CLANK!

[RickenTalker]

Yo bass bros,
When I play really fast with my three fingers my bass tends to make sort of a clanking sound along with what I'm playing. I'm not fond of this as I noticed my mic picks it up when I record. I use to think it was just the bass and not something that gets transferred through my amp. So how I can play with my fingers really fast with out making this noise? It feels impossible :/

 

[Hugh Jass]

Two ways.

1. Raise your action.
2. Change the angle of your plucking hand and the angle of your fingers so that you are plucking more upwards rather than towards the bass. If I am really digging in I curl my fingers more so as to not push the strings into the frets.

These things will help to keep your strings from hitting the frets giving you that clank. Hey, for some metal bassists that clank is part of their sound.

 

[Skygoneblue]

Also, play closer to the bridge. The string moves less because it's more tense there.

 

[Psycho]

What do you use your three fingers for?

Is it all the lines you play, or for especially fast parts, and triplets?

 

[Gawd]

It's a technique issue. Try playing closer to the bridge, and using more of a free stroke approach, rest strokes tend to move the string towards the neck which increases clank. There will always be a little bit of clank, but in a band setting a bit helps to add definition.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Without "clank" there is no bass.

Sincerely,

Steve 'Arry Harris

 

[sonic assassin]

you're hitting the strings DOWN and not parallel to the body. i know because i do it. a lot. mostly on purpose.

 

[5string5fingers]

Raising your action really helps.

 

[Gawd]

raising the action really isn't necessary, just be aware of how you're plucking the strings.

 

[Faderoktopus]

Yeah, I have that same problem. Most of the time I like the sound as it helps accentuate the pecussive aspect of my basslines but on recordings I struggle to keep the clanking to a minimum.

 

[Tectonic]

Without "clank" there is no bass.

Sincerely,

Steve 'Arry Harris

+1 he's who i thought of right away

 

[pandaman37]

try strings with higher tension

 

[Bigjohn]

You're playing a Rickenbacker. They're supposed to clank ;-)

 

[Neon Scribe]

Also, use a lighter touch with your plucking hand. Turn up the volume instead of hitting the string so hard.