I've had trouble playing notes consistently, especially in some songs where I just keep hitting a deep bass note over and over again. One pluck it's there, the next it disappears. Any way or good practice that can help fix this problem? It's bugging me a lot, only started happening recently....
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Consistent sound
- Thread starter KingDavid
- Start date
Practice makes perfect 
Make sure that after you pluck the note, your finger stops on the lower string (or the string closer to you) or on your thumb if you're playing the low E / low B. Try practising with metronome or a drumbeat at a slow tempo (60 - 80 bpm) and gradually increase value once you feel comfortable C:
Make sure that after you pluck the note, your finger stops on the lower string (or the string closer to you) or on your thumb if you're playing the low E / low B. Try practising with metronome or a drumbeat at a slow tempo (60 - 80 bpm) and gradually increase value once you feel comfortable C:
I'm afraid there is no simple trick. Playing bass is harder than it looks!
Maybe some compression would help, but that's 1% of the problem, if that. Most of the solution lies in more practice.
Maybe some compression would help, but that's 1% of the problem, if that. Most of the solution lies in more practice.
The first thing that occurs to me is the question of whether there are any consistencies in your inconsistency, so to speak. For example, are notes plucked by your index finger always louder than those plucked with the middle finger, or vice-versa? Can you play consistently for a certain number of notes or bars, and then you start to lose consistency (or vice-versa)? Is the problem more noticeable when playing certain strings compared to others? Is it worse when you play very slowly, or when you start to speed up?
To answer many of those questions :
My two fingers have different "tones", so to speak.
When playing fast, I begin with a nice tone and good rhythm. As I keep playing fast, my plucking fingers start to wear out a bit, and my tone goes down as well as my speed.
The overall problem happens in some strings/places... This is because of my action on my bass, I got the bass with a bent neck, so I had to get it adjusted and straightened.
Usually, the G and E string are where I don't usually play consistently in volume. The E string, up above around 10th fret and G just about every fret and every time. But there is also a problem with the string, it's tighter than the other strings, by a lot, and the tuning peg itself is strange, I can't really explain it. It's as if there's some grime or rust just on that peg, and when you turn it, it doesn't feel the same... It's not as "silky", I guess.... I don't know if that's a problem or not, but I've been living with it for a year.
Hope this helps!
*this inconsistency is all at random, but only is some areas. Could it be my fretting hand that's dragging?
My two fingers have different "tones", so to speak.
When playing fast, I begin with a nice tone and good rhythm. As I keep playing fast, my plucking fingers start to wear out a bit, and my tone goes down as well as my speed.
The overall problem happens in some strings/places... This is because of my action on my bass, I got the bass with a bent neck, so I had to get it adjusted and straightened.
Usually, the G and E string are where I don't usually play consistently in volume. The E string, up above around 10th fret and G just about every fret and every time. But there is also a problem with the string, it's tighter than the other strings, by a lot, and the tuning peg itself is strange, I can't really explain it. It's as if there's some grime or rust just on that peg, and when you turn it, it doesn't feel the same... It's not as "silky", I guess.... I don't know if that's a problem or not, but I've been living with it for a year.
Hope this helps!
*this inconsistency is all at random, but only is some areas. Could it be my fretting hand that's dragging?
Last edited:
I have been playing bass 41 years and mostly it is in your hands so practice will help. A small amount of volume related inconsistency may be evened out with proper use of compression, however improper use of compression sounds bad so be prepared to learn how to use your compressor should you go get one. They won't cover up bad playing and can make you sound worse or better when you learn how to use them effectively. It will even out the relative volume of repetitively plucked notes played at volumes above the threshold setting.
Yeah, I would not bring compression in too early though, as you may use it cover up a flawed technique. It would be better to improve your technique, rather than relying on compression.
It sounds like you need to get your bass setup. Take it to a tech, or even better, learn how to do it yourself to save a lot of money, time, and aggravation. Once you know everything is in order, see what happens.
It sounds like you need to get your bass setup. Take it to a tech, or even better, learn how to do it yourself to save a lot of money, time, and aggravation. Once you know everything is in order, see what happens.
One year is not very long at all in the grand scheme of things... keep playing, it will get better. Especially since you recognize it and are trying to improve it.
Yeah, I agree you with you guys 100%. I am a producer, as a hobby, been doing it over 3/4 years, and thought a recording of my playing would be nice. I recorded, and even with compression, I heard every little mistake, every bad thing in my playing. Compression is way out of the picture. My question now is, is there any drill, exercise, that I can practice daily to improve my playing, like said above, playing at a tempo, focusing on sound and whatnot. I know for finger independence, I have done countless hours already of permutations and spider walking or how they call it... Thanks guys!
I'm not a teacher, and don't claim to have any special expertise, but I've got a few suggestions. If anyone more qualified thinks I'm wrong, please chime in and say so.
First, I agree completely with Matthew 84 that you (1) need to make sure you have a good setup before doing anything, and (2) don't want to use compression to cover up a technique problem.
