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Light or heavy touch ?

#21
Great topic!

Let me start by saying that I'm a beginner with some arthritis issues. Have played guitar for a long time but am only about 6 months into trying to gain some competence on bass.

Thanks to trial and error and some generous advice from folks here, I've arrived at the following: short scale, medium/low action, light-gauge flat wounds, fingers (no picks) and light touch. The flats are easier on the fingers and eliminate unwanted string noise.

I keep the EQ somewhere in the middle: just enough treble to "bring things into focus" and add some punch and definition. Enough to keep things from sounding too muffled, but not so much that the sound starts to become at all harsh or thin. This may constitute something of a crutch, since it also tends to mask some of the extraneous sounds which result from my less-than-pristine technique, but that's where I'm at for now.

Probably started this journey too late in life to get very far down the road before the clock runs out, but I'm enjoying the hell out of it anyway. If nothing else, it's greatly enhancing my ability to understand and appreciate what's going on in the low-frequency range when I'm listening to others play, and that alone is enough to make the effort worthwhile.

You get to my age and just the fact that you woke up again that morning means it's a good day. The rest is all gravy...
 
#23
I use really low action about 2/64th's on G string at 12th fret and a light touch but that said I can play as aggressive as I need to when I need without clank because I pluck the string at an angle. I use Gary Willis's right hand technique, plucking at an angle is part of it. I can get full range, loud or soft because of it.
 
#25
I think it really depends on the music . Though, my opinion, ( just my opinion here ), is and has been for a awhile that dynamic range, powerful rhythm and varied articulation are more important than simply wanting a light action with an easy setup. I also ( again , just my opinion ) feel that sometimes, turning up the amp and playing lighter affects the power of the Rhythm and Groove in a way that , to me, is detrimental. Again, it really depends on the song, and even what part of the song.......
 
#26
henry2513 said:
I use really low action about 2/64th's on G string at 12th fret and a light touch but that said I can play as aggressive as I need to when I need without clank because I pluck the string at an angle. I use Gary Willis's right hand technique, plucking at an angle is part of it. I can get full range, loud or soft because of it.
Click to expand...


What do you mean? I pluck at an angle both front to back and up and down. Bassically wrist forward and up about 45 deg. I still pluck the string parallel to the board, but my fingers are retardedly long and my middle finger is about 5/8" longer than my pointer.
 
#27
garak7 said:
My favorite sound is getting that nice clank out of my P-Bass, used sparingly, of course.
Click to expand...

Same here. I prefer medium action, which allows me to:

1) Dig in with clank
2) Dig in without clank
3) Play with moderate attack
4) Play lightly
5) Play really lightly
6) ...etc

I'm not saying all that can't be done with low action, but I can't.

Most of us know about James Jamerson. I would never use high action and super-heavy strings as he did, but he was certainly no ham-fisted metal basher, and it can certainly be argued that those factors influenced his tone as well as his technique.
 
#28
I found I have a greater range of volume going from the fender specs to low action. I can still pluck almost as hard, but can pluck so much softer now. So my max volume hasn't changed, just my minimum. I should note I also gave up on the compressor. It was letting me be too lazy.
 
#29
JimmyM said:
I go back and forth depending on the song. Some songs just plain sound better when you dig in a bit, and some sound better when you don't.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. It's a real challenge for me to go light, and I always try to turn my amp up to one notch past "too loud" just to force me to dial it back. My wife is a Volume Nazi, so she won't let me be too loud. If she is complaining, then I am failing.

On some songs, I go ahead and turn down a bit, because I know I am going to hit it hard.

Dynamics are what separate the real players from the players, in my opinion. I haven't quite made the jump to real player yet, but at least I have a goal.
 
#30
People talk about heavy and light touch a lot but to me the main point is focus.

The ability to deliver a lot of energy into the string on attacks, in a short burst of time.
It is what gives a powerful, dynamic tone, allows long sustain and preserves clarity even in very fast lines.
It can be done with very small and controlled movements, without attacking like a brute constantly.
 
#31
John Patitucci said:
I think it really depends on the music . Though, my opinion, ( just my opinion here ), is and has been for a awhile that dynamic range, powerful rhythm and varied articulation are more important than simply wanting a light action with an easy setup. I also ( again , just my opinion ) feel that sometimes, turning up the amp and playing lighter affects the power of the Rhythm and Groove in a way that , to me, is detrimental. Again, it really depends on the song, and even what part of the song.......
Click to expand...
Whoa! Nice! Welcome to the board, John!
 
#32
I use a very light touch. I feel that I get more definition out of my various sounds, which on the whole are very clean and almost percussive....which are influenced by:

where I play fingerstyle on the bass (over the fretboard end for very mellow round sound, between fretboard end and precision pickup for more defined round sound, directly over the precision pickup for a full punchy sound, between the precision pickup and the bridge for a more midrange sound),

what muting techniques I use (left hand only, right hand only, alternating) to "affect" the "percussive" nature of my parts,

how I set up the amp (EQ, tube or transisitor preamp, compressor or no compression),

and how I approach the song via the drummer (play to the drummer's hits, play a complementary rhythm to the drummer's hits, play around the drummer's hits) and the guitarist (steady root note rhythm for a mood like in some electric blues, root positions with harmony note fills added to spice it up like in some pop, "melodic" runs "through" the guitarist's chord as an almost "alternate" rhythm like in some progressive, a walk based on the "section's" chord regardless of what guitarist is doing like in some jazz/standards, mirroring guitar riffs like in some heavy rock a la King's X).
 
#38
I'm in the process of revamping my technique after a years long layoff (started playing 23 years ago, played about 9, took 11 and now after a couple years I'm better than ever but I seem to be plateauing below where I want to be) - I am now trying to learn to play lighter with my right hand (plucking hand) because it seems that it will allow me to play faster-(is this a correct assumption- lighter touch, less digging deep and less "overshoot" after the pluck so faster string crossing- is this a fair assumption or can one play with a heavy touch and still burn- and I'm not talking only for shredding solos but mostly for fast string crossing for larger intervals and interesting basslines).

To you guys who say you let the amp do the work... where do you stand on pick-up setting? In other words, does it matter where the volume comes from... wide open pick up with medium amp vs medium open pup and more amp?

The reason I think I have always played heavy with my right is because, since before I ever started playing, my left hand/wrist is slightly deformed and nerve damaged in my 3rd and 4th fingers so my left hand is not good at muting so I play hard right hand so I can keep the volume down to "hide" my left handed sloppiness. I don't know if that makes any sense but I think it does as with "heavy plucking" my amp or the PA will only pick up super loud noises (my intentioned noises) as opposed to unwanted quiet harmonic ringing and fret buzz).

Thanks
 
#39
henry2513 said:
lol what was that like?
Click to expand...

It reminded me of what was said about John Entwistle's basses, the strings going through to the back of the neck! All I got was a lot of buzzing, I could not get a clean note to save my life., and I have been playing fretless basses for almost 40 years. The bass in question was Gary's own Ibanez Signature bass, when it first came out on the market; IIRC that was the last tour TT did before whisking off to stay in Europe.
 

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