how to avoid clanky noises when pushing the strings onto the frets?

[Killing Floor]

After about 10 days I need to do this:

 

[Bass4Brkfast]

... lowering it at least .5mm and learning to play with a lighter touch. Let your amp handle the volume, not your hands. It will help reduce your clank as well.

What he said.
Also, pay attention to right/left hand sync.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hi, I often struggle with some clanky noises when coming from an "open" (nothing fretted yet) string to fretting a note higher up the neck (say above the 7th fret). Pushing the string from its natural position down to the frets this high up often causes a clanky noise (but also a note; a bit like when tapping I guess). Is there a way/technique to reduce this?

The action on this bass is about 3 mm. I guess lowering the action could help with this. But, what else? Is it purely training your fingers to come down gradually (yet fast), and also to get the timing between fretting and plucking more in sync?

I hope my descriptions make some sense and that you have some pointers for me!? Thanks!

Hit the string when you fret

 

[MCF]

I'm guessing you have a pretty heavy hand since you keep your action so high. I would suggest lowering it at least .5mm and learning to play with a lighter touch. Let your amp handle the volume, not your hands. It will help reduce your clank as well.

I start with 2mm action and adjust from there. You’re working too hard at 3mm, IMO. Here’s a decent instructional video on technique. The are several others.

 

[lz4005]

This is why I moved to tapewound strings on all my fretted basses over 25 years ago.

To hide your poor technique?

 

[bassfuser]

Try to play close to the fret or slightly behind it instead of in the middle between the frets. Also, try to play with a light touch. You don't need to press down hard to get good tone.

 

[aprod]

You should learn to mute the strings while playing. This is a technique issue.

 

[JaseOfBase]

Technique. Practice with headphones and your treble up (to accentuate the clank).

This!

Practicing with headphones has changed my playing by leaps and bounds.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Turn the treble down, or the tweeter down or off.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

3 mm? Ye gods.

 

[jamro217]

Are you fretting the note far enough in front of the fret to make it a solid fulcrum? If you place your finger on top of or too close to the fret the string won't have enough room to sit flat on the wood of the fingerboard and will cause it either to clank or not sound at all. The other strings not being played should be muted so they don't give off any unwanted sounds including clank, hum, harmonics or feedback. As others have suggested, improve your coordination, cut your nails, and turn down the high frequency. If all else fails, sell that 4001 and get a P bass.

 

[lowphatbass]

Turn the treble down, or the tweeter down or off.

This only treats the symptom and does not address its cause.

 

[SteveCS]

...
If you place your finger on top of or too close to the fret the string won't have enough room to sit flat on the wood of the fingerboard...
...

???

 

[Jazz Ad]

This only treats the symptom and does not address its cause.

It is most often the cause, especially now that we have amps with extended range, strings that remain bright for months and active electronics everywhere.
This issue doesn't happen on a P with flats and a damp. If you find your tone too bright, make it less bright.

 

[jamro217]

???

In order to make the string travel over the fret you must press the string onto the fingerboard in front of the fret, not on top of it. The string must have enough downward pressure to allow it to create a strong contact with the fret. This in turn translates to a two ended string length (one being the fret, the other end is the bridge saddle). Just as the nut/saddle combo renders a set of two witness points, the fret must act as one. Improper fretting technique can cause this problem. As no one else had brought up this possibility and troubleshooting is what the thread is all about, I was offering an alternative solution. If this is not the problem, no harm done. Step one: Is the unit plugged in or batteries installed correctly? Check. No harm in ruling out the obvious and least expensive culprits first.

 

[lowphatbass]

As others have said this is almost always a technique issue. Usually it’s due to poor practices with the fretting hand. Sometimes it can be exasperated by timing issues between the plucking/picking hand and fretting hand but usually the fretting is the core of the issue.

BUT: #1-make sure your bass is reasonably well set up and playable, don’t make things any harder than they need to be.

 

[lowphatbass]

It is most often the cause, especially now that we have amps with extended range, strings that remain bright for months and active electronics everywhere.
This issue doesn't happen on a P with flats and a damp. If you find your tone too bright, make it less bright.

I hear what your saying, and yes, if there’s mids and highs railed then it will worsen the problem and/or increase its likelihood.
How do we know that the op wouldn’t have this problem on a P w/ flats? We know it wouldn’t be as much of a problem but...

 

[SteveCS]

In order to make the string travel over the fret you must press the string onto the fingerboard in front of the fret, not on top of it. ...

Yes, a good positive contact with the fret is necessary. But pressing down to the fingerboard? Absolutely not. Sufficient downfore for clean tone can be created almost up to the fret crown with far less force from, and strain on, the fretting hand. In practical terms this means up to 1mm from the crown - any closer and the fingertip starts to dampen the string, which is a useful tonal option...

 

[Nashrakh]

I agree with the basic sentiment of the thread. It's a technique issue, and one that I was struggling with myself. Give yourself time, and don't cheat your way out of it.

 

[jamro217]

Yes, a good positive contact with the fret is necessary. But pressing down to the fingerboard? Absolutely not. Sufficient downfore for clean tone can be created almost up to the fret crown with far less force from, and strain on, the fretting hand. In practical terms this means up to 1mm from the crown - any closer and the fingertip starts to dampen the string, which is a useful tonal option...

I'm trying to help out someone who is getting an unwanted clanking tone. This was done by asking if the technique used for fretting is incorrect or is choking the note and causing the problem. Trying to explain exactly where to place your fretting fingers in order to produce sound from the instrument is the intent, not an in-depth expository on the subtleties of technique. If this helps the OP solve the problem it was successful, if not it is also acceptable in that one possible cause is crossed off the list.