Regarding finger-to-finger inconsistency: Try playing a single note in succession -- i.e., choose any fretted note on any string, and play it four times at a moderate tempo. When you do this, pay attention to which right-hand finger you (automatically/spontaneously) start with. I'll bet it's your index finger, so your right hand is playing index-middle-index-middle. Now do the same thing, but start with the other finger -- the middle (so m, i, m, i) if I guessed right. Does this feel really weird to do it this way? If so, that's what you need to work on. Try practicing your scales, or whatever you ordinarily do, by deliberately starting half the time with the index and half the time with the middle finger. You want to be able to start with either finger, at any point in time or on any string, and make the two fingers sound the same. (One good exercise might be to work on playing a repeated figure containing an odd number of notes, so that if you maintain alternating fingering you wind up starting with a different finger each time around.)
The reason I asked about whether the problem was greater on some strings than others is that the underlying problem might have to do with your right-hand position. If the problem is worst on the E and G strings, I'll bet that you are anchoring your thumb on the pickup, in which case your hand position (and angle of the fingers when they strike the strings) is very different when playing the E than when playing the G. The G requires your plucking fingers to stretch to reach it; the E doesn't give the fingers room enough to stretch at all; but the A and D strings are "just right." In this case you might need to work on your right hand position, and perhaps consider adopting a technique such as the "floating thumb." (You can find plenty of information about this technique with a little creative searching/googling, and I think there's a "sticky" about it at the top of this forum.)
I have adopted the floating thumb, and the ghost pinky or whatever it is. It was one of the first things I had great trouble with! I use both on different occasions. However the hand positioning and the finger inconsistency you mentioned really could be my problem. Now that I think about it, the E really does feel slightly "cramped", and the G is quite far out... My plucking hand's thumb should be on the pickup, though, if i am playing the E/A, right, and if I play a D, thumb on E, G, thumb on E/A... I feel like maybe it's my hand's technique on plucking?
* I think a video would best describe my situation, if needed, I can record me playing
* I think a video would best describe my situation, if needed, I can record me playing
I don't feel like I'm quite qualified to evaluate your right-hand technique, or whether you are "properly" executing the floating thumb, etc. But it does sound like we might have identified the source of the problem: If your fingers feel "cramped" when playing the E string, but stretched "far out" when playing the G, that's the problem you need to solve. This would readily explain why your consistency problem is worse on those strings than on the intermediate A and D.
Yeah, exactly. When I play the E, usually my thumb doesn't know whether to stay on the pickup or try to find another comfortable spot. The G is just way out there, and it's sometimes hard for me to get from say, the A to G. I guess I'll pick up some books or something, read about this problem more somewhere...
There's a lengthy "sticky" thread in Technique forum here:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/floating-thumb-techniqe.230685/
...which includes links to some good videos and other helpful discussion. Hope this helps!
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/floating-thumb-techniqe.230685/
...which includes links to some good videos and other helpful discussion. Hope this helps!
I read that you're practicing for playing faster. My advice is to practice slowly, like quarter notes at 60BPM and focus only on keeping the notes even. Vary what you play (e.g. scales, arpeggios, crossing strings, or whatever you're working on), but always focus on keeping the notes even. They should sound exactly the same.
Practice for a while with notes full-length notes, barely stopping between plucking. Then do it again with staccato notes (short notes with a rest between), but still even and steady.
And practice with no effects or EQ.
Speed will come; play slowly first.
Practice for a while with notes full-length notes, barely stopping between plucking. Then do it again with staccato notes (short notes with a rest between), but still even and steady.
And practice with no effects or EQ.
Speed will come; play slowly first.
Have you ever had lessons?
Generally I'm not a huge fan of them (teachers always seem to only want to teach songs/styles they like), but after I'd been playing for about 2 years, I saw a teacher for my first time. It was only one lesson, but he was pretty good at pointing out some of my technique issues which hadn't occurred to me at the time.
Generally I'm not a huge fan of them (teachers always seem to only want to teach songs/styles they like), but after I'd been playing for about 2 years, I saw a teacher for my first time. It was only one lesson, but he was pretty good at pointing out some of my technique issues which hadn't occurred to me at the time.
Well, in a way I am going for speed as well, but if I had a choice, I'd rather play at 100BPM perfectly and silky smooth rather than at 250BPM and sloppy without proper technique. I've read the sticky on "Demystifying metal bass technique" and I took a bit in from it, I liked the idea of being able to play super quick with ease. I still do, but after playing a few songs i see you can be a good bassist without that super speed. I still do some small speed exercises and stuff, just for the heck of it. Also, I find the idea of playing without ANY effects, EQ included, sounds like a really good idea. I have an Ampeg BA-115SP, and it has different "modes" or EQ presets for different tones. I use one with a lot of deep punch, since I don't like the trebly sound from a standard bass straight through an amp. Maybe it could help me out to hear how I REALLY sound like...
I've never had lessons, but I considered them when I first started. My brother, who'd been playing classical for 7+ years said id be find without lessons if I just started out with the right technique. I mean, when I play I feel perfectly comfortable, I never get any pains or wrist problems, unless I play for a few hours a day. The only problem is my inconsistency, so far.
I've never had lessons, but I considered them when I first started. My brother, who'd been playing classical for 7+ years said id be find without lessons if I just started out with the right technique. I mean, when I play I feel perfectly comfortable, I never get any pains or wrist problems, unless I play for a few hours a day. The only problem is my inconsistency, so far.
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