Tone of my fingers

MO542 · #1 07-10-2006, 01:43 PM

I’ve got a question relating to the sound of my fingers. When I play I seem to get a very deep (bassy) tone out of my fingers. My instructor will play my bass (through my head and cabs) and he gets a more defined tone whereas I get a deeper tone. The only way I can get a more defined tone is when I dig in, but then I lose speed. My instructor told me that he thinks it is because of the size of my fingers (I have extremely large hands), and that there is nothing wrong with my tone; it’s just different. Are there any tips you guys can give me to get a more defined tone? Technique? Strings? EQ settings? I prefer to play finger style (just feels more natural to me), but I’m thinking that I may have to use a pick if I think the song needs a more defined tone.

Thanks in advance!

morf · #2 07-10-2006, 01:53 PM

If you've not been playing long, maybe its because callouses have yet to form completely, making the tips harder.

badgrandad · #3 07-10-2006, 02:49 PM

You will develop calluses which will help some but you can also play closer to the bridge to clear up the tone, and/or roll your fingers slightly to play with just the sides of the tips of your fingers. If you bite your nails back this could also keep your fingertips soft and keep your sound ill-defined.

MO542 · #4 07-10-2006, 03:02 PM

Well calluses are something that I haven’t thought about. My fingertips are hard, but I don’t have any visible calluses. I practice about 4 hours a day so I would think that they would have developed by now.

I do play near the bridge when I’m looking to get more clarity and it works to an extent; the tone is still deeper than I want.

morf · #5 07-10-2006, 03:34 PM

Play a bit harder/faster for sometime (learn some offspring/nirvana bass lines) and you'll get those calouses

fretless Bob · #6 07-10-2006, 03:46 PM

get your bass set up by a pro the way you like it,
maybe sit and talk with him about what you want.

also avoid biting or cutting your fingernails, that will change your tone,

i have also noticed lately that if you give the same bass to one person it will sound so different to the next, and then you have to adjust accordingly, i give a friend of mine my bass and it alway sounds real thin when he plays it the way i set up my tone settings.

another gives me his bass and i sound like a hail stones hitting a tin roof, but for him it is just fine,

everyone is different, but you could always try playing with the tips on both or your hands, that will help alot.

Dave

MO542 · #7 07-10-2006, 04:35 PM

Hmmm….. well I do keep my finger nails very short too. I’ll let them grow out a little and see if it changes my tone. I could see if you don’t have any nails, then part of your finger will give because there is no nail to support it.

I’ll try to play faster too to develop some calluses. I’m still perplexed as to why I don’t have them yet. I would think 4 hours of shedding a day would do the trick.

morf · #8 07-10-2006, 05:57 PM

It all depends on how hard/fast you play. I could play some things for hours and never have callouses, but found out that after playing harder/faster i got callouses very quickly.

A way to do it would be to raise your action, so you can dig in, then bringing it back down, and playing much softer once youve worked up the skin enough. Worked out well for me.

PastorofMuppets · #9 07-11-2006, 08:16 AM

play closer to the bridge
the tension is much tighter there and will be more defined and will build callouses

Dan1099 · #10 07-11-2006, 08:45 AM

It could be in the way you strike the string. Perhaps you are plucking harder/softer than your teacher? At a different angle? Watch is plucking hand VERY closely, and try to emulate it as much as possible.

Cristo · #11 07-11-2006, 09:35 AM

You can try using a bit of your nails. Some people hate this, but others like it. I use my nails in my sound and without them I get the exact sound you describe. Round and undefined without sufficient attack.

When using your fingernails a bit you get more of a clean "pick-like" attack. The downside is that it is difficult to keep your nails the optimal length - too short and they don't help, too long and you get too much clicky clank.

MO542 · #12 07-11-2006, 03:26 PM

Last night I went home and tried varying angles and it did little.

The only thing that worked was playing with a harder touch. I want to avoid that if possible because I want to be able to control the volume with my fingers and I can play a little faster that way.

I’m going to grow my fingernails out a little more and see if that helps. I will also try to play over the bridge pup and see if that helps in the callous department.

Thanks for all the responses; you guys rock!