How to minimize "clicking". Does anybody have any input?

[sbjohnson]

Check this out. I've been playing for a long time... about fifteen years. And I think I'm pretty good. I've been paid to record and been paid to play live so obviously someone wants to hear me play. However, I am disgusted with my own style. I always get pops and clicks when I try to play smooth. I can cover it up with a high end compressor and by turning the tone down. But then my tone sounds like cardboard. What can I do? Anybody?

[JimmyM]

Lighten up a little and play closer to the bridge.

[jwl]

it could be your set up. higher action means less clicking more tone/not so easy to play.

[duff84]

+1 on the playing near bridge, also try slightly angling your right hand to the left. it seems to help me play more even and resulting in better tone.

[phat daddy]

If you have a horn in your cab, turn the attenuator for it down till the clicking stops. Also experiment with your highs and mids on your bass and amp. Beyond gear problems, the advice these gentlemen have already given you is spot on-- you might need to alter your technique. Definately play closer to the bridge, try over the bridge pickup, with a softer attack-- you'll find this gives you a much larger dynamic scope to choose from as you can swell upward in volume as well as down. I personally spend most of my shed and band time working on dynamics these days rather than the old chops thing. Remember that the bass is the most broadly dynamic instrument in the band in terms of how loud and soft you can go with just your fingers if you practice it.

[tbone409]

A) try to integrate the clicking into your sound, rhythmic or even syncopated clicks can add a lot to a piece
B) raise your action and play closer to the bridge
C) get a fretless!!! really adds to a slow melodic piece, and no fret fret noise!

[wiro]

Originally Posted by phat daddy

... with a softer attack-- you'll find this gives you a much larger dynamic scope to choose from as you can swell upward in volume as well as down. ...

If done right I guess this could solve the clicks.
About the pops: Be carefull not to touch the next string! So if your playing on the D string, don't let you finger touch the A string for this would ruïn your sound. You just need to watch the movement of your speaker to see what I'm talking about.

Since I play boutique basses I found out that every bass has it's own dynamic range which it 'allows' or not. Most cheaper basses are just dead shelves to my experience and cannot be waken up.
So if you got a good quality instrument, the first thing to figure out is how hard to plug (is this the proper term in english?) the strings to make the bass 'sing'. It's kinda response you get from the instrument when you touch it the right way. Playing closer to the bridge allows you to use relatively more force.
The better the instrument, the less force it needs to respond.

If within this range there are clicks, then the action must be set higher or the neck needs to be re-adjusted.

[anomalybass]

try thicker strings. go 1 size up from what you use now and see if that helps. i had the same problem until i switched to thicker strings. that way you dont have to change your settings or playing style. if the strings are thicker they will be less likely to rattle around where they shouldnt be. -joe p

[morf]

Try hard to develop a softer touch. It'll probably be hard after 15 yrs of playing, but its definitely the best way to grow.

[lowphatbass]

Seems like from you're profile you're experience tends to lean more toward "aggressive" sounding bass work. Are you doing different stuff musically these days? If this is the case(a total ASSuption BTW!)more specific information may yield more specific answers. I would say that everything posted so far could be completely valid. Either way it never hurts to check out what the cat's are doing who's tone you want to emulate.

[rummy]

Try softer touch. If that doesn't do it, raise action.

[slapagroov]

I definitely think the lighter touch/higher action is an answer. Also, watch your left hand. Are you barring or fretting the string above the one you're playing? For example, if you're playing a note on the A string, are you fretting the same fret on the E? This can cause clicking.

[anomalybass]

maybe try more fret hand muting when you are playing soft. make sure everything is muted except the string(s) you need. -joe p

[pbass2]

My motto--especially for recording---is: use the heaviest strings and the highest action you can get away with. You'll get a cleaner sound, obviously less string buzz(shouldn't be ANY string buzz or other unwanted racket at a pro session anyway), and a fuller better tone from the bass. But like others have inquired, it depends on the music, the bass, your attack, etc.--all these things contribute. For ex., a bass that's set up for tapping is gonna sound like shite if you need to do a fat and round old school sound and vibe. Sure you can EQ the bejeezus out of it and play back by the bridge where it's tighter, but what if that's not the right tone for the music? You're backed into a corner in that situation.
(and you should NEVER be using a compressor/eq to try and "mask" something about your technique---that's a recipe for some unpleasant scenarios when you have to play out of that comfort zone.)

Anyhow, in a nutshell it sounds like a combo of a poor set-up(at least on the bass in question), and your touch needs to be finessed. . .

[Interceptor]

May I suggest my demanding friend, the metronome?

Clicking for me was a timing issue, it turned out my left hand was leading the right. I ran scales real slow with a metronome for a couple of weeks for the first 15 - 20 minutes of practice.

Wood shedding with the metronome worked!

[spectorbass83]

I'm confused about one thing -

Raising action to reduce clicking..

Wouldn't this increase clicking when you're fretting since there is more space between the string and fretboard?

[RayO5421]

Not sure what you mean by "clicking". I remember when I first started playing I played figerstyle and almost got something like a slap noise because I would go so far away from the string and shoot back down resulting in something like a click. Now, I use a lighter attack with my fingers and I can't seem to make the noise if I wanted to.

I'd say my action is set somewhere between low and high and I like it a lot. If your action is set low, try raising it a few turns; it may help. I notice when I do try and go for a low action I can be really melodic and sweet sounding but playing rock is difficult because I naturally want to play the strings hard; where it is now seems to be a good enough distance away from the fretboard that I can pound on it for a good rock set yet still low enough to play "nice".

[joelb79]

Raise you action at the bridge ever so slightly, and play near the bridge. Flats work too.

[Eric Perry]

What you need is a can of Fieldy-Be-Gone, available at most music stores.

Good luck!

[anomalybass]

ha!!