I think I finger too hard?

[iplaybassguitar]

haha

[Clay_Bass]

Originally Posted by frstr8dmusician

I would think that higher action requires you to fret harder which in turn drives you to pluck harder...
Makes sense? Try this:
Close your fretting hand lightly and with your picking hand, alternate your fingers as you would playing your Bass.
Now gradually increase your grip in the fretting hand and you'll notice that some of the tension is getting also applied to your plucking hand --Unless you have fantastic independance-- ...Tough to be tense on one side of your body and relaxed on the other!
So I would lower the action, and increase the volume of my amp like it's been recommended. That's what you got that amp for anyways.
And playing light will improve your touch and dynamic range.

You just gave me a great idea for an excercise.

[nun lover]

i've been going through something similar - when playing in the band i have an urge to pluck very hard. i do have enough amplifier power to cut through. so because of this i've had to raise my action higher than i would like to avoid the "clacking" on the fretboard. i suppose i just need to train myself i play lighter and with more control.

[Nick Ioannucci]

trust me... you can never finer TOO hard

P.S.(if you learn to use a lighter touch you can develop dynamics that dont depend on a volume knob(OMG!!!!) )

[EADG mx]

You should lower your action, then if you play harder it will buzz and annoy you. Also, turn your amp up. Problem solved.


And yes, you can pluck too hard. It's called tendonitis.

[spindizzy]

You may want to consider a playing ramp. I know some slappers don't like them but you can pull off slapping with one in place if you practice. A ramp limits how deep you can dig (see Gary Willis' site for some examples of his fingering method) and I can see how it might help to teach yourself how to control how hard you dig.

I don't use a ramp myself, although occasionally out of admiration for Mr. Willis have thought about it, and I am able to dig fairly deep if I want to but have learned to control it since I lowered my action to the bare bones. An important technique you can pick up on Gary's site or through Todd Johnson is the muting methods Gary uses. These tend to force you to constantly be in contact with your strings and puts emphasis on a lighter more strategic touch. It is this economy of motion that tends to lead you to greater strength and yet still provides for a tight attack.

I have used this for many many years but Gary really has explained it in his teaching to a degree that it is hard not to understand. Willis and Johnson two great teachers well worth your checking out no matter what type of music you play.

[Sheep Man]

I find turning up the amp really helped me develop a lighter touch, since my grandmother or parents would complain if it got too loud.

Alternatively, turn it up and use headphones. Then you'll only hurt yourself and not those around you if you plauck too hard.

[labgnat]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

You should lower your action, then if you play harder it will buzz and annoy you. Also, turn your amp up. Problem solved.


And yes, you can pluck too hard. It's called tendonitis.

what do you mean he should lower his action? have her sit down? and what's all this about buzz?

[spindizzy]

labgnat is just tooo funny! If I lower my action she has a lot of trouble getting up afterwards...age it's a beautiful thing.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by labgnat

what do you mean he should lower his action? have her sit down? and what's all this about buzz?

If he wants to teach himself to pluck lighter he should lower the saddles on the bridge of his bass because if he plucks too hard with low action, the string will buzz.