harmonic mute?...

[patlozrox]

Okay, so my band and I had practice today and we are playing in Drop-D, I noticed that when I play in any tuning where there are two strings with the same note, I start to catch octive harmonics. Is there any way where i can stop that, because I play too fast to mute with my other fingers. I noticed that on some Stingrays, the bridge has small peices of foam that mute to solve this very problem. Is there anything like that I can do without effecting the actual sound of my bass?
Thanks everyone...

Rock on!!!!!
4 STRINGS 4 LIFE!!!!

 

[Mushroo]

You need to talk to your teacher about proper muting technique. The "floating thumb" right-hand technique is the most popular these days, but you should also learn proper left-hand technique as well.

Basically every string you're not actively playing should be muted by one or both hands.

 

[patlozrox]

I don't take lessons and I use the floating thumb. The problem is that it is only on my Stingray.

 

[Mushroo]

Make sure your floating thumb is not on the "node" where the harmonic is produced. How will you improve if you don't take lessons?

 

[J Posega]

Make sure your floating thumb is not on the "node" where the harmonic is produced. How will you improve if you don't take lessons?

Watching videos and setting goals. Lots of musicians never took lessons.

I find my fingers on the fretting hand lay across the strings and effectively mute them.

 

[mdogs]

I don't think mutes are going to give you the results that you expect as they are definately going to change the sound. You need to find a technique of muting the other strings with your hands that works for you. Not sure if the quip about the teacher was a joke or not, but take it from someone who has never taken a lessen and has played professionally for over 30 years, not everyone needs someone else to tell them how to do it...

 

[BogeyBass]

i dont know if we got it easy or hard.

guitars players use distortion alot, and muting and technique is even more important. they play fast too.

dont find a crutch...work on technique...

 

[Derek Balonek]

Technique with muting strings helps. When I switched to fifths tuning, I noticed that an open string made the rest of the strings go off a bit too. I sometimes mute the unused strings with my left hand, but I've found the simplest solution to be a hair tie at the nut. I usually see it used to mute open strings when tapping, but it helps damp those sympathetic vibrations too.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

Drop D = 4 string, I assume. I anchor my thumb somewhere generally an play with my index and middle finger.

Notes on the E string, the others are muted by my left hand.

Notes on the A string, my right pinky anchors on the E and left hand lays across D and G as it frets notes on the A.

On the D string my right ring finger anchors on the A in addition to the above while my left hand and fingers lay across the the G.

When I am playing notes on the G string my right pinky is already anchored on the E string, ring finger on the A, I am playing notes on the G but the finger that is not playing at the time is pulled off intonate the D string muting it. My playing fingers alternate muting and playing duties.

Add a B string and nothing changes, because the right thumb shifts its anchor point to the B string if I am not playing it.

I can play very fast this way. It kinda happened naturally as I was learning to play bass because I wanted my strings to only vibrate when I was playing them.

I have videos on my YouTube channel (Watsontbass). You could probably see there what I do. Like I said it was a pretty natural solution for me.

 

[patlozrox]

Technique with muting strings helps. When I switched to fifths tuning, I noticed that an open string made the rest of the strings go off a bit too. I sometimes mute the unused strings with my left hand, but I've found the simplest solution to be a hair tie at the nut. I usually see it used to mute open strings when tapping, but it helps damp those sympathetic vibrations too.

I actually tried that, it worked really well. Thanks dude. And just so everyone is clear right here and now, I CAN'T take ;essons at the moment because I recently started living on my own and can't spare the cost. And also I'm not looking for a crutch by using a mute, I simply just wanted to find a quick fix for the problem until I CAN pay for lessons. I only want to take enough lessons to make sure my technique and all is in shape, but after that, I am not taking anymore. I appreciate the tips though everyone. Thanks...