Note Clarity

funkmangriff · #1 12-07-2008, 07:28 AM

Does anyone have any tips or advice on how to get your notes to ring out and be really clear.

i meen anything from: differant basses, amps, techniques, pickups, EQ, ANYTHING!

I'm just trying to find a way of getting my notes really defined.

Thanks

slybass3000 · #2 12-07-2008, 08:01 AM

I think it has to do with your attack and the synchronisation of your two hands. If one is too slow or too fast then the other you will have a blurry sound.

Sly

ysand · #3 12-07-2008, 08:04 AM

Yep. It's 99% a technique thing

funkmangriff · #4 12-07-2008, 08:32 AM

yeah i agree its technique.

but im still getting a muddy sound. im using a warwick $$ through an Ashdown Mag300 Head and a Hartke 4X10. i leave everything flat on the amp, is there anything i can do to that that'll help coz ive been playing to metronomes for years to get my technique and timing solid.

Steve · #5 12-07-2008, 08:42 AM

Pay attention to your right hand technique. Particulary, and this is tough to explain, how much tension you have in the first joint (closest to the string) of your fingers.

While I wouldn't say one way is right or wrong, I have noticed that changing the amount of flex in the finger tip joint has a fairly significant effect on the attack envelope of the note.

Jake of Bass · #6 12-07-2008, 10:23 AM

Put a little bit more mids in, they tend to cut through the mix in a band. And some highs as well, they add a bit of clarity. New strings help a LOT, too. Valve amps tend to be good too, or a valve emulator like a SansAmp BDDI (I've got one, it rocks!). This is all taking into account your technique being solid.

therex · #7 12-07-2008, 10:34 AM

is more about technique but some things that could muddy your tone are:
old death strings
mahogany bass
backline GKs
mid scoop in the EQ
wrong pups

but just to be clear i dont mean that if you have a mahogany bass or death strings you will sound muddy, is just that fresh strings and ash body have a bit more articulation

ysand · #8 12-07-2008, 10:40 AM

Try boosting your mids a bit, leave your highs flat, and scoop the bass a bit.
On your bass, emphasize on the bridge pickup (meaning let it be louder than the neck pup or even alone) and leave the EQ flat. That should help i think.

Dogbertday · #9 12-07-2008, 10:50 AM

as far as left hand goes... don't collapse your fingers. I know some people have the oppinion that once the string's down it's down but I disagree. don't collapse your knuckles and fret the not right behind the fret..

also maybe try moving your right hand toward the bridge

and raise your action a hair so you can attack more

TFunkadelic · #10 12-07-2008, 11:42 AM

Technique, first and foremost....

But a simple thing you can do to help un-muddy your tone (if you haven't done so already), is to pull your cab away from any walls its near, especially if it's sitting in a corner. Walls boost bass frequencies much more than mids and treble, so it's easy to end up with a sloppy, overly bassy tone even with everything set to flat. I try to shoot for around 3 feet minimum from the nearest wall if the space allows it.

Dogbertday · #11 12-07-2008, 11:47 AM

+1 on getting you speakers away from walls... also getting it off the ground helps too.. as close to ear level as possible

slybass3000 · #12 12-07-2008, 11:58 AM

Also be careful on YOUR right-hand where you attack, it might be too close to the neck.

OUPS somebody just said the same thing above . +1

Sly

bigblondeafro87 · #13 12-07-2008, 01:45 PM

Boost 200-400 hz range to really add some growl and punch, if the room allows it.

The ANGLE of attack of the right hand is very important for good tone. Just this week I discovered why my tone was always a little muddy, the angle of my plucking fingers was too shallow. Playing with a 90 degree or so attack gives a lot of mids, and a tone with a lot of character and fullness.

Of course, calouses can be just as important. With no calouses, your attack will be soft and dull all the time. If you practice a lot and build up those calouses to be tough as nails, you will be able to choose whether you want a soft attack or hard attack by how you pluck the string.

Practice straight eigth notes on one note at a comfortable tempo and start messing around with how many variations of tone you can get with just that one note

bggeezer · #14 12-07-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkmangriff

yeah i agree its technique.

but im still getting a muddy sound. im using a warwick $$ through an Ashdown Mag300 Head and a Hartke 4X10. i leave everything flat on the amp, is there anything i can do to that that'll help coz ive been playing to metronomes for years to get my technique and timing solid.

Dont do THAT for starters. try playing nearer to bridge, or use a pick thing for faster pieces (not cause its cheating...yawn... but because youll cut through better)

Jake of Bass · #15 12-09-2008, 04:38 PM

You could also try playing with a pick. As a general rule (but there are always exceptions) you'll get more attack than with your fingers.

Fergie Fulton · #16 12-13-2008, 02:42 AM

The resonance response of your instrument and how to control it and the influence of your technique will all affect the tone you seek, "clear notes that ring out". To understand the resonance tone of your instrument you cannot use an amplifier, you have to find another object that has resonante capabilities like a wood door or a piece of wooden furniture. Put the headstock of the bass against lets say a door because most people have them in their house and play a few notes. Listen to the quality of the notes with the bass against the door and away from the door. What you are hearing regardless of the resonante qualities of different woods and doors, strings, hardware etc is the true extent of your technique as far as producing clear precise notes notes is concerned on THAT BASS. Once you have experimented with different positions on the door and found the best place for yourself to practice in this situation, try different places and techniques on the bass, now as listen to how the bass resonates. it will soon become clear to you how all this resonance can be controled through technique not amp EQ.

Because you are looking to control the tone your looking for in this way, the amplifer is not a factor so its influence at this stage is not important. As you experiment with playing this way you will learn and understand what is involved to create a note free of overtones and buzz, in other words a clear note. What you are trying to do is determine how your bass resonates and to use its potential rather than fight it. Its not beyond the relms of possibility that you have a bad bass and the problem is not with you. Check out the blogs on www.myspace.com/vintageprecisionbass for some more info.