Roundwounds = Lots of String Noise

[::::BASSIST::::]

I have been playing flats ever since I learned bass about 3 years ago. Once in awhile I try rounds just for the heck of it, but everytime I do I get an intolerable amount of string noise.

How can I adjust my playing to correct this?

[cowsgomoo]

can it be heard when you play in an ensemble?

if not, then who cares?

[::::BASSIST::::]

I play in a 3 piece rockabilly band. We play a couple original songs where only the bass is heard sort of break before the turnaround. So yeah, I wouldnt play with that kind of noise. It doesnt happen continually. Mainly when I play a typical rockabilly bassline like you'd hear in that song "Flip, flop, Fly".

Anyway, I'm putting the Flats back on. Just wish I knew a method of correcting that string noise so that I can play rounds if I choose. At this point, I dont have the choice.

[tkozal]

lifting your fingers when you switch.....

[unclekebm]

rockabilly?...stay with flats!

[hunta]

It's probably a setup issue or maybe your frets need to be ground down a little.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Nah, I'm pretty sure its my bad technique. Even when I try basses at music stores the same thing happens when amplified.

[Nick Kay]

Lift your left hand fingers when switching positions, mute with your right hand if possible.

[Jazzdogg]

You might want to check out Rocco Prestia's left-hand technique to see how he uses his left hand to mute and create ghost notes. His sound cuts through the mix and is controllably percussive without extraneous noise.

[Cristo]

Short answer: you can't. Rounds make a lot more noise than flats.

You are accustomed to the sound of flats so it is particularly noticeable. Rounds offer more brightness (higher frequencies), and that's where that noise is. The rough surface also generates more noise when you move your hands. Maybe there are some technique issues involved, but I think it is mostly a consequence of the string type.

Playing rockabilly sounds to me like a style that calls for the flats tone - if you start to "rock" more than "billy" then maybe the switch is warranted.

[Interceptor]

You can get very very quiet with rounds. The key is that awful p word.

Practice.

Work on lifting your fingers, and stopping hand position moves before pressing down on the strings. Concentrate on where your thumb lands, and things start to snap into place. I also found using the tips of my fingers helped tons. I made big strides in getting quiet by practicing doing scales and simple boogie patterns while using headphones with my evil pal, the metronome. It is brutal, but very rewarding. Try it!

[lokolp]

I find that playing near the bridge can help reduce string noise.

[Boogie B]

As said before: for rockabilly you should keep the flatwounds. Roudwounds give you more clarity and brighness, which you don't need for rockabilly. The more double bass you sound, the better, is what i think.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Yeah, I will keep playing with flats for the Rockabilly band. However, I dont want to have my choices limited. Lots of people play rounds and dont seem to have the problem that I am experiencing with them.

[Boogie B]

The rounds you put on are probably new ones. New strings allways give load more noise then strings that have been played a bit. You will allways have some noise with rounds, but if ur technique is more or less ok, that won't be heard through your amp or the PA system. Which means that, if you can still hear it when using amplification, it's indeed your technique and you need to get that straight.

[Scourge441]

Originally Posted by Boogie B

The rounds you put on are probably new ones. New strings allways give load more noise then strings that have been played a bit. You will allways have some noise with rounds, but if ur technique is more or less ok, that won't be heard through your amp or the PA system. Which means that, if you can still hear it when using amplification, it's indeed your technique and you need to get that straight.

This.

Try plucking the string through the string more and don't thump it as much.

[Lalabadie]

Try to break from your usual playing positions and methods. The key is that when you have flats, you try to give them an extra edge, and if you want a similar sound with rounds, you gotta tame them down instead.

So you should practice playing from the bridge up to the neck and with different finger angles. And, well, practice a little more.

[highwattage]

I play mostly metal/rock/prog/neoclassical, and I have always used flats. The fact is flats are better in every possible way, durabilty, smoothness, lack of buzz. You can get a very bright attack with flats if that's what you want, but you will probably have to adjust your playing style and change your eq. I hit the strings really hard and play near the bridge (at least for fingerstyle, slapping is the same). For the eq, boost your trebs and basses, and lower your middle. My 7 band looks like

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o o | o | o |
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[highwattage]

Also polish your frets 2x a month with 0000 grain steel wool (cover the fretboard with blue painters tape when you do it). I really helps

[Stock R]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

You can get very very quiet with rounds. The key is that awful p word.

Practice.

+1. When I first started playing, I used flatwounds and didn't realize that I had developed a very sloppy fingering technique with my fretting hand. I only found out when I got my 2nd bass and it had roundwounds on it.

I fixed the problem by practicing very slowly on the roundwounds how to move my hand around.

There's no short cut around it. Just practice.