How worried should I be about string noise?

[Psycho]

I've recently noticed while playing some bass lines, part of my palm on my fretting hand slides along the G string of my bass and makes enough noise for me to notice it.

It's honestly going to be near impossible to adjust my left hand's position, since I use it to help counter neck-dive and relieve my right hand of all effort in supporting the bass.

So, how worried should I be about this?

[guroove]

For live situations, it doesn't matter so much. For recording in the studio, you could record sitting down, so it might not be a problem. I would concentrate on fixing your technique now rather than trying to fix it after years of playing the same way, then going into the studio.

Some people are going to say just use flatwounds. That's what I do, but address the technique issue first.

[Foamy]

Can you move one or both of the strap lugs to help the balance?

[jaywa]

Studio - big deal.

Live - not a big deal.

The good news is that in the studio you have (or should have) a lot more extensive EQing tools at your disposal to notch most of the offending noise out. EQ won't fix all of it though... technique is important too.

[sunnycal]

I had a similar problem with my bass. When I showed my teacher he made one simple correction that took care of the problem. Play the strings with the right hand closer to the bridge and it just may take care of the problem.

[Skitch it!]

You can't alter your left hand arch due to supporting neck dive? Time to look for another bass my friend, if it really is that unbalanced the tendons in your left are going to pay for that angle sooner or later.

[Psycho]

Originally Posted by Foamy

Can you move one or both of the strap lugs to help the balance?

I don't think that's an option, it's a Warlock bass.

I played the troubling lines on my Thunderbird, and there's still the same issue.

The neck sits more or less diagonally across my hand, I use my thumb and palm to support it and the side effect seems to be that the top of my palm just before my fingers sometimes slides right along the string and makes noise.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

You can't alter your left hand arch due to supporting neck dive? Time to look for another bass my friend, if it really is that unbalanced the tendons in your left are going to pay for that angle sooner or later.

I agree with this.

OP, apart from impairing your playing, supporting the neck like you do, is going to possibly cause physical problems further down the line.

If you cant afford another bass right now, perhaps you should check out a new bass strap. There are straps that have compartments where you put weights, to counter act that of the neck. Also, a strap with a saude backing will give some grip.

What ever you do, try to remedy the problem ASAP.

[Psycho]

Originally Posted by fearceol

I agree with this.

OP, apart from impairing your playing, supporting the neck like you do, is going to possibly cause physical problems further down the line.

If you cant afford another bass right now, perhaps you should check out a new bass strap. There are straps that have compartments where you put weights, to counter act that of the neck. Also, a strap with a saude backing will give some grip.

What ever you do, try to remedy the problem ASAP.

I've never had any real issues or pains from playing like this, i've been doing so for around 2 years with this posture and positioning, though I understand the problems may arise later as they often can.

I also angle the neck to access the lower frets easier, the bass I primarily play is a 35" scale 5 string. Would one of those weighted straps help tilt it up slightly, to where i'm comfortable playing?

And thanks for the fast responses guys, I appreciate it.

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Psycho

I've never had any real issues or pains from playing like this, i've been doing so for around 2 years with this posture and positioning, though I understand the problems may arise later as they often can.

I also angle the neck to access the lower frets easier, the bass I primarily play is a 35" scale 5 string. Would one of those weighted straps help tilt it up slightly, to where i'm comfortable playing?

And thanks for the fast responses guys, I appreciate it.

Yes, sometimes it can take awhile before physical problems become apparent. I have never used those weighted straps, but I think you have nothing to lose by doing some research on them.

[Psycho]

If it makes any difference, i'm using Ernie Ball strings. I've noticed they make a bit more noise than others, could this be exacerbating my problem???

[Skitch it!]

I noticed you posted up a video for critique a few months back, if you'd like me to give you my opinion on the technique and why you are getting the extra string noise there, I will do if you like.

[Psycho]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

I noticed you posted up a video for critique a few months back, if you'd like me to give you my opinion on the technique and why you are getting the extra string noise there, I will do if you like.

Please do, i'd like to fix this now rather than later.

[Skitch it!]

O.K.

0.00 - 0.21 Sequence with the 5th's: Thumb way too far over the neck plus using the Index and and Ring for that 5th's movement is a lot of forced grip. Having the thumb overhang above takes the extended length of your fingers away from the front of the board, making it v.difficult to form a clearance arch. Too much skin in contact with the strings, too much grip for dexterity, not enough of an arch available to clear the strings below.

