Muting ringing strings

[Hambone 70]

Now that I can read bass clef, and am getting familiar with the fretboard, I'm enjoying playing some basic songs... without tabs!

Finger picking a single string at a time cleanly isn't a problem, but I'm having problems with other ringing strings muddying up the sound. They're normally strings that I have just played, often a descending or ascending pattern.

I'm playing with my fretting thumb against the back of the neck. I've seen lots of players that wrap the fretting thumb around the neck, both to fret the E-string, and to mute the E- and sometimes A-string.

What are some good muting techniques? Exercises?

Thanks in anticipation!

 

[Floyd Eye]

I don't know about exercises, but I regularly mute the other strings using any available fingers on my left hand, including wrapping my thumb around the top of the neck to mute the E string.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Nature of the beast. I use my thumb to sound the strings, so use a palm mute. I also use foam rubber under the strings at the bridge. Gives an upright bass sound that I like. Check out what is said here http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/foam-rubber-mutes-398011/.

Several ways to go about this, kinda depends on how you sound the strings, fingers, thumb, pick, etc.

 

[Duckwater]

I mute every string that I'm not playing with my left hand, without use of my thumb.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I never use my fretting thumb to mute but I use unused fingers sometime but 90% of the time I use a floating thumb technic.

 

[fearceol]

There is nothing wrong with wrapping the thumb around the neck of the bass, but it very much limits your playing.

The "Floating Thumb" is a useful technique to use here.

 

[mambo4]

For me muting is a 2 handed affair. Higher strings I mute with my left hand using a light touch of length of a pinkie or index .
lower stings I use my right hand. I play two finger plucking style, so I am usually resting an index or middle finger on the lower string. (lower in pitch that is)

 

[Varcolac]

Muting, for me, is a two-handed technique. Allow me to explain:

Let's say I'm playing a line on the A string. On my left hand, the tips of my fingers fret the string. Now, assuming I'm playing a single-note line, there are three fingers at any one time that aren't fretting a note. I use these fingers mainly to mute the strings above the one I'm playing. Playing the A string with my index finger? D and G strings are muted by the upper parts (not the tips) of my other three fingers. My middle finger, being longer than the others, is sometimes used to mute strings below the one I'm playing. My left hand is very flat to the fretboard as I play. I like to keep as much of my hand in contact with the strings to mute as possible.

Pictures!

Step one: C#, fourth fret, A string. Single note held down, no muting. If I flail at the strings I'll sound E C# D G, which is a lovely C#mb5addb9 chord (ew) but not what we're looking for.

Step two: mute those pesky D and G strings with my little finger. That'll learn 'em.

Step three: don't want that low E ringing out either. Mute that with my middle and ring fingers (ring finger tends to follow little or middle fingers. so long as it's not muting the A string we're golden).

Now, the right hand can flail away at the strings all I want, but the only clear note that'll come through is the C# that I was looking for in the first place.

On the right hand, my thumb is nearly always used to mute the strings below the one I'm playing, except of course when I'm using my thumb to sound the strings (slap, thumbing, or picking). If I'm playing the bottom string, my thumb rests on the pickup, pointing straight at the ground. If I'm playing any other strings, the thumb rests on the strings below. If I'm playing the G string (or C on my 6-stringer), the thumb covers all other strings. Between left hand fingers and right hand thumb, I've got the other three (or four, or five) strings on lockdown!

It's all about economy of motion, in my opinion. When I play a note, I don't just concentrate on that note. I anticipate the next note, and this affects my choice of finger (if the line goes Ab > F I'm not going to play the Ab with my index finger). I also look at the notes I'm not playing, and mute them accordingly, making sure that I'm not making things difficult for myself.

Man it's difficult to explain finger positions in text. Hope I helped!

 

[Mushroo]

Take a couple of private lessons (in person or Skype through talkbass) with a teacher who specializes in the "movable anchor" or "floating thumb" technique. This allows you to mute all strings with a combination of your right and left hands, it is a basic intermediate Bass 201 technique that all players should learn in my humble opinion.

 

[Hambone 70]

Thanks to everyone for the comments and techniques.

What a great community and forum!

 

[Ubersheist]

I don't know about exercises, but I regularly mute the other strings using any available fingers on my left hand, including wrapping my thumb around the top of the neck to mute the E string.

Take a couple of private lessons (in person or Skype through talkbass) with a teacher who specializes in the "movable anchor" or "floating thumb" technique. This allows you to mute all strings with a combination of your right and left hands, it is a basic intermediate Bass 201 technique that all players should learn in my humble opinion.

+1 to both of these. These in tandem will kill off any unwanted noises!

Here's another method that I don't think has been discussed yet: Years ago, I took a clinic with Sekou Bunch. One technique that he spoke about that I've really employed is a barring technique. I've never had a formal lesson where this was discussed. I see lots of other bass players use it, but never the newbie/padowan players. The older/more experienced bassists will often use it some, as it'll naturally happen if you play enough. However, he really pointed out a few things that blew a door wide open for me. As such, this post is really for the newbie/padowan players.

It hinges on being able to articulate your index finger enough so that you can fret a string with the backside of your knuckles and meaty part of your finger between the 2nd and 3rd knuckles, while at the same time not fretting the other strings. It helps if you're double jointed. However, I'm not and it still works for me. The end result is that the other strings are automatically dampened.

I don't/can't use it all the time, and it lends itself better to certain songs and styles - pentatonic scales, funk and slapping being maybe the most natural. However, it lets you get much faster with your playing. You can jump to the 4, 5, 7, minor 3rd really without moving your finger at all, and then also add in the 2 and other notes very easily, which can result in some speed if you need it. It works well if you're playing a major scale to slide the thing up two frets to make some 5th to 9th runs,too. The benefit is that you can keep the strings very close to the frets without fretting them, have minimal movement between notes, and keep things nice and quiet.

 

[squeally dan]

Thanks for the info. I have some muting issues on certain songs.

 

[jay tay]

Lots of good info here.

Some players like Victor Wooten use a pony tail holder, or hair band just below the nut to help stop unwanted ringing.

I use them on my six string bass'

Link Removed

But you have to slip it back over the nut to play harmonics.

They are literally pennies from a convenience store, but it is also a good idea to learn all the muting techniques mentioned above.

 

[Russell L]

To me, it's kind of like how I use the dampening pedal on piano---if I have to explain how I do it, I can't. It's kind of automatic. How did I learn it? Well, just by listening to what's going on, as you are doing. After awhile you, too, will do it automatically, I'll bet. Although, once in awhile I'll run into a problem with a string ringing in which I have to figure out a special way to stop it. Sometimes it makes my hand look like it's jumping around, or bouncing. Sometimes it's with one hand sometimes the other, just depends.

And sometimes it isn't a problem if the note ringing harmonizes with the progression. Just keep taking note of it and find a way to stop it when needed. It'll all become more familiar to you as you go.