Help with fret clack, (Recording inside!)

WashburnBasser · #1 10-30-2007, 03:09 PM

Hey, I've been playing bass for maybe 2 1/2 years, and I feel I'm decent for playing that long. However, I have developed clacking sound when I play, and I think it is the strings hitting the frets. I have what I would consider a medium action, and play fingerstyle with a medium level of force. However, I always get these clack. I've tried playing closer to the bridge, but it really doesn't help.

Here is a recording of me messing around playing scales, and then just playing random stuff so you get the idea.

audio clip

anomalybass · #2 10-30-2007, 03:22 PM

that didnt sound too bad to me. if you are playing/recording with a band..most of your fret noise will get drowned out anyway. if you have already tried changing tech and eq...i would try thicker strings. it might eliminate unwanted string flop whithout making you change your style. the tension will be hard to get used to at first though. -joe p

WashburnBasser · #3 10-30-2007, 03:26 PM

Actually, you're right, I don't notice it at all in a band setting, only when recording. Thanks for the help, I was starting to get paranoid!

dls59 · #4 11-03-2007, 01:59 PM

When you fingerpick, pick the string with a motion that is more parallel to the body of the bass, and not so much toward the body. Takes a bit of getting used to, changing muscle memory, but you'll notice a difference.

zfate · #5 11-03-2007, 02:27 PM

Depending if its your nails hitting the strings, and it sounds like you have semi-light strings, or the way you are fingering, making it more of a pluck then a downward motion.
Try using your right hand differently, fingering with more of the meaty side of your fingers or something.

WashburnBasser · #6 11-03-2007, 03:13 PM

Thanks for the help, I've been trying to pluck more parallel now, and it seems to be helping!

WashburnBasser · #7 11-03-2007, 07:42 PM

I'm still getting a fair amount of clicking, and the only way to get it too diminish is to play with a light touch. I'm currently using DR Hi-Beams (45 - 105). Raising my action didn't seem to help. Sound I try strings with more tension next time I buy strings?

capnsandwich · #8 11-03-2007, 07:53 PM

You may try to roll back on the treble a little bit. Also, using nickel strings will help since stainless steel rounds are very clacky. Playing up closer to the bridge helps too. Have you ever tried out flat wounds? I guarantee the clack will go away with flats. Another long term effect is to learn to play through the string instead of just striking it with your fingers. Many times young players, especially untrained newbies, will kind of jab at the string with their fingers instead of hitting it smoothly with the pads of your fingers. What that does is cause the string to bounce off of the fretboard instead of vibrating sideways so it avoids any contact with the frets. It's a technique that may take a little time to develope but in the long run it will be very beneficial, especially on recordings.

WashburnBasser · #9 11-03-2007, 09:03 PM

Hmmm, from what you described I'm pretty sure I'm hitting the strings correctly. I would really like to try flats, but I have only one good bass I like (a washburn force 4) and I'm in a hard rock band. If there are any flats that will work ok for rock that would be great.
Otherwise I'm switching to nickels next time I change strings. Playing closer to the bridge does help a bit, but the tone changes too much for my taste. I haven't tried EQing it out yet, but my gut feeling is that I won't be able to get rid of it completely.

capnsandwich · #10 11-03-2007, 09:08 PM

The reason why playing closer to the bridge helps is because the string tension is a bit tighter there. You lose some of the flop which allows the string to hit the frets. Maybe what may help you is a higher tension string. Maybe try a heavier guage or try hexcore strings as opposed to round core. I've been where you are and all these things I've described have helped me out tremendously.

WashburnBasser · #11 11-03-2007, 09:16 PM

I'm just going to stick to the DR's for now, and experiment with getting that click out. Playing a bit closer to the bridge, EQing, and watching my fingers and fixing my technique combined should help me. At least the clicks don't cut through when I'm playing with my band, only when I play by myself. I really want to try flats though, I really like the feel, and love the smooth tone. I'm just worried they won't cut it in a rock band.

bullshark · #12 11-03-2007, 09:50 PM

In my case the clacking was cause by hitting the strings instead of plucking them. What solved it for me was to keep my right hand fingers as close to the strings as possible, without muting them, at all time. Two thing this does: a) I doubled my plucking speed overnight (there is something to say about economy of motion) and b) the annoying clacking stopped. I also can play longer and tighter like this. It did demand a change of technique so I had to practise this for a while, and still do.

