Help with tone and technique

[Doublezebra]

Hi guys,

I have a problem with tone. I've been playing bass for two years, but I've played guitar for eight and have been playing instruments of some sort for my entire life. I know music theory backwards and forwards, but my technique and tone are lagging behind where I want them to be.

When I play, I get this clicking noise of the strings hitting the fretboard. I raised the action, which helped, but I still get this sound. I think my technique, the way I play the strings, might be wrong. Also, when I do hammer ons, I can't seem to figure out how to play them without getting a nasty clicking noise.

Any tips? I'd like to get my technique and tone up to par. Thanks!

 

[EggplantofDoom]

Part of it is your technique, I have the tendancy do to the same thing when finger picking, almost doing this vertical hooked-claw finger maneuver, which tends to push the string down when i pluck.
Make sure the clicking sound is actually translating through the amp, I drove myself nuts with this same issue, until realizing I was just hearing the physical string clicking, and it wasnt actually sounding through the amp.

You might want to raise the saddles a tad, then evening out the action by adjusting the truss rod a little, thats how i solved it.

 

[tZer]

1) Get your bass set up properly
2) Provide details about your technique

[Edit - adding...]

It sounds like your bass needs a set up, first off. It's amazing how BAD a bass can sound when the weather changes, the neck wood either contracts or expands - and suddenly you're getting buzzes here, clicks there - some notes don't really wanna work at all... Especially if the bass has never been set up in the first place. So Start there.

If your bass is set up OK, then at least you can't blame the instrument ;-)

Basic and generic 'good' plucking technique is not that difficult to do. Counter-intuitive to how it sounds, you really don't have to exert a lot of force to get a really great, forceful sound. A lot of time people exaggerate aspects of their plucking in an effort to emulate the sounds they hear on recordings.

I used to 'strike' the strings with my fingers (think Steve Harris or Geddy) - and I still do sometimes - but in general, I pluck the stings - not strike them. This goes a LONG way to eliminating string 'clank'.

Your fretting hand can generate a lot of unwanted noise too. Clanking, screeching, etc... If you bass is set up well, your hand doesn't have to work hard at all to fret notes without excess noise. A light touch - not slamming fingers down onto the fretboard - is all that's needed. The more you lighten up, the faster and quieter you get.

Same goes for your plucking hand - lighter, more efficient technique encourages speed and dexterity and diminishes unwanted noise.

 

[Doublezebra]

Make sure the clicking sound is actually translating through the amp, I drove myself nuts with this same issue, until realizing I was just hearing the physical string clicking, and it wasnt actually sounding through the amp.

You might want to raise the saddles a tad, then evening out the action by adjusting the truss rod a little, thats how i solved it.

Interesting that you wondered about the sound traveling through the amp. I thought the same thing! It was a little of both in the end. When I raised the saddles (haven't adjusted the truss rod) the noise started to disappear.

I think the problem with my tone is that when I'm playing (especially when I play loudly) I tend to pluck the string pretty hard. I'm going on the principle that every time you pluck a string, you want your finger to land on the one below it. But sometimes that means I end up slapping the string. Any pointers on how to actually play bass properly? I'm kind of making it up as I go along.

 

[tZer]

You might want to raise the saddles a tad, then evening out the action by adjusting the truss rod a little, thats how i solved it.

If you don't know how to deal with your setup, take it to a pro.

Raising your saddles, then messing with the truss is not a great idea. It may have solved your issue, but it's a little out of order and only a small part of the overall setup process.

You really want to start with proper relief (the truss) then adjust the saddles accordingly. There is also setting intonation...

 

[Doublezebra]

1) Get your bass set up properly
2) Provide details about your technique

[Edit - adding...]

It sounds like your bass needs a set up, first off. It's amazing how BAD a bass can sound when the weather changes, the neck wood either contracts or expands - and suddenly you're getting buzzes here, clicks there - some notes don't really wanna work at all... Especially if the bass has never been set up in the first place. So Start there.

