Tips for a lighter touch

[dejm1]

I've been playing bass for a long time (26 years on and off) but for last 2 years playing A LOT in 2 bands, gigging etc. I've been starting to get some wrist and finger pain (I work on a computer for a living which doesn't help). I tend to pluck harder and move my wrist more than I need to and just lately I've been starting to play softer with my right hand - I generally play with my fingers, a pick occasionally - and I noticed a change.

Does anyone have suggestions to get the most out of this: I am turning the amp up a bit louder than usual to compensate. Will lower action help? What are some benefits of playing with a lighter touch?

[derelicte]

TI Jazz flats are almost made to be played with a light touch.
These are low tension flatwounds and they sound bumpin!

The greatest benefit that I can see is a developed sense of dynamics, which I personally feel is just as important as 'tone'. unless of course you're playing death metal where everything is loud and proud.

[Goatman]

you'll definitely be able to move faster, since you're exerting less energy. Some things like slap are obviously kind of hard to do lightly, but for other noodling in appropriate keys, a light touch can make you very nimble. Not that I would completely abandon a harsh attack completely, of course, it has its place in music as well.

[badgrandad]

I have noticed better tone playing with a light touch but what is probably really happening is better technique and dynamics. I get better timing with a lighter touch and can (when necessary) play more quickly. For me I have to play more on my finger-tips (the very tip) to get a clear tone playing soft, but the benefit is it has added to my ability to shape the tone and duration of my notes better than ever.

[dejm1]

Thanks so far... I play in a ZZ Top tribute band (www.myspace.com/cheapsunglasseZZ) and a 60's garage rock band so there is no need for slapping. With the ZZ top band the lighter touch worked out great, though it was only used last night but I noticed a big difference. We rock out and hard but it should work out fine to play lighter.

I am trying to play more with the tips of my fingers rather than digging in more with my digits - I used to really bash away!

[iamthebassplayr]

When you are practicing alone crank the highs and high mids so you can hear all that nasty string noise and clanking. You will try to avoid it and start using a lighter touch. On top of that, record it and listen to it afterwords. I did it, but YMMV.

[Lonnybass]

Originally Posted by dejm1

I've been playing bass for a long time (26 years on and off) but for last 2 years playing A LOT in 2 bands, gigging etc. I've been starting to get some wrist and finger pain (I work on a computer for a living which doesn't help). I tend to pluck harder and move my wrist more than I need to and just lately I've been starting to play softer with my right hand - I generally play with my fingers, a pick occasionally - and I noticed a change.

Does anyone have suggestions to get the most out of this: I am turning the amp up a bit louder than usual to compensate. Will lower action help? What are some benefits of playing with a lighter touch?

You're on the right track in turning your amp up. It will force you to play much lighter in order to blend the way you want.

Lower action will help too, as you won't need to exert the same amount of left hand pressure on the fretboard to get notes to sing out. A good setup and fretjob will go a long way in helping facilitate this.

The benefits...you'll save your hands a lot in terms of economy of motion, and if you do long sets you won't fatigue nearly as quickly. Plus it just saves your fingers, arms and shoulders (they're all connected!). Perhaps best of all, you'll have access to much better dynamics and will really be forced to play cleanly and with good technique.

[dejm1]

All good stuff, guys! Thanks so much!

Yeah, I have gigs in VT. this Fri and Sat. playing two 75min sets a night and then a gig Sun. in the city another 45 minutes so I'm getting nervous I will break down completely...LOL

[Interceptor]

The guy I studied under made a very big deal out of playing with a light touch. The reasoning he passed to me was then I'd have the dynamic range to go from pp to FF in my hands. As things progressed, I realized that a light touch also allowed tapping volume to be really close to plucked. Big fun lives there!

I play very lightly these days (enough so that soundmen have commented on lower than expected output level) and it works.

But (and this is a BIG BUT) I wouldn't suggest a radical change in method without the time sunk into practice to make it stick. Playing lightly is a big change, and once the pre-amp is cranked to make playing soft level right, one good fat finger thunk will scare the wizz out of you.

[Ampeg SVT]

I read an article about Chris Chaney and said the same thing about the dynamics as Interceptor, I started playing that way and it offers so much more space.

I adapted to light plucking by setting the action really low so that it was very easy to make the strings clacky, also high tension strings (IMO) can be good.

[Interceptor]

FWIW, my basses are set up medium to low. I do like to leave just enough height in them to still allow a full dig.

[sflajimmy]

Lower action will help too, as you won't need to exert the same amount of left hand pressure on the fretboard to get notes to sing out. A good setup and fretjob will go a long way in helping facilitate this.

++1. I love playing with a lite touch and yes to me dynamics are important....

[kesslari]

Gary Willis advocates turning your amp up VERY loud, so that you HAVE to play with a very light touch...
It's definitely a good way to develop the skillset.

[EADG mx]

Set your action lower. This will train you to play softer because you won't be able to play hard without producing fretbuzz.

[unclejane]

I echo the other comments about going to lower tension strings. Or just go to a lighter guage. It's a bit of a myth that heavier gauge strings gives you a more agressive sound, IME. In fact, as the tension goes up, the less dynamic range you get and the sound is actually smoother. In extreme cases, like the enormous strings most basses come with when they're new, the bass pretty much turns to mud no matter how hard you bang on the thing.

I run .95's on my L2000 and it gives a very beastly agressive attack even with a fairly light plucking. I have .100's on my L2500, tho, and it takes a fair bit more hammering to get the same tone.

I'm thinking of trying a set of TI jazz flats on it for that exact reason....

Going fretless also helps a huge amount on the cleanliness of the notes without having to hammer on it....

LS

[Virgil]

Gary Willis has a book that you should buy, and it addresses a lot of issues we bass players face. But he says in his book that one of the benefits of light touch is a fatter tone. The harder you attack the string, the sharper the decline. The softer you strike the string the longer the sustain and fatter the tone.

[rockambo]

Okay, this is something that I'm really trying to do, too. I have a really hard touch and I HATE the click-clack that I get when I'm playing with the band. I get turning the bass up, that's an easy fix, but what about fingering techniques. Is there an exercise that I can do? For instance, should I turn up the amp at home at full bore and trying to achieve a very quick tone?

[kesslari]

For instance, should I turn up the amp at home at full bore and trying to achieve a very quick tone?

Guessing you mean "quiet tone"...
That's what Willis suggests, and I've found it works for me. Turn it up so loud (at home when you practice) that you HAVE to play gently to avoid blowing your own head off.

[rockambo]

Thanks!