I hear my fingers going across the bass and other noises

[thadg]

I'm a bit new to playing bass, but I didn't know how sensitive it was. I can here the string get pushed down and when i move my fingers on it. How can i prevent the sound, i don't even have it loud and i can here it.

[TheBassBetween]

As with everything, reducing string noise comes with experience. You'll eventually learn to be quieter in your movements, and less drastic with them.

A couple things that come to mind, though.

If it's a new bass, or new strings, then the strings can be very bright and rough still, so they might catch your fingers a bit in the beginning.

Also, turn up your amp and see if you can still hear your fret noises. You could just be hearing the sound coming from the bass and not the amp.

And one last thing that just came to mind, check the intonation of your bass neck. Hold it at eye level and look down the neck to see if it's relatively straight. Your action could be really high (that is, the distance between the string and the fretboard), and you're needing to use a lot of pressure to push the string down, therefore causing more noise when doing so.

[BellBottomBlues]

its most likely your strings, try some basses in stores to try some other kinds of strings. Most stock strings suck btw.

You might want to try flat wound strings, no finger noise at all.

[copreus]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

You might want to try flat wound strings, no finger noise at all.

Another alternative in string choice is a "half-round" or "ground-round" string. This is a standard round-wound string with the top edge flattened to help avoid the screech you get when you slide your fingers across a string. The half-round string keeps some of the brightness of the round. Flats will give you a more boomy '60s Motown -- which is not a bad thing!

Also, try nudging the treble back a bit at the amp and/or bass.

As The Bass Between suggested, your action might be too high if the noise occurs mainly when you fret the string. If you don't feel confident enough to adjust the neck using the truss rod, get a pro to do it. If you want to adjust it yourself, make sure you're well-read up on it first because it could lead to serious neck damage. Both Fender and Ibanez have maintenance info at their sites.

Hope this helped. Good luck!

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by TheBassBetween

As with everything, reducing string noise comes with experience. You'll eventually learn to be quieter in your movements, and less drastic with them.

A couple things that come to mind, though.

If it's a new bass, or new strings, then the strings can be very bright and rough still, so they might catch your fingers a bit in the beginning.

Also, turn up your amp and see if you can still hear your fret noises. You could just be hearing the sound coming from the bass and not the amp.

And one last thing that just came to mind, check the intonation of your bass neck. Hold it at eye level and look down the neck to see if it's relatively straight. Your action could be really high (that is, the distance between the string and the fretboard), and you're needing to use a lot of pressure to push the string down, therefore causing more noise when doing so.

+1 It's a matter of developing your technique. You will learn to lift and float over the strings and keep strings quiet when not being played. You can try backing the volume of your bass back some and bringing the amp up. Backing off the volume decreases how sensitive the pickups are.

Other have mentioned flat or half wound strings they are an option, but those string have a different sound than round wounds so it a trade off. I would say if you are a beginner try to work on you technique first before going to flatwounds. It will do more for you as a player in the long run. Then you use flatwound when that is the sound you want or need versus using them as a crutch.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

its most likely your strings, try some basses in stores to try some other kinds of strings. Most stock strings suck btw.

You might want to try flat wound strings, no finger noise at all.

Stop that. Technique problems should never be cured by equipment. That's the lazy way of doing it.

Anyway, you will get better at eliminating noises as you go on, but bass is just a noisy instrument and you're always going to have a little noise, even if your technique is spot on, and yes, even if you use flats.

[Cristo]

If you are playing without an amp, you will notice a lot of noises and weird sounds coming off the bass.

Even with an amp, if you are playing alone, you will hear a lot of noises that will otherwise be buried beneath the sounds of a band.

Having said that, as you practice and improve, you will find that you are less "noisy."

Also, your amp and EQ settings can make noises more noticeable.

[eedre]

Cut the trebs a little.

The treble band will catch and amplify the frequencies produced by finger drag on round wounds and fret clacking. I used to play with waaaay too much so I could be heard above the band. Keep the EQ on your amp flat and tune in the sound you want with your instrument. I think you'll like the tone.

[BellBottomBlues]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Stop that. Technique problems should never be cured by equipment. That's the lazy way of doing it.

Anyway, you will get better at eliminating noises as you go on, but bass is just a noisy instrument and you're always going to have a little noise, even if your technique is spot on, and yes, even if you use flats.

When I used rounds (Roto swingbass66) I tried a set of D'Arrdio rounds, and I couldn't stand that sound of my fingers sliding all over the strings. I changed my Rotos every two weeks and they never had that problem.

Some strings are just squeakier than others lol

[TheBassBetween]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

When I used rounds (Roto swingbass66) I tried a set of D'Arrdio rounds, and I couldn't stand that sound of my fingers sliding all over the strings. I changed my Rotos every two weeks and they never had that problem.

Some strings are just squeakier than others lol

I certainly hope you're not buying a new set of strings every two weeks! That would cost a bundle.

I'm gonna assume you meant "after" .

[BellBottomBlues]

I used to buy roundwounds in very large quantities as I gigged quite a bit.

A box of RS66s costs around $200 and thats 24 sets of strings.

[magnusdeus123]

Hey guy . First post here . Bass newbie .

Anyways , my first thread was to be the same question that our mate here has asked . Even at medium treble set on my Bass , I can hear my fingers screeching across the strings and such . On reducing the treble , it's greatly eliminated though , and I usually dont mind really low treble , since I like more of a pure bass sound . But still, is it ok to hear all the rattling of the strings and the screeching of the strings from time to time, or should i get it inspected by the shop I got it from ??

Also , I noticed that sliding my palm across the strings produces a very *DJ Disc Scratch* kind of sound . Is this supposed to happen , or what ??

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by magnusdeus123

Hey guy . First post here . Bass newbie .

Anyways , my first thread was to be the same question that our mate here has asked . Even at medium treble set on my Bass , I can hear my fingers screeching across the strings and such . On reducing the treble , it's greatly eliminated though , and I usually dont mind really low treble , since I like more of a pure bass sound . But still, is it ok to hear all the rattling of the strings and the screeching of the strings from time to time, or should i get it inspected by the shop I got it from ??

Also , I noticed that sliding my palm across the strings produces a very *DJ Disc Scratch* kind of sound . Is this supposed to happen , or what ??

As the gist of the thread has said... It's not the bass, you need to work on your technique. If you could get a couple lessons a teacher can show you and then help you get going. It's a matter of developing the right touch and release.