How to play gently and make your lines sound dynamic?

[TheIndieKid]

So after playing bass for quite a while I've submitted to the idea of letting the amp do the work. I barely touch the strings, with my fingers at a near 90 degree angle, utilising floating thumb and barely plucking the string. However, I feel that my lines, while all even, don't have a dynamic feel. I have a medium action but I have thought of lowering it. When I listen to my favourite bass players, their lines seem to played in the same way as they would be vocalised, and yet I can't seem to get the idea of usng accents and dynamics into my playing without them sounding forced and not part of the track. Maybe it's because I'm using flatwounds, and they thump to varying degrees, and lack the articulation and great sound of roundwounds when playing solo, which is what I do mostly. However, I know flatwounds suit a band situation better regardless of the situation, and who at my age, wants to be changing strings every other week? So can anyone give me advice?

 

[elgecko]

However, I know flatwounds suit a band situation better regardless of the situation

Really?

 

[TheIndieKid]

Really?

I'm just thinking along the lines of general soundscape and all that. The way the sound is concentrated in the low mids so does not clash with guitars or anything. However, I speak as someone who prefers to not really stand out in the mix. YMMV of course, If you're a solo player or someone who prefers to cut through mix, or are in a band centred around the bass, it's different or course

 

[elgecko]

Cutting through the mix doesn't necessarily mean the music's centered around the bass but that's neither here nor there.

Playing dynamically is impossible if all you do is "barely pluck the string". It starts there but ranges all the way up to really digging in.

 

[mambo4]

I feel that my lines, while all even, don't have a dynamic feel.

playing even means no dynamics.

the reason playing evenly is encouraged as "good" is because beginners can't control their dynamics - their plucking is all over the place.
The goods news is , if you can play evenly, then you are already controlling your dynamics.

What I did to help my dynamics was make up an internal "volume" setting: 1-3
1 i s quiet
2 is medium,
3 is loud

and I got in the habit of often asking my self, while playing,
"am I at a 1,2, or3 ? Does this phrase want to be a 1,2, or 3?"
It's a very basic start to building awareness of dynamics

Classical music ranges more than 8 levels of dynamics, and covers increases and decreases over time too:

It takes practice and awareness to get good at it.

Don't forget that dynamics is a change in musical character over time: not only volume.
Things like tone (where you pluck) and even abstract stuff like emotion can be modulated over time.

 

[enricogaletta]

Well, this is a great topic because the power of dynamics is underestimated most of the time but is what make the bassist Tone.
That's because it's the fundament of the bass playing no matter what.
A good starting point for each bass player should be a bass line almost even, dynamically talking (both groove and solo).
It's disappointing when you watch some live performances and you hear a bass player playing some steady rock groove and sometimes you hear the notes, sometimes not, or a funk fingerstyle player missing some sixteenth notes or a bassist playing some active slap groove/solo and be able only to listen the plucks, it never happened to you?
I always suggest to my students wishing to improve their dynamics, to record themselves; a good test is a medium rock eight line or a slap groove and then check the dynamics and timing.
Coming back to your questions, as I read on a previous post, you should be already at a good point.
A good way to start emphasizes your dynamics is playing scales and arpeggios singing the notes (hear training concepts).
Play and sing first equally each note then play the scale with a soft/medium dynamics and strongly the arpeggio note.
This would be a good exercise to begin, especially if you apply it to your all harmony knowledge and over the whole fingerboard.
Then you could go ahead making your personal combination, let always your hear and feel be the judge.
After that, there is another couple of matter very important about dynamics.
First, your band fellas. A lot of times even if you are great with dynamics, the band members are not, you can play all the dynamics you want but if the drummer or the guitarist doesn't listen to you, or each other, or don't give to the tune a dynamic form, your playing will be affected, no matter what.
Second, strings and action. In my opinion, the strings type (flatwound, roundwound etc) are not influent on dynamics, new or older strings definitely have a part on it.
The same thing for the bass action, if you learn how to handle your strength with a medium/low action you will definitely reach an improvement in dynamics. Of course, you can do the same with high action, but probably the instruments will less response to your touch.
I hope that helps and if you need more help feel free to contact me.
Ciao. Enrico

 

[lz4005]

What I did to help my dynamics was make up an internal "volume" setting: 1-3
1 i s quiet
2 is medium,
3 is loud

I do something similar. I default to medium, then adjust as needed.

It isn't just volume, it's also tone. There's a continuum of sounds from the quietest to the loudest you can play.

Instrument setup plays a part too. I adjust mine so that I don't get string buzz that's audible through the amp until I'm playing at about a 4 out of 5 right hand force. It's like having a built in distortion pedal.
Both Geddy Lee and Les Claypool have done interviews talking about doing the same thing. That's where I got the idea 20 years ago. I'm sure there are many others as well.