How to do a full octave one string descending drop - and do it well?

[Blankandson]

I have a song next week and the 'grand finale' is just begging for a descending slide down from C (on 13th fret of the low B string) to the C on the first fret. Can't find any posts about how to do it. I do hear them on recordings so I'm wondering if that may be enhanced with a compressor? On my bass with Nickel plated steel / hex core, my low B is 130. It begins fine but peters out half-way down. I don't want to keep fingering it - I just want to find a way to hit the C up high and slid all the way down and still have the same punch. Thanks for any and all replies.

 

[dreamadream99]

I don’t know of a bass that isn’t capable of doing this, so I suspect something else is going on.

• Is anything touching the string other than your fretting finger?
• How slow is this slide? A quarter note at 80 bpm? Or a whole note at 60 bpm?

Can you do it an octave higher on the A string without dwindling?

 

[knumbskull]

With the note decay and the fact that low notes need more oomph (true science term) be heard, you might struggle.

Low to high would be easier to hear.

 

[Blankandson]

I heard it done very nicely at several southern gospel concerts and went to ask the sound person. They said that that bass player was using their own compression pedal to get it. It sounded really nice all the way from top to bottom note. That's what I'm guessing I'll need my compression pedal to do. I just have no clue how to set it up to do that. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Blankandson]

I don’t know of a bass that isn’t capable of doing this, so I suspect something else is going on.

• Is anything touching the string other than your fretting finger? Yes, its a small piece of foam so tiny I don't even notice it. When I get back from getting something to eat I'll remove that.
• How slow is this slide? A quarter note at 80 bpm? Or a whole note at 60 bpm? The song slows at the ending from 110 down to about 70.

Can you do it an octave higher on the A string without dwindling?

I'll try that when I get back. Thanks.

 

[Blankandson]

I'm back. I loosened the strings and slid the foam over so it's not under the low B string. Re-tuned. Then fiddled with compressor pedal. Took about 10 minutes but I can do it easily now. Compressor ( MXR Bass Compressor) input on full, ratio 8:1, Attack and release on half each.

Playing it an octave higher would not be noticed over our grand piano who's player is to doing a finger roll on that C chord while I slide down.

That's it. Thanks! And the Jersey Mike sandwich was awesome as usual.

 

[MrLenny1]

Compression and technique have helped
me on slides & sustains. Newer strings too.

 

[mambo4]

slide and pluckwhen you hit the target note

 

[Blankandson]

My bass is a German-made Warwick double buck, with an Ovangkol neck. I have found that if I pluck over the bridge pup I get nice zingy highs. Over the neck pup more middle tone - actually very nice tones. BUT when I pluck around the 12th -15th fret I get thunderous lows - full deep and they hold their pitch very well.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

This to me sounds like you just need to have the right touch, and practice playing it with finesse. Probably have to set your tone a certain way also.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

I'm back. I loosened the strings and slid the foam over so it's not under the low B string. Re-tuned. Then fiddled with compressor pedal. Took about 10 minutes but I can do it easily now. Compressor ( MXR Bass Compressor) input on full, ratio 8:1, Attack and release on half each.

Playing it an octave higher would not be noticed over our grand piano who's player is to doing a finger roll on that C chord while I slide down.

That's it. Thanks! And the Jersey Mike sandwich was awesome as usual.

You had a foam mute under all your string ... then wondered why the sustain wasn’t there ...

 

[Relsom]

I'm glad you got it worked out, but you have me wondering.... where was this piece of foam so firmly wedged in there that you had to loosen the strings to move it?
Have you thought about working on your palm muting technique? It is infinitely adjustable once you get the hang of it.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I have a song next week and the 'grand finale' is just begging for a descending slide down from C (on 13th fret of the low B string) to the C on the first fret. Can't find any posts about how to do it. I do hear them on recordings so I'm wondering if that may be enhanced with a compressor? On my bass with Nickel plated steel / hex core, my low B is 130. It begins fine but peters out half-way down. I don't want to keep fingering it - I just want to find a way to hit the C up high and slid all the way down and still have the same punch. Thanks for any and all replies.

If you want it to be real bass a compressor pedal can help keep the sound more consistent.

If you want the drop to be more of an effect you can record a bass drop into a looper pedal that can save loops and has one shot mode and use the looper to trigger a sample that way.

 

[bassdude51]

Use a beer bottle.

 

[bolophonic]

You have to pluck the note and give it just enough time to start to bloom before you slide. Otherwise, entropy takes over and your string vibrations will immediately begin to decay. No compression necessary.

 

[Blankandson]

I have essential tremors on both hands (I'm almost 72) so after 54 years of playing my technique is pretty much gone. The foam is beneath the strings right at the nut, just enough of a foam piece to help with the 'noise' I get without it. But after about 18 months I just forgot it was there. It is a small piece but big enough to do the job.
Don't own a looper but am now using a Compressor pedal to help me do this. Beer bottle would shake out of my hand and crash on the floor - not good. (Hey, this WAS useful back in the 70s). Haven't used picks for about 10 years. Just don't have that control any more. My doctor says the essential tremors will be getting worse so I probably will be retiring in another year or so. Maybe on the 55th anniversary of the day I began playing. Thanks for the tips. And memories.

 

[Blueinred]

Good on ya for keeping at it, Blank. God's grace and healing upon you.

 

[JRA]

I have essential tremors on both hands (I'm almost 72) so after 54 years of playing my technique is pretty much gone. The foam is beneath the strings right at the nut, just enough of a foam piece to help with the 'noise' I get without it. But after about 18 months I just forgot it was there. It is a small piece but big enough to do the job.
Don't own a looper but am now using a Compressor pedal to help me do this. Beer bottle would shake out of my hand and crash on the floor - not good. (Hey, this WAS useful back in the 70s). Haven't used picks for about 10 years. Just don't have that control any more. My doctor says the essential tremors will be getting worse so I probably will be retiring in another year or so. May on the 55th anniversary of the day I began playing. Thanks for the tips. And memories.

ha! glad it was the foam piece and not some issue with your ax! but more than anything: i hope your tremor issues allow for some amount of playing to suit you for as long as you want! best of luck!

 

[Blankandson]

I could really be much worse. I have a very good friend who not only had his own band and show for over 20 years was also a regular on a cable TV show, but now has Parkinsons. He had to stop playing two years ago. He now has an electronic device which gives him the option of either not shaking or not talking. So when we go out to eat he listens to me for a few minutes while he eats, then makes the switch so he can reply to my comments. He is really now unemployed so money is now a huge issue. My shakes are very very minor compared so I am thankful they only affect my hands - not my entire body. He is actually taking lessons for upright bass right now and doing OK at it. Just no more fiddle, banjo, mandoline, bass, guitar, piano, etc. Those are all gone now. I am very blessed.