Clicking from left hand

[Menacewarf]

Hey everyone.

Ive been playing for only about 4 or 5 months and can't afford a teacher (I know, I know, Iv'e read the threads) so I thought I would ask all of you. I frequently hear a click just after I release a string with myleft hand. Ive been playing around and realize If I mute with my right hand I can eliminate the click. Will this click become a problem? Is it audible to others and should I divert a bit of my attention to right hand muting so as to prevent it.

All of you are very helpful and I'm grateful that this forum is here.

Bryon

[reedo35]

Are you married? Could be your wedding ring clicking on the string.( Not Kidding)

[Menacewarf]

More like a short chatter or buzz durring the moment where the string is in contact with the board but after my left hand has started doing something else.

[Marcus Johnson]

It sounds like maybe your left and right hands are a little out of sync with each other. Each note you play has a beginning, but it also has an ending, and for the note to sound cleanly, both hands have to decide together exactly where those events will happen. As you play more and gain more control, you will naturally develop the ability to start and stop notes where you want them. You will also develop the sound of the note in your head before you play it, which will give you the confidence to make every note speak clearly. As with anything you play, you'll need to do it really slowly at first, and make sure you can execute it cleanly at that tempo before you move up the metronome.

PS... it could also be something as simple as a really low string height, or a bad setup.... hard to tell without watching you play. If you could get a pro bassist to stand next to you for a few minutes, he/she might be able to help you further.

[Menacewarf]

Thanks for the advice...

I can read between the lines and hopefully this summer I will get out of debt enough to afford a teacher.

All the very structured advice offerd here is a nice counter to my, "try hard enough and you can do it aproach," which sometimes glosses over the more subtle details.

The advice of this forum has convinced me to stop using the ring finger of my left hand and try to avoid stretching beyond a whole step's length on the fingerboard. On the other hand I do still use alot of universal scales. I get the impression from some on this board that universal scales require too much shifting while others have said whatever fingering pattern works for an individual is fine.

Any advice?

[Steve Killingsworth]

Also keep in mind that much of the time your left hand is operating very close to your left ear. What seems very audible to you may be completely inaudible a few feet in front of the bass.

[Eric Hochberg]

Try playing another bass to make sure it isn't your instrument that's responsible for the noise. There are "clacker" basses out there!

[Menacewarf]

Thanks...

I like an answear that doesn't cite me as the problem!

[Reuben]

I had this problem when I was trying to play on too high an action.

But Steve makes a very good point as well.

[Marcus Johnson]

Conversely, you could have a player with a few years under his belt play your bass, and see if it's still there.

[musicman5string]

Possibly you're not pressing hard enough with your left hand?
= buzzing?