Billy Sheehan Muted Strumming

[Bassic Playing]

Hey guys.

Recently I was watching Mr Big Live at the Living Room, and I was really blown away by Billy's technique of this fast choppy strumming and about 3:10



I've run into a few issues trying to replicate it however. Billy seems to get this awesome punchy, completed muted tone yet still alive sound from it. It cuts through, and creates a rhythm more than anything else.

I can't get this sound. Either harmonics ring though slightly, ruining the effect, or it just generally sounds crappy and dead.

Anyone had success with this technique?

Thanks

 

[Clef_de_fa]

euh it is very simple ... a lot of people use sutff like that... especially guitar players ...

just lay your fretting hand finger flat again the fingerboard to be sure you kill all your string vibration and strum up and down with your plucking hand ...

 

[Bassic Playing]

euh it is very simple ... a lot of people use sutff like that... especially guitar players ...

just lay your fretting hand finger flat again the fingerboard to be sure you kill all your string vibration and strum up and down with your plucking hand ...

With all respect... I am not a simpleton. My question was one based on specifics of what I see as Billy's superior execution.

 

[Dave W]

I think a lot of that tone has to do with Billy's tone, which sounds more like a guitar than a bass for the most part. He's also running SS strings.

To help you out though, to stop the harmonics from coming through you can hold the strings a little tighter to deaden them...but not tight enough to actually fret the note. He's also strumming pretty hard so don't be afraid to really dig in.

 

[Soppy Hat]

I've been experimenting with strumming and pickmutes lately and I've gotten kind of a... and I hesitate to even call it this... technique down for it.

Try to play a little closer to the bridge- it makes a big difference. It throws wayyyy more treble in your mutes. I started out strumming close to the neck, and it just gave me this dead, bassy, kinda floppy sound.

As mentioned above, if you can use new steel strings (I use Roto 66ers) they make a huuuuuge difference- especially new ones. :3

 

[Bassic Playing]

Thanks guys I'll give it a shot. The problem with matching Billy's tone to the technique is that he uses so much compression, it really makes the harmonics come alive. Its both productive and counter productive I guess.

 

[BrandonBass]

u should keep you right hand strumming in 16ths even when they are not hitting the notes