playing a note

[SunneyBoy]

now this feels like the most silly question , but really what is the correct way to play a note?

i have been playing for a few years and know that you play with different approaches for diferent situations , but having said that i wanna know how you approach it (picking hand only) to achieve the most consistent sound and to achieve the most tonally rich single note you can! whether in an 8th note passage or whole notes. lets consintate on the all powerfull Note or tone if prefer!

do you use a
hard attack/light attack (how light)

the tips of your fingers

the pad of your fingers

do you brush across the strings

do attack with a hammer type actions

do you push at the string

How do those Awesome dudes get that great TONE AGGGGHHHH!!!!!

[TyronPotamkin]

All of these "great" players and there "great" tone is usually and almost always accomplished by what they "feel" is right for the setting of the song. Not saying some of these players dont have questions pertaining to this thread and your question cuz anyone who is learning(beginner or vet) will always have questions on how to improve their sound with certain techniques.

Any two bassist from about any genre can accomplish the same sound and tone but they may do it completely different from each other. You take any experienced bass player and have him/her play and wooten, sheehan, entwhistle(sp), miller, clarke song and they may sound the same but if you put the two of them beside each other the style will be different but the sound will be the same.

With that being said I know of 3 different way to make a soft subtle note: 1. simply depress the string on to a fret, depending on how hard you press in to it will determine how loud the note will be. 2. lay the pad of your finger on the string and slide your finger off parallel to the string. 3. pinch the string between your thumb and first finger and pull up on it and let the string tension pull the string out of your fingers. the harder you squeeze it the higher the string will be when it comes out of your fingers.

[Lalabadie]

It comes mostly from experience. Play different kinds of songs, and try to find a way that sounds right. If you're playing along with a smooth Jack Johnson track, you will probably feel better "brushing" the strings closer to the neck, while a groovy/funky line usually sounds better closer to the bridge, as the sound is a little harsher, with more attack and a nosier timbre.

But there is nothing that can be written as the "true" way of playing.