Try it using the Index and Pinky with your left hand thumb on the center line or just below on the back of the neck. This will allow your fingers to extend and form an arch clearing contact with the G string etc. It will not take a lot of pressure to fret that sequence, fret straight down on the tips and avoid the grip.

The run down at 0.42, the thumb position makes that hard work by the looks, the left hand angle and the fact you are fretting on the pads rather than the tips (because the arch can't be formed due to thumb position).The grip aspect means using a lot of contact and pressure, much more than required.

First off I would get that thumb position corrected allowing you to form a proper arch for clearance. Avoid the grip, use less pressure to fret on the tips. Try using the Index and Pinky for the 5th's and keep the other fingers arched above the board/strings in position so if they are not fretting, they are muting. Keep the recovery distance down basically, more fluidity, less work. That should do for now.

If the neck dive is forcing you to adapt to it like that, you have to do something about it. It's not only greatly compromising the technique/fluidity/economy and speed, the grip is no good for those tendons, I'd do something about it sooner rather than later if it is that affecting.

[Psycho]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

O.K.

0.00 - 0.21 Sequence with the 5th's: Thumb way too far over the neck plus using the Index and and Ring for that 5th's movement is a lot of forced grip. Having the thumb overhang above takes the extended length of your fingers away from the front of the board, making it v.difficult to form a clearance arch. Too much skin in contact with the strings, too much grip for dexterity, not enough of an arch available to clear the strings below.

Try it using the Index and Pinky with your left hand thumb on the center line or just below on the back of the neck. This will allow your fingers to extend and form an arch clearing contact with the G string etc. It will not take a lot of pressure to fret that sequence, fret straight down on the tips and avoid the grip.

The run down at 0.42, the thumb position makes that hard work by the looks, the left hand angle and the fact you are fretting on the pads rather than the tips (because the arch can't be formed due to thumb position).The grip aspect means using a lot of contact and pressure, much more than required.

First off I would get that thumb position corrected allowing you to form a proper arch for clearance. Avoid the grip, use less pressure to fret on the tips. Try using the Index and Pinky for the 5th's and keep the other fingers arched above the board/strings in position so if they are not fretting, they are muting. Keep the recovery distance down basically, more fluidity, less work. That should do for now.

If the neck dive is forcing you to adapt to it like that, you have to do something about it. It's not only greatly compromising the technique/fluidity/economy and speed, the grip is no good for those tendons, I'd do something about it sooner rather than later if it is that affecting.

Having the thumb in the middle of the neck makes for an uncomfortable angle in my wrist, it's almost at a 90 degree bend. Fretting is also harder in this position.

[Skitch it!]

Should be more like 45 degrees+/-, you want pretty much the tip of the thumb along the center line, not the flat (though in some positions you will flatten the thumb somewhat), using the flat (or pad) will increase that angle, extend the thumb and use more of the tip.

It's basically using the thumb as a pivot, I usually place it slightly below the center line to get the full extension of the fingers over the board unless I'm using the left to mute a lot. Taking the left arm out and away from the neck should straighten things out. The idea is to use the thumb as slight opposing pressure to the fretting fingers so the pressure is directed straight down to the frets with minimal pressure, not a grip of any kind.

A little Willis tip on finger pressure:

Gary Willis On Finger Pressure - YouTube

[john grey]

I was taught the same as Sketch IT! Thumb pivots; it allows a "walk" of the hand. This can be self taught very well by a text called Linear Bass Patterns by Fowler. In the text linear scales, etc are used as a means to achieve what you want without a "slide".

Fret-less is a whole other ball games as quality flats can achieve a wonderful sound via sliding. In fact if you've worked with a very low action and have a light touch with flats you could get by with a fetted instrument w/ a relatively flat radius neck.
Lubricants on round wound strings can work for some however the more material that is lodged in between the coils the less bright the strings will sound after a short time. Many people enjoy that sound and don't change R/W strings because they will often sound brighter even after a long time than many flats. If you have the money to experiment with strings you may find a half way solution to the issue on a fretted instrument via sliding. but I personally use a thumb-pivot method, as I got very used to it & it has some advantages with a few things (such as mixing Slap with fingers).

[Psycho]

I'm having some better luck with control of the string noise, and getting re-adjusted to the fretting position of my hand changing, but my wrist is still getting an ache in it from playing like this, even sitting.

I think a weighted strap or new bass is in my near future.