Yeah, I get every bass set up as low as possible. A little arthritis in these old fingers make syou want to work less.
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New to bass. Need some advice
- Thread starter TRex1284
- Start date
Yeah, I get every bass set up as low as possible. A little arthritis in these old fingers make syou want to work less.
Can you here the metallic sound through your amp or is it just on the guitar. If you cant hear it through your amp then you're fine, as no one will hear it in the audience during a live show.
If you like your tone rolled off, then clank is NOT an issue and low action and Jamerson sound CAN be achieved.
- Jun 6, 2012
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Great replies here! I always anchored on the pickup 'till I took up 5 string. Then I adapted to floating (much more comfortable on the high strings). I also LOVE low action. A little fret buzz is ok because under amplification you really don't hear it. Like a lot of guys have said, experiment with hand and finger positioning, attack, etc. You can get many different tones in just that, from percussive clank to smooth, full bass. Whatever's appropriate for the song.
My biggest tip for a beginning bassist is to avoid picks and flatwounds at all costs lol!!!
My biggest tip for a beginning bassist is to avoid picks and flatwounds at all costs lol!!!
I will second the light playing technique people have recommended. Play as lightly as possible. It allows you to have even lower action without excessive noise and reduces hand fatigue.
If you can get it together go with floating thumb. It's a superior technique IMO. Makes playing the higher strings easier, among other things (I get better tone that way as well). The clank thing is something most of us avoid, but others use it as part of their sound. The most notable examples I can think of are John Entwistle and Geddy Lee. It's all technique, but higher action helps avoid it. Think of it as a rim shot. Keep your wrist straight.
First thing I recommend:
Second thing I recommend: Get a proper instructor. The key to this is to find one of those stores that sells band instruments to schools as opposed to "Joes Guitar Shop."
Last thing: Practice.
Rhythm
Arpeggios
Scales
Reading
Repertoire
at least one hour a day with 12minutes devoted to each area.
Then play with other people as often as possible. Even if you completely suck it up out there you will learn so much more. Music is made in groups.
Second thing I recommend: Get a proper instructor. The key to this is to find one of those stores that sells band instruments to schools as opposed to "Joes Guitar Shop."
Last thing: Practice.
Rhythm
Arpeggios
Scales
Reading
Repertoire
at least one hour a day with 12minutes devoted to each area.
Then play with other people as often as possible. Even if you completely suck it up out there you will learn so much more. Music is made in groups.
Last edited:
Thanks for all the replies guys. I was tuning my guitar by ear because I hadn't got a tuner yet...just bought one and my guitar was very out of tune. Yeah im a dumb drummer...anyway...the clanking has pretty much stopped even with very low action.
I had heard really good things about bass guitar for dummies believe it or not but maybe I will get this book instead.
I had heard really good things about bass guitar for dummies believe it or not but maybe I will get this book instead.
I actually suggest the Hal Leonard Bass Method (set of three in one books with CD) by Ed Friedland. Spend an hour a day with that book any you'll be amazed where you go.
And if you don't have an amp, get a used Tascam CD-BT mkII off eBay and a set of headphones and your all set.
I think the zoom B3 has hit a home run for bass practice tools. Pick one up used, ($150ish) hook it up to your computer via usb, download the free editor. Voila! Playback, drum machine, looper, and more effects than you will ever need.
And it runs on batteries, so you can sit on the deck and play with head phones. Great way to go direct into a mixer, or into an amp.
And it's got a tuner.
The preset artist patches help you dissect player's sounds.
A cool unit.
And it runs on batteries, so you can sit on the deck and play with head phones. Great way to go direct into a mixer, or into an amp.
And it's got a tuner.
The preset artist patches help you dissect player's sounds.
A cool unit.
Spoken like someone who's never been a drummer. If you think there's no finesse to it, then you are wrong…wrong…oh so very wrong.
(and if you are, or have been, a drummer…why would you say something like that? 
)However, that's not to say you're wrong in his particular case. I've never heard him wail away at the skins, so who truly knows?
It is technique, it can be avoided, but it doesn't have to be avoided. Some guys love a nice clank in their sound. Its all a matter of preference.
Have fun experimenting and good call on the Ibby. I quite like their basses.
Have fun experimenting and good call on the Ibby. I quite like their basses.
Spoken like someone who's never been a drummer. If you think there's no finesse to it, then you are wrong…wrong…oh so very wrong.
However, that's not to say you're wrong in his particular case. I've never heard him wail away at the skins, so who truly knows?
please do not misunderstand me. I clearly understand the nature of finesse on the kit. I am also aware that for many drummers 'a light touch' runs rather counter to their playing style. That the OP did not comment makes me believe he understands fully what I mean...
It's all good, dude. If nothing else, I should've tried harder to emphasize the nudge-nudge-wink-wink nature of my reply. (Hmm…perhaps it needed even more positive emoticons
)That being said, if I see a post that could influence or strengthen a negative stereotype months or years down the road when other, potentially less-enlightened
If you want to minimize clank there are 3 ways to go about it:
1. Raise the action: Low action enables faster playing, but also means that larger gage strings will buzz and downtuning will cause additional rattle.
2. Play lighter gage strings: Similar reasoning applies.
3. EQ for a mellow tone.
Personally I like my bass mellow and deep. Thus my EQ shape is simply a descending hill (Top): Clank happens in the mid and treble ranges, so rolling them off will prevent it a great deal.
1. Raise the action: Low action enables faster playing, but also means that larger gage strings will buzz and downtuning will cause additional rattle.
2. Play lighter gage strings: Similar reasoning applies.
3. EQ for a mellow tone.
Personally I like my bass mellow and deep. Thus my EQ shape is simply a descending hill (Top): Clank happens in the mid and treble ranges, so rolling them off will prevent it a great deal.