If your bass is set up OK, then at least you can't blame the instrument ;-)

Basic and generic 'good' plucking technique is not that difficult to do. Counter-intuitive to how it sounds, you really don't have to exert a lot of force to get a really great, forceful sound. A lot of time people exaggerate aspects of their plucking in an effort to emulate the sounds they hear on recordings.

I used to 'strike' the strings with my fingers (think Steve Harris or Geddy) - and I still do sometimes - but in general, I pluck the stings - not strike them. This goes a LONG way to eliminating string 'clank'.

Your fretting hand can generate a lot of unwanted noise too. Clanking, screeching, etc... If you bass is set up well, your hand doesn't have to work hard at all to fret notes without excess noise. A light touch - not slamming fingers down onto the fretboard - is all that's needed. The more you lighten up, the faster and quieter you get.

Same goes for your plucking hand - lighter, more efficient technique encourages speed and dexterity and diminishes unwanted noise.

This is all great advice. It's a ****** bass to begin with -- with active pickups too -- so I have a hard time justifying paying to get it set up. But I think that's good advice... maybe I'll just do it.

A bad set-up would also explain the awful noises I get when hammering on and sliding... which is a a pretty integral part of my playing.

Another thing is that when I play quietly with a light touch, I have a harder time shaping my notes -- that is, controlling how long the note sustains so a can play staccato when I want to or have some space in between successive quarter notes, etc. I have a lot of practicing to do, I can tell...

 

[dalahorse]

I experienced a lot of fret clanking when I first picked up the bass. Sure enough, after reading a bunch of TB posts and examining my technique, I solved my problem just using technique. First off, I adjusted my plucking angle to cause the strings to vibrate across the fretboard rather than into it. Second, I moved my plucking hand back a bit and used a lighter touch. Third, I stopped smashing my fretting hand into the strings. Now I'm able to set my basses up with low action and still have a nice clean sound. Of course, sometimes a little fret clank sounds good. I can still get that sound if I want to. But it's definitely not my normal tone.

I'm nowhere near being a qualified instructor. So take that into consideration. What I'd definitely recommend is professional setup and a lesson or two with a good instructor to get a handle on your overall technique.

Best wishes!

 

[tZer]

This is all great advice. It's a ****** bass to begin with -- with active pickups too -- so I have a hard time justifying paying to get it set up. But I think that's good advice... maybe I'll just do it.

A bad set-up would also explain the awful noises I get when hammering on and sliding... which is a a pretty integral part of my playing.

Another thing is that when I play quietly with a light touch, I have a harder time shaping my notes -- that is, controlling how long the note sustains so a can play staccato when I want to or have some space in between successive quarter notes, etc. I have a lot of practicing to do, I can tell...

Even a crap bass can play like a dream and sound great. Now, not all crap basses, but a lot.

As for your technique - I wouldn't think in terms of hitting the string below. That is a valid part of upright technique and is integral in the sounds of swing and other, upbeat styles adding more literal 'thump' to the sound of the notes - but on bass guitar, not so much.

I put my finger on the string using the pad near the finger tip and pluck it. That really doesn't involve swinging and striking the string, but it will look that way when you get it up to speed. The point is that its a pluck - not a strike.

What you do with the strings above or below depends on what you are playing - not how. You may be raking down the strings in which case passing through to the next string is a given - you may not. But regarding the 'pluck' itself - that's all about the string you are playing at the time.

If you can, find a teacher - a bass teacher, not a converted guitar, I can show you bass parts guy - a guy who knows bass technique and get some lessons. You're much better off doing that now while you are still developing your technique. It's a lot easier to add to good technique than it is to fix bad.

 

[mambo4]

Specify weather you are playing amplified.

 

[Doublezebra]

Specify weather you are playing amplified.

Yes, I play in a stoner-mutant-blues rock band. I play through an Ampeg B2RE through a 2x15 Peavey cab.