why do we hear wierd notes on tapping an unpulgged bass?

[varunkapahi]

try tapping an unplugged or acoustic bass. can you explain the phenomenon? is it something with harmonics, why is it different when we plug into an amp?

[B.C.]

It has to do with string vibration. When you tap, the string vibrates both on the left and right of your finger, creating two different pitches. When you play plugged in, on the correct pitch(the one to the right of your finger) is picked up by the p'ups. Hope this helps.

[theshadow2001]

It's the part of the string the other side of your finger vibrating. You probably don't hear it when it's plugged in because it's not vibrating over the pickup so the note your playing when amplified masks it.

[cheapbasslovin]

Your playing the notes on the headstock side and the body side of where you tap. When your bass is plugged in, the pickups only amplify the notes playing on the body end.

Edit::: See we all agree

[theshadow2001]

Originally Posted by B.C.

It has to do with string vibration. When you tap, the string vibrates both on the left and right of your finger, creating two different pitches. When you play plugged in, on the correct pitch(the one to the right of your finger) is picked up by the p'ups. Hope this helps.

snap!

...also an engineer in progress

[varunkapahi]

great! that was simple but i was too dumb to get it on my own i guess
anyways thank ya all

[mantelclock]

I know it's anathema to talk about guitarists on this web site, but check out Fred Frith's album "Guitar Solos". He put a piezo on the nut end and makes incredible music taking advantage of the 'phenomenon' you describe.

[neptoon]

Originally Posted by mantelclock

I know it's anathema to talk about guitarists on this web site, but check out Fred Frith's album "Guitar Solos". He put a piezo on the nut end and makes incredible music taking advantage of the 'phenomenon' you describe.

wow, i bet that's odd...definitely worth checking out

[lunarpollen]

It's hard for me to understand how anyone can't intuitively know why this phenomenon occurs. Not meant to be a put-down of the original poster, but it's just weird to me.... it only takes about a half-second to figure it out the first time you notice it... But then again, I'm an alien, and I seem to be able to intuitively understand a lot of random things

[coreyfyfe]

if you want it to stop, get some type of cloth or loose hair elastic (the big fuzzy ones) and put it around the strings below the nut. it dampens the vibrations so you dont hear the reverse harmonics. as stated above, with the pick ups you should only hear the correct pitch, but for practicing acoustically (or tapping on an acoustic guitar/bass like i do from time to time) the fabric thing is pretty useful.

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

It's hard for me to understand how anyone can't intuitively know why this phenomenon occurs. Not meant to be a put-down of the original poster, but it's just weird to me.... it only takes about a half-second to figure it out the first time you notice it... But then again, I'm an alien, and I seem to be able to intuitively understand a lot of random things

must admit I thought it was obvious too, but then only people who've just started playing bass seem to be interested in/impressed by tapping, so I guessed it was someone fairly new to bass

[jtallent]

Originally Posted by mantelclock

I know it's anathema to talk about guitarists on this web site, but check out Fred Frith's album "Guitar Solos". He put a piezo on the nut end and makes incredible music taking advantage of the 'phenomenon' you describe.

Originally Posted by neptoon

wow, i bet that's odd...definitely worth checking out

Well, to everyone (including myself) that wanted to run out and buy this album ... I made the wise choice of listening to the song clips first. I am the kind of person that will embrace the strangest of music so I feel kind of guilty saying this ... HOWEVER, I don't think I can stomach this one. I do agree it's very interesting and I give the guy credit but I can't see myself listening to it more than once.

check the clips out here:

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/...itar+Solos.htm

Interesting.

[mantelclock]

I agree that the album isn't for everyone, but then again if it was, I wouldn't like it. You should check out Fred's bass playing in "The Second Time" on the album "LIVE, LOVE, LARF & LOAF: French, Frith, Kaiser, Thompson". BTW, it's Richard Thompson on guitar. The bass line is killer.