline of playing is being comfortable without wasting energy on your fretting or plucking/picking hand.....it's a bitter sweet relationship that once is harnessed and controlled, is loved forever.

Goose72 · #18 12-30-2008, 10:14 PM

So what you're telling me is that when one (say Flea or Tim Commerford) is playing a show live, in the thick of the song, feeling the groove, the band is really like earthshakingly loud, that they are fretting just as hard as the guy just sittin at home groovin, laying down some licks to impress his friends with his amp on only 4? If you can picture that...

standupright · #19 12-30-2008, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose72

So what you're telling me is that when one (say Flea or Tim Commerford) is playing a show live, in the thick of the song, feeling the groove, the band is really like earthshakingly loud, that they are fretting just as hard as the guy just sittin at home groovin, laying down some licks to impress his friends with his amp on only 4? If you can picture that...

no....that wouldn't even make sense

your original question was about how hard do you need to fret the instrument and groove in order for it to be effortless....

fretting is a constant change of feeling much like the plucking/picking hand is.....you play to the dynamic in the tune....most of what you are seeing on tv/dvd/video is showmanship to play up the emotion of what the musician is playing. can you grip =, bang and play the f!@#k out the bass when you are in the swim? absolutely....but that has little to do with your initial question......

emotion in music in a live setting can be much different from recorded lines

Goose72 · #20 12-30-2008, 10:30 PM

Ok, I guess what the last comment I made was supposed to mean this: should fretting bejust as effortless when in a band situation, playing loud rock music, for a bunch of teenagers?