Learning to play staccato notes

[black_devil]

I've been lurking around this forum for a while and i want to start of by saying thanks to everyone here. I've been learning to play the bass for a couple of weeks and this forum has been a great resource.

The progession of my learning has kind of got stuck on learning to play staccato notes, i just can't seem to find a good technique for muting the strings fast enough.

I'm looking for a good teacher in my area, but i wonder if any of you have any tips on good techniques or exercises for staccato notes i could practice.

[JLW]

There's a few ways

#1, release the fretted note with your left hand. after it has finished ringing for a short time.

#2 With your right hand, as you're plucking, push the other finger against the string. For example, You start plucking with your index finger, let the note ring for a short time, and then mute it with your middle finger.


My teacher always accuses me of playing too staccato. It's useful for most funk songs but sometimes legato is the way to go. (that rhymes)

Sorry if the second one was badly explained.

[black_devil]

Originally Posted by JLW

#2 With your right hand, as you're plucking, push the other finger against the string. For example, You start plucking with your index finger, let the note ring for a short time, and then mute it with your middle finger.

I have been practicing this technique but i can't get it to work for me when i want really short notes. Is it my hands that are'nt fast enough or do i need to combine this with other forms of muting to get short notes ?

[trasser]

Try to do the #1 like this: play a note, mute, play a ghost note with the other finger on the same (now muted) string (if you are using 2 finger-technique) then play a note again and so forth.
Oh, and as in any technique, start out slow, with a metronome

[uturnbass]

Sometimes muting requires teamwork of both the picking, and fretting hand.
I guess an explanation of how I play stacatto is as soon as I fret
the note and play it I release it and keep my my finger hovering on the string making sure all sound is cut out. (Done fast, lol. The explanation sounds "slow" I guess.)

In combination with that, sometimes I mute the note with my fretting hand i.e. I struck a note with my index, and my middle will come forward to help mute the note, or play a dead note.

Basically what the others said =/ Just realized that, lol.
Well if you tried this and it didn't work, try working on it some more and just practice, it won't come to you all of a sudden.

[black_devil]

Thanks for the tips! ...i'll keep practicing with my metronome i guess