Some questions about muting

mihal27 · #1 10-27-2009, 01:32 PM

Hi!
I've got some questions abut muting.
I'm trying to use my boht hands to mute. I read here http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bas...ique/plucking/ that there are two good way of muting with right hand - ring finger muting and "wandering thumb muting". And I can't understand some things about ring finger muting - should i hold my ring finger on A string during playing on D string?
What should I do with my little finger - is this good idea to hold it on E string (I hold my thumb on this string)?

And question about wandering thumb muting - should thumb mute E string during beeing on A string? Is very uncomfortable, so I wonder is it necessary.

Is it good idea to use only this special plucking motion wchich mutes string below? Victor wooten does it and i think he's very good without any other muting technique

Should I rest my forearm on body?

Is alternate plucking that necessary? Is it good idea to play like Victor Wooten here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nPqD...eature=related (1:42)? I mean: to pluck string with one finger and then use the same finger to pluck string below.

And last question. In this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFwI-2uDzXo Jaco says in 1:24 that he hold his little and ring finger on G and D strings. That's what i understood, but probably I didn't interpretate it well (i'm not english) so could you explain his message?

Thank You in advence for answering.

fearceol · #2 10-28-2009, 05:44 AM

Check out this link about the "Floating Thumb" technique. Well worth mastering IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU

mihal27 · #3 10-28-2009, 08:35 AM

Yhank you for this video - this technique makes sense, but i don't like it because i have been playing for a long time using basic technique and i think i would be hard to change this habbit, if you know what i mean. And i couldn't have my arm in air for that long time.
Is this technique "invented" by this guy on vid?

fearceol · #4 10-28-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mihal27

Yhank you for this video - this technique makes sense, but i don't like it because i have been playing for a long time using basic technique and i think i would be hard to change this habit, if you know what i mean. And i couldn't have my arm in air for that long time.
Is this technique "invented" by this guy on vid?

Your arm is not "in the air" at all, you are simply using your shoulder muscle to "move the mechanism" as Todd explains on the video. In your post, you say you are trying to learn a muting technique. IMO this is one of the best. A couple of weeks practice and patience and you should have it. Lots of guys here have changed to this technique successfully. Why not give it a try ?

No, AFAIK, Todd Johnson did not "invent" this technique, but is one of it' main proponents.

mihal27 · #5 10-28-2009, 01:57 PM

Is that technique as fast as another techniques?
And does this techniqe really that cool? I didn't see any bass player playing this technique (Jaco pastorius, victor wooten, marcus miller, john myung etc.)
Is here, on talkbass some topic about this technique?

kr0n · #6 10-29-2009, 02:32 AM

With a 4-stringer the ring finger muting is a very viable option. Floating thumb really shines when you have more strings than the basic 4. Ring finger muting on the other hand doesn't lend itself to fiver or 6-stringer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDzRqeS0ruQ

Adam Nitti explaining Moveable Anchor which is quite similar to floating thumb but in my opinion another very viable option.

I personally have bony fingers and hands so floating thumb doesn't give me enough area to cover all 3 strings when playing the G string and gives me an awkward angle by pivoting from the 2nd joint instead of the knuckle, which feels less powerful and accurate, needs more motion for same results.

Try them all out and see what fits you. If you ever plan to move to fiver or 6-stringer, definitely start learning either of those techniques.

fearceol · #7 10-29-2009, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mihal27

Is that technique as fast as another techniques?
And does this techniqe really that cool? I didn't see any bass player playing this technique (Jaco pastorius, victor wooten, marcus miller, john myung etc.)
Is here, on talkbass some topic about this technique?

In answer to your first question, I'd say yes.

With regards your second question : "Cool" has nothing to do with anything. You are looking for a technique that will let you play the bass with the best all round results (including physical). It does not matter what Jaco etc plays(d). Find what suits you.

Here is the TB floating thumb thread.

floating thumb techniqe

Quote:

Originally Posted by kr0n

Try them all out and see what fits you.

+1.

mihal27 · #8 10-29-2009, 02:33 PM

I tried to play with this technique, but i think it's not for me. It's just extremely uncomfortable.
So could you answer to my first questions?

kr0n · #9 10-31-2009, 03:50 AM

Hold the ring finger in the A string when playing the G string. When you play D, normally people use rest strokes where the plucking finger ends up on the lower string after hitting the higher one. As in, when you hit D, your finger ends up on A to rest and simultaneously muting it. So no need to hold the ring finger on A. But on G, the plucking finger ends up on the D string and your thumb is resting on the E string, you leave A free. So keep it there.

I personally only wander around E and A with my thumb, and rarely at that. If I know there's a section coming up with a lot of G string notes, I drop down to A to hold it and E with my thumb, if there's only few notes, let's say an octave or two, I tend to use my ring finger or *gasp* not to mute it at all. I'm still slow with the thumb and for me, muting the E at the same time gives a different angle for my fingers which isn't fun at all.

mihal27 · #10 11-08-2009, 01:32 PM

Anybodu could answer for my other questions?

bassybeenz · #11 11-08-2009, 01:39 PM

go on youtube, jacos entire instructional video is on there, thats where i learned to mute with my right hand

me personaly:
when playing mostly E and A strings, thumb on pickup. ring finger on e when playing a

when playing mostly a, d and g, thumb on e string , right finger mutes a while playing d, ring on d, pinkie on a while playing g string.

this style takes alittle time to master and may not lend itself to amazing speed right away, but it will improve the cleanliness of your tone.

ive also been working on the floating thumb for when i finaly pickup a six string (i personaly dont see the point in 5 strings)

bassybeenz · #12 11-08-2009, 01:52 PM

just went and checked and i dont rest my forearm on the bass, i generaly keep it as straight a possible

uethanian · #13 11-08-2009, 03:07 PM

i tried the whole floating thumb thing for a good year and then dropped it. it accomplishes it's goal well enough, but it just wasn't working for me. guess what i'm saying is don't believe that floating thumb is the end-all-be-all of technique.

what i do with my RH is similar to the 'ring finger muting,' although i also use my pinky. so if i'm playing on the G string, my thumb is anchored on the E, my ring finger is resting on A, and the D is muted by stopping the stroke. on D A and E i don't use my ring finger and use my LH to mute the above string(s). on the E i anchor my thumb on the pickup. this developed very naturally, to the point where i don't think at all about muting, it just happens. i rest my forearm on the body, but i'm also really careful about not bending my wrist too much.

countrybassist · #14 11-09-2009, 07:38 AM

I do alot of percussive muting and use both my left hand and right fingers. As I started to reply to this post as to how I do it, I can't LOL!! It's just something that I do that I can't find the adequate words to explain. Point being, just do it. I've never read anything about muting, but I do it very often in my lines and it just happens.