A lot of beginners, like me, tend to hit the strings hard when we want to play harder; that isn't the way to go, you want to dig deeper with your fingers as in getting more finger meat under the strings but not punch the strings.

WashburnBasser · #13 11-03-2007, 10:02 PM

Ok, I've been sitting here in front of the computer with my bass for about an hour trying all this different stuff, and here's what I got so far.

- With my "Normal" playing style, I hit the strings at about a 45 degree angle to the bass.

- Playing with a much softer touch helps, but does not eliminate the problem.

- Shortening my finger stroke helps VERY little.

- If I pluck at a parallel angle to the bass, it helps a bit, but I still get clacking

- Plucking under the string helps, but does not eliminate the problem.

- My action is medium

- Picking, once again, ONLY HELPS A BIT!!!!!

- I'm getting pissed off.

As off right now it seems I'm going to...

A. Accept this as part of my technique, and deal with it. Also try to pluck at closer to 90 degrees.

B. Try higher tension strings next time I buy strings

C. Try flats (even though I play rock)

I'm leaning towards A right now, as it only bothers me when I play by myself.

bullshark · #14 11-03-2007, 10:25 PM

D. Take a few private lessons.

This problem is due to wrong plucking technique (unless your bass suffer from a very poor setup but it doesn't seem to be the case here), I'm living proof of that, but is almost impossible to solve long distance as nobody can see what you're doing wrong.

Oh, try this exercise maybe? Good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYIu3KTn7QE

Very bad technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD_v1tq_YpA

WashburnBasser · #15 11-03-2007, 10:32 PM

I take private lessons, I'm going to see if my teacher can help me with this next lesson. This problem has become more prominent since I switched to DR's. I don't think my technique is that bad, but it probably could use a touch up.

capnsandwich · #16 11-04-2007, 04:56 AM

Yeah, DR High Beams are stainless steel. I know they're great sounding strings and they have a great feel to them. I used to use them, (until I was introduced to Sadowsky strings

, but that's a whole different thread). They're great for slap and rock because of their brightness but I think that's one of the things that's causing your frustration right now. Stainless steel is bright, especially against SS frets or even brass frets.

The best thing for you is to experiment with some of these options. The worst thing that can happen is that you switch your strings back.

WashburnBasser · #17 11-04-2007, 08:18 AM

I think I'm going to try Fender nickels, I remember liking the fender steel wound nickels before, so I think I'll like these nickels. I'm still going to try to fix up my right hand technique a bit. Right now playing a bit closer to 90 degrees and playing in between the pickups as opposed to over the neck one seems to be helping.

uethanian · #18 11-04-2007, 02:24 PM

well what about left hand technique? sounded to me like you might be tapping the strings into the frets with your fretting hand.

WashburnBasser · #19 11-04-2007, 02:27 PM

Well, that could be contributing slighty, but when I fret a note and just strum moderately hard, thats when it really clacks. I think I have an old pair of nickel plated steel roundwounds laying around I'm going to try...

SirCanealot · #20 11-04-2007, 08:21 PM

It's mostly the angle of attack as people have suggested.

I can't remember who it was, but I once watched a training video (I think it was Dave LaRue) who convinced me to change two things about my technique:
1. Don't dig it -- let the amp do the work and EQ around a light touch. Learn how to make a note sound with as little force as possible (saying that, I still dig in too much :P)
2. Make sure your wrist isn't resting on the top of the bass when you play. If you have your wrist at the proper angle, your fingers will be angled better to play with them racking across the strings instead of pressing them down into the neck.

I still clack quite a lot (I happen to like string noise anyway :P), but I've really got it down a lot recently.

Does this make sense? If not, I could try and find the video on youtube again, or maybe record a movie on my webcam showing the point... Especially changing my right arm technique so the wrist doesn't rest on the top of the bass helped with SO MANY aspects of my technique...