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muting on a 5-string

Sam Evans

Sam Evans

Supporting Member
Nov 29, 2008
2,566
3,557
#1
I despise unwanted string noise, especially from sympathetic vibrations. I’ve cultivated my damping / muting technique on 4-string basses so that I never have to hear it. If it’s noise from one or more strings above the one I’m playing, I use parts of my left hand to mute the unused strings. If it’s noise from one or more strings below the one I’m playing, then it depends:

If I’m playing the E string – well, there’s no strings below that. :D

If I’m playing the A string, I simply use rest-strokes to mute the E string.

If I’m playing the D string, I use rest-strokes to mute the A string, and I rest my thumb on the E string (movable thumb technique).

If I’m playing the G string, I use rest-strokes to mute the D string, I rest my thumb on the A string (movable thumb technique), and I bend my thumb a bit so that the back of the knuckle mutes the E string.

Now here’s my quandary: I’m definitely interested in buying a 5-string bass sometime over the next year, but I can’t figure out how the hell I’m going to mute the B string when I’m playing on the G string.

Suggestions? What do you guys do?

Thanks in advance.

(PS: Please mark all smart-alecky replies with the following icon: :p )

(PPS: I did do a search, but didn't find the specific info I'm looking for. If there's a thread on this that I missed, a link would be appreciated.)
 
#3
gmarcus said:
Just use your 4 string technique but lay your thumb down a little more so that it mutes all of the lower strings.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid if I do that, it'll move my wrist and tilt my fingers back a bit too much - I tend to play with my fingers a bit more forward than some, especially on fast passages. I'll definitely give it a try, though, thanks for the suggestion.
 
#5
Thanks, I had looked at the first 2 or 3 pages of that thread and not found anything specific enough. After you mentioned it, I went slogging through some more, and finally found some specific info around page 5 or so. I'll definitely watch that video too.
 
#7
You can also do it like John Pattitucci does it - thumb (1rst finger) mutes the B string, 5th finger mutes the E string, and 4th finger mutes the A string. It`s comfortable - I seem to switch between that and floating tumb depending on what I`m playing. I use my left hand for muting too, especially when playing with a pick.

Works halfway decent:

Link Removed
 
#10
When playing the G string I can often use my left thumb to mute the B string. Other than that muting two strings with the right thumb is also possible, so that both the B and E are muted by that one. I'm usually keeping my right thumb on the B string as a standard, but move it up when needed. It all depends on what's comfortable for you, and what kind of bass you've got. My 4-string bass is a Marcus Miller signature, and muting is a non-issue, since the strings pretty much don't ring by themselves. On my 5-string Stingray on the other hand, strings make a sound extremely easy, so I have to mute every string but the one I'm playing on at every time (well, maybe not the one I'm landing on when plucking).
 
#11
Thanks for the feedback, guys.

I watched that floating thumb video. I'm not sure how well that will work for me. My right hand technique is radically different than Tom's. His fingers are kinda collapsed, with most of the fingers almost parallel to the body of the bass. I tend to play with a very light touch on the very tips of my fingers, so my fingers kinda stand straight up, perpendicual to the body of the bass. That keeps all but the tip of my thumb away from the body. So if I try Tom's method, I'm not just learning floating thumb, I'm radically altering my basic technique. I suppose if that's what it takes, then that's what it takes, but I'd prefer another solution.
Hmm, maybe it's time to head to the guitar store and try a 5-string out, see what I can come up with, try out some of y'all's suggestions.
Thanks again!
 
#12
I found out that if I just let my hands do the work, they figured out how to stop the ringing without any active brain assistance from me.

Honestly, the B doesn't vibrate sympathetically as much as the higher strings (on the 8 5ers besides mine that I'm played around on at least :)), so it's not as big a deal as you may be afraid of. The only time I really have to mute it is when doing slap/pop, and that's because I've not developed the accuracy yet.

I don't know if I'm doing floating or moving or drifting or whatever thumb personally, it just does what it needs to.

That said, something I do when slapping a low note is I"ll lay my whole fretting hand flat across all the strings and use whatever finger is closest to the playing fret to do the fretting, letting the other fingers mute all the strings. It's comfortable, although took some time to build up the finger strength (sometimes I end up using the knuckle crease to fret instead of the fingertip, and that takes a bit more strength). Hushes all the notes right up :).

Maybe focus less on the technique and see what your hands come up with on their own, and then refine it :)
 
#13
That's a good point. I managed to cultivate pretty good left hand muting without ever learning about it or trying to figure it out. Maybe I'll just see what happens. :)

I also wondered if the B string might not vibrate so much due to higher mass. Your experience certainly seems to indicate that. I'd be interested in others' experience on that too.
 
#14
I figured out how to mute on my 5 strings by myself. When I got mine I was playing for one year and at that time, Talkbass and Youtube didn't exist.

So by playing it I saw a problem develop floating thumb in an angle close to my other fingers so I'm able to use 3 or 4 fingers or to play cross strings like a classical guitar player.

So yes it changed my way to play but it was for the best. I really think I have the right way to place my hands to avoid any injuries and have the enough strengh play as long as I want.
 
#16
I've never had a problem with B-string muting, it does seem less prone to sympathetic vibrations. I mute both the E and B at the same time just by having my thumb between the two strings rather than right on top of either. The string spacing on a 5 is narrow enough that it works. It's not something I ever really thought of, just happened with playing time.

Sometimes I will cheat and bring my fretting-hand thumb over the top and mute it that way. I know, I know.....:rollno:
 
#17
kreider204 said:
What do you guys do?
Click to expand...

I rest my thumb on the B or E string, or between both of them, unless I'm playing them. That's mostly just to rest my thumb somewhere. Most of my muting is done with my left hand. So it's a little of both hands.

I get no spurious noise from strings I'm not playing on.

If you think about it, why would you have to mute lower strings and not higher ones? (look at you left hand for the answer) ;)
 
#18
tZer said:
Floating thumb works really well - as does using your pinky and ring finger on your plucking hand. Practice using a lighter touch and a little more volume. When the other strings make a lot of noise it can be a sign that you're attacking a bit too hard.
Click to expand...


What's the technique on the 5 string if you are playing a slap piece?
 
#19
I switched from 4 to 5 strings without altering my technique - or maybe doing so without noticing.
It simply never was a problem. My recorded tracks were properly muted and I never gave it a thought.
Until I bought a 6 string. That's a string more than I have fingers on my right hand. I looked into floating thumb then. Curiously, some songs require it while others are fine with the 'old' technique.
I think you should be fine on a 5.
 

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