Is it better to practice with highs cranked on EQ?

Tupac · #1 11-21-2011, 06:07 PM

Something dawned on me today. I'm a sloppy player, and whenever I cut highs and boom the lows, I can hide my mistakes. Fret buzz and clanks turn into smooth low sounds. Do you think it would be best to play with a large (but not outrageous) amount of highs boosted on EQ?

Rockman · #2 11-21-2011, 06:08 PM

It would be easier to damage your hearing that way.

HugeInJapan · #3 11-21-2011, 06:11 PM

That is a totally reasonable thing to do. I do it and my hearing is just fine.

Bean639 · #4 11-21-2011, 06:22 PM

Ive been playing for almost 20years now. Until reading this, I forgot that I used to do the same thing. I really cannot coment on how much it helped other than this. Bass is a full range instrument. I think it is important to play with all areas of its range (ie..high,mid,low) The goal being your sound. For me I try and go for a balanced sound with certian bits of personality in each general area.

Tupac · #5 11-21-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockman

It would be easier to damage your hearing that way.

How could that hurt my hearing? Do you mean musically or literally?

**jmattbassplaya** · #6 11-21-2011, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupac

How could that hurt my hearing? Do you mean musically or literally?

When you said 'crank' he thought you meant play as loudly as possible.

But yes, it does help to practice with more treble in your tone than you're use to using. I still do it to this day.

elgecko · #7 11-21-2011, 06:53 PM

How about just play less sloppy?

gumtownbassman · #8 11-21-2011, 06:56 PM

It certainly can't hurt to adjust the sound to expose your worst playing techniques. It will help you to recognise your faults and let you improve, rather than masking it in a muddy tone.

dalahorse · #9 11-21-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

How about just play less sloppy?

Well I think that's what the OP is trying to do. By boosting mids and highs, the OP is accentuating the parts that are normally masked while being sloppy. Playing less sloppy is the end goal.

Fair Warning · #10 11-21-2011, 07:02 PM

Yes, I have exercised my playing while practicing while killing the lows and extending the highs. That way, nothing gets hidden and later when it comes time to hear it in the full, it always sounds much better. I think it is a great trick to make you hear your mistakes.

Tupac · #11 11-21-2011, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalahorse

Well I think that's what the OP is trying to do. By boosting mids and highs, the OP is accentuating the parts that are normally masked while being sloppy. Playing less sloppy is the end goal.

Well put, that's just what I was about to say.

jgroh · #12 11-21-2011, 07:13 PM

Its a good idea IMO. On a different note, what I did was start recording my practicing and then listening back. I found a lot of miscellaneous noise...shifting positions and some minor ringing, in a mix you would never hear it but I was shooting for great technique. I have rectified those minor problems.

Tupac · #13 11-21-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Its a good idea IMO. On a different note, what I did was start recording my practicing and then listening back. I found a lot of miscellaneous noise...shifting positions and some minor ringing, in a mix you would never hear it but I was shooting for great technique. I have rectified those minor problems.

That's actually exactly what made me rethink my playing. I bought a cheap adapter to hook up to my computer to record my myself, and I learned that I sound much better in my head...

Basshoofd · #14 11-22-2011, 02:35 AM

I always play with a smooth tone but I practise with a very unforgiving sound. It made me really work on proper technique instead of just being 'good enough'.

wrench45us · #15 11-22-2011, 08:54 AM

I noticed my mistakes and technical flaws a lot more when I play through headphones than when I let a small practice amp speaker hide them away. I don't have to crank the cans to get a lot more detail.
My guitar playing mentor also advised me not to switch to flats till I honed my beginner's technique as it's his feeling that at least some of that extre sliding noise is telling me something about technique.

HeavyRockBasser · #16 11-22-2011, 10:20 AM

Yes. And, set your tone wide open too.

dalahorse · #17 11-22-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrench45us

I noticed my mistakes and technical flaws a lot more when I play through headphones than when I let a small practice amp speaker hide them away. I don't have to crank the cans to get a lot more detail.

+1 to the headphones! This is how I practice most of the time (Bass -> VT Bass -> JamHub (other instruments coming in as well) -> AKG-141 headphones). Given good quality flat response headphones, you can get an accurate full range sound of an instrument, effect, etc. It also allows me to practice at 2am without waking up my wife or the neighbors.

chaosMK · #18 11-22-2011, 11:27 AM

It's a cool thought about EQ/gear and the relationship to the development of techniques.

My normal sound is probably dialed in as a more midrange/present sound than most. I use an active bass with steel strings though a detailed sounding cab... no need to boost treble! With my Sansamp on, I can rub a string with my finger and hear the grooves in the string.

I've played on different rigs and noticed adaptations in my playing style. For a while I was jamming through an open back guitar cabinet with really unrestrained lows... changed my thoughts about muting technique. Going through a less forgiving solid state head than my old tube amp, I started using a smoother/lighter touch than ever before.

Some people dont lean towards really responsive/detailed rigs but I'd say that hearing the nuances when you practice is good for learning how to control a broad range of sounds on the instrument.