Playing the bass... sorta violently...

[progbassftw]

Hey to you all, I'm actually a newcomer here, and sure that you'll hate me but anyway (kidding)! Its nice to see a growing bass community with all these guitar wannabes out there

Well, to our subject! I love bass, and prog music so that's where my nick comes from... Actually playing progressive music on bass requires some skill, and really practicing for that shows quick results. So I don't have any problems with all these advanced techniques or so. Never had some really serious issues on those by the way (surely after practicing a bit). Most of them are a habit on my everyday playing, and on all basslines I write.

The problem is on some very very very newcomer finger picking stuff. I pick with my 3 fingers. But I pick too hard, and to tell the truth I enjoy picking hard... Also I like to pick near the fretboard some times, close to the slap area... That 2 little bad habits create as you can imagine awful noises, which I hate, and that's just annoying, as after playing a difficult slap/tap solo without messing up at all, when you for example keeping the groove afterwards is noisy... (Well actually that mostly happens when I play fast... On slow grooves etc there's no problem)...

So, is there any magical solution on this issue? Maybe a good noise reductor? Or something tested that actually works? Cause it feels bad after you accomplish something difficult on these instrument, messing up with simple things But I just don't want to get rid of these habits, its my personal style of playing... So the thing is mostly on pedals, or some tricks or something anyway (just not changing the style of playing!) ! Thanks in advance, and sorry for the size of the post Hope I settle in this community, it feels great!

[meev992]

because it's 12:30 in the morning and my brain hurts, if I'm incoherent I apoligize

BUMP

in any case, I understand the love for fierce picking, but perhaps you really should adjust your technique.

I'm tired

[progbassftw]

First of all thank you for your answer... But the thing you said is just something I figured out (of course lol) but I try to avoid I can play without being fierce with some try, but the point is how can I play fiery without all these noise. Cause the point of the subject ain't that I can't play calm and nice. I can. But I just enjoy being a 'lil' violent a lot sometimes Anyway, get some sleep! And thank you again...

[El-Bob]

i use 3 fingers and tend to pick pretty hard too. i also like progressive metal. i think you may find that picking hard closer to the bridge will help to keep your aggressive style while cleaning up your sound and maybe even giving you a better tone. there's also this thread which might help you: Demystifying Metal styles, how to make fingerstyle playing heard in Metal

[cowsgomoo]

join a band and get gigging regularly...

smashing up your hands by playing too hard for 2 hours at a gig is a great way to force yourself to relax and try to play less aggressively

it's a serious issue, because when you're putting everything you've got into playing aggressive music, it's natural to play harder.. the adrenaline's going, and you're going 'GRRRRRR' etc... so it's tempting to start hitting and thrashing your bass... the trouble is, there's a point where the instrument sounds worse and worse... AND if you have any compression on your sound, it may well not be any louder to the audience.. but it's counter-intuitive to NOT start playing harder... so, I can empathize

I tend to play too hard when I can't hear myself well, which to be fair, is not so much of an issue nowadays since i've trained the rest of the band (like the proverbial frog in a pan of slowly boiling water) to accept a huge amount of bass on stage and in the PA mix.. but if I can't hear myself, I start playing harder.. even though I know it's getting gradually less musical and controlled, AND my compressor is negating any volume increases

insane, but then, we're human beings and that's the kind of thing we do... not all of us are perfect even though to read talkbass you'd think the musical genius to noob ratio was 10:1

[3toes]

Hey it works for Mike Watt. He calls it bass rasslin'

[progbassftw]

Actually I'm in a band, and I'm on gigging regularly... Actually as I mentioned I actually can play without hitting the strings like a maniac... I just enjoy it that's all...

[jollygiantchris]

Read the demystifying death metal techniques thread just like El-Bob said it should answer your question

Demystifying Metal styles, how to make fingerstyle playing heard in Metal

[progbassftw]

Yea, I have already done, and they really helped... So, I suppose the issue has been answered so thanks to everyone replied!

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by progbassftw

Yea, I have already done, and they really helped... So, I suppose the issue has been answered so thanks to everyone replied!

not a problem

[chaosMK]

Maybe a compressor or tube amp (tube saturation creates a warming type of compressoin) might help.

I've generally played super aggressively. Using a 35" scale bass with stiff strings (DR Lo-Riders) has scaled back my fierce playing.

[Deacon_Blues]

If you like to and want to play hard, perhaps raising the action could help a little. Stiffer/higher gauge strings like chaosMK uses would probably help a bit too.

[progbassftw]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

If you like to and want to play hard, perhaps raising the action could help a little. Stiffer/higher gauge strings like chaosMK uses would probably help a bit too.

I'll try that thanks! Also as you mentioned, a compressor makes good work

[complexprocess]

If you like slapping and tapping, higher action or changing your tone might not be an ideal way to get rid of the noise. Try adjusting your plucking technique to pluck the string up toward your head (parallel to the bass) instead of toward your body (perpendicular to the bass.) I hope that makes sense.

To try to explain it differently, it sounds like you're pushing the strings down into the frets right now, which is why you're getting the clicking noise that I suspect you're hearing. To test, keep your thumb where it is but roll the rest of your hand forward a little. You should notice that you'll tend to pluck the strings up toward your head a little more, and you won't get that clicking sound. I think both techniques are fine; some people prefer the sound of one over the other, and some people switch between the two.

[ibanezshredder]

U just gotta learn how to relax when u play. just play softer and let the amp do the work.

[cheapbasslovin]

Take the rage from your fingers and put it into the headbanging.