how to mute strings

[Shenron]

edit: also should probably mention that i do play guitar, and have for years, so i dont have any problem with a pick. its only fingerpicking that im having issues with

This is not surprising, your right hand keeps a very different shape in the two cases. One of the most common ways of muting on the guitar when using is a pick is using your right hand palm or wrist, when playing bass with fingers the palm and wrist are farther away from the strings.

The more I think about muting strings, the less I can mute strings. My advice (as unhelpful as it may be) is "just let it come naturally." Let your ears tell your hands what sounds you don't want to hear. It may take some time, but as you become more familiar with the mechanics of manipulating your instrument, muting strings will just happen.

Normally I don't suggest people should just "wait until it happens", but I very much agree that muting for a lot of players is achieved by micro adjustments of hands and fingers, directed by one's own tactile and ear perception and not much by thinking. But I do recommend some thinking or auto-analysis at least to figure out what strings are ringing out and why

For instance this: "ive learned to drag my fingers across to hit the next string when playing, but all that seems to do is make the lower strings ring when i move the finger keeping it from vibrating". Makes me wonder if the OP is not just touching the lower strings to mute but actually pressing them too much, making them ring when moving away. Or whether he's using compression or distortion or even bad pickups which might emphasise small noise.

 

[SteveCS]

...
But I do recommend some thinking ... to figure out what strings are ringing out and why
...
Makes me wonder if the OP is not just touching the lower strings to mute but actually pressing them too much, making them ring when moving away.

Another really common problem is thinking you are muting with a single touch-point, only to later learn that your contact point is on a harmonic node - imagine playing Eb or D on the A string with your middle finger and muting G and D by letting your index finger touch those strings - I would offer pretty good odds that your index finger is touching those strings right over the 5th or 4th fret...

Now use pinky to stop the notes and use middle and index to mute...

 

[Mojo34]

Considère checking out the Gary Willis Bassics Tutorials. And take your time!!

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Weird how much of playing bass and guitar is actually stopping the strings.

Practice bass without actually pushing strings down. So everything will be muted. Add in fretting lightly and slowly.

 

[Jay2U]

I think muting is easier when finger picking. I like to place my thumb between lower strings while strumming. Only lower strings tend to ring.
Here's how I mute:

 

[Watchootognbout]

In these pics I'm using a pick.
But the concept is the same for fingerstyle.


While the right edge of the picking hand is muting the unplayed strings,the left hand fingers are muting unplayed strings above the picked strings.

And the floating thumb for finger style.

 

[Ritter667]

Floating thumb!

 

[meisi]

you will quickly learn there are a million variations and techniques. do your best to dabble into all of them and use what works for you!

Muting is good. I remember part of my progression out of beginner status was appreciation of muting strings with both my left and right hands.

Sometimes I only fret first and second fingers leaving my third and forth laid across the strings to quickly mute as needed.

Other times I am in a 4 fret span in 2nd position and muting with my right hand.

If you start doing some flamenco strumming you’ll learn some fun left hand fretting mute techniques too.

Most important is to have fun and see what works for you! If it sounds good and it doesn’t hurt you’re doing it right and that’s all that really matters.

 

[timboalogo]

I've been playing bass for over 50 years and have tried all the techniques out there with no success. I finally gave up and started using one of these and they work great for me. I place it just below the nut (not as low as the first pic) and it works great, but still lets the open notes sound normal. Second pic is my bass.

View attachment 7098213

What is one of these called? a damper, a muter?

And I assume that in using one you can't play open strings ...?

Very new to bass ...

 

[Thumpin6string]

What is one of these called? a damper, a muter?

Very new to bass ...

Gruvgear Fretwrap.

 

[timboalogo]

Gruvgear Fretwrap.

Merci buckets!