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Noise when using fingers instead of pick

Ronniek

Ronniek

Guest
Mar 21, 2015
26
1
70
Lancaster, South Carolina
#1
I might be answering my own question but here goes. When using fingers instead of a pick I get a thump noise that sounds like I'm hitting the pickup with the string or finger. Am I playing too hard? I can turn the volume up & ease off the finger plucking but it just doesn't feel right.
 
#2
I like to set my amp at point where I'm right on the edge of getting a little tube distortion, and can control the amount with my right hand choices. I could never do this if i plucked "aggressively" all the time.

If the string is hitting your pickups, then yes you are plucking too hard.
If it "just doesn't feel right" You should probably scrutinize your right hand technique and spend some time establishing new habits.

Also check the axis of your pluck -don't pull the strings away form the pickup, pull them to the side (away form neighbor strings) to the primary axis of vibration is parallel to the pickup, not away/toward it.

This is definitely a situation where putting some practice time will pay off greatly in the long term. There a many good reasons to turn up an play with a lighter touch.
Less fatigue on your right hand, better precision and speed , more consistency, control and variety in your tone. Your right hand can do an awful lot, but not if it is constrained to the extremes of possibility.
 
#4
Ronniek said:
I might be answering my own question but here goes. When using fingers instead of a pick I get a thump noise that sounds like I'm hitting the pickup with the string or finger. Am I playing too hard? I can turn the volume up & ease off the finger plucking but it just doesn't feel right.
Click to expand...

The first thing I would do is check pickup height or maybe you're slightly hitting the pickup with your finger after the string is struck.
 
#8
I have a Fender Jazz that has a problem where if you simply tap on the back pickup, you can hear it clearly in the amp, instead of sounding dead like tapping on the body. I don't know why it does this, but I suppose I need to replace it. Anyway, I can hear it thump whenever I play off that pickup. Could that be your problem also?
 
#9
Spin Doctor said:
I have a Fender Jazz that has a problem where if you simply tap on the back pickup, you can hear it clearly in the amp, instead of sounding dead like tapping on the body. I don't know why it does this, but I suppose I need to replace it. Anyway, I can hear it thump whenever I play off that pickup. Could that be your problem also?
Click to expand...

I kinda doubt it, it's a new guitar. I think I'm just playing too hard.
 
#10
It seems obvious that the problem has something to do with playing too hard, and that you need to lighten your touch, but it seems important to figure out what exactly is hitting what to cause the "thump." Just striking the strings aggressively doesn't cause a "thump" sound. If it's not the sound of your finger hitting the pickup, what it is it?

The only thing I can think of is that you're using rest strokes -- i.e., after plucking a string, your finger continues to move until it comes to rest on the next higher string -- and that the thump is coming from the latter part of that motion: That is, your finger isn't just "coming to rest" on the next higher string, but is smacking it pretty hard. If that's the case, the problem isn't in the string-striking per se, but rather in the follow-through. When you're "getting into it" you might actually be doing a good job of NOT striking the target string too hard -- but at the cost of taking out all that extra energy on the next string. If so, you're not only causing this annoying "thumping" problem, but you're wasting a ton of energy while you're doing it.

As others have suggested, turn the amp up so that a light touch is adequate to produce the volume you want. Practice playing gently this way, and then work on resisting the urge to pluck harder just because you're "feeling it."
 
#11
Lobster11 said:
It seems obvious that the problem has something to do with playing too hard, and that you need to lighten your touch, but it seems important to figure out what exactly is hitting what to cause the "thump." Just striking the strings aggressively doesn't cause a "thump" sound. If it's not the sound of your finger hitting the pickup, what it is it?

The only thing I can think of is that you're using rest strokes -- i.e., after plucking a string, your finger continues to move until it comes to rest on the next higher string -- and that the thump is coming from the latter part of that motion: That is, your finger isn't just "coming to rest" on the next higher string, but is smacking it pretty hard. If that's the case, the problem isn't in the string-striking per se, but rather in the follow-through. When you're "getting into it" you might actually be doing a good job of NOT striking the target string too hard -- but at the cost of taking out all that extra energy on the next string. If so, you're not only causing this annoying "thumping" problem, but you're wasting a ton of energy while you're doing it.

As others have suggested, turn the amp up so that a light touch is adequate to produce the volume you want. Practice playing gently this way, and then work on resisting the urge to pluck harder just because you're "feeling it."
Click to expand...



You know you just might be right. I think I do use rest strokes. I'll pay attention tonight & get back to y'all.
 
#12
OK, cool.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that you shouldn't be using rest strokes; I'm just saying that assuming you are, the "follow through" might explain the source of the thump -- and if that turns out to be it, you'll know exactly what aspect of your technique you need to adjust to fix the problem.
 
#16
Ronniek said:
Sorry, forgot to respond back. Pretty sure it is just my hard playing style/habit. Turning the volume up stops it till I catch myself back hitting the strings hard again.

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

Heavy plucking is not an easy habit to overcome.
Turning up and plucking lightly takes as much practice as anything else.
Spend a few minutes each day focusing only on that.
you are not just training your fingers
you are also training your mental awareness around the issue

One thing i have done is mentally assign degrees of aggressiveness to my plucking :
  1. really soft
  2. normal
  3. aggressive
and build a habit of just asking myself mid-song "Am I at a 1, 2, or 3? where should I be ?"
 
#17
Much as technique and proper ergonomics are very important, I think when it comes to right hand attack it's matter of preference more than anything. A diverse player will be able to play soft or loud depending on what is needed/desired, so while slamming the strings like your fingers are made of asbestos 100% of the time is undesirable, I think it's just as bad to hear a player who has no real personality in the way they play all the time. The most perfect example of aggressive finger technique I can think of is Geddy Lee, there's a billion threads on this website talking about getting his sound through amp controls, gear etc., when what a lot of people fail to realize is about 90% of his sound came from playing extremely hard with his right hand. While it's less efficient than playing softly, it created a specific sound and feel for him that really defined him as a player, so in my mind it's as correct as can be.

TLDR: When it comes to right hand technique you can do whatever you want, loud, soft, slap, pop etc, but it's important to have a handle on it so you can shape it to your desire and not just be stuck with what you do.
 
#18
Lobster11 said:
It seems obvious that the problem has something to do with playing too hard, and that you need to lighten your touch, but it seems important to figure out what exactly is hitting what to cause the "thump." Just striking the strings aggressively doesn't cause a "thump" sound. If it's not the sound of your finger hitting the pickup, what it is it?

The only thing I can think of is that you're using rest strokes -- i.e., after plucking a string, your finger continues to move until it comes to rest on the next higher string -- and that the thump is coming from the latter part of that motion: That is, your finger isn't just "coming to rest" on the next higher string, but is smacking it pretty hard. If that's the case, the problem isn't in the string-striking per se, but rather in the follow-through. When you're "getting into it" you might actually be doing a good job of NOT striking the target string too hard -- but at the cost of taking out all that extra energy on the next string. If so, you're not only causing this annoying "thumping" problem, but you're wasting a ton of energy while you're doing it.

As others have suggested, turn the amp up so that a light touch is adequate to produce the volume you want. Practice playing gently this way, and then work on resisting the urge to pluck harder just because you're "feeling it."
Click to expand...


I had the exact problem mentioned here. I spent some time learning to play with free strokes, and it helped tremendously. I had to rework learning to mute with my fretting and picking hand, and it took a little commitment, but I no longer get into the pick-up or strike neighboring strings.
 
#19
jp58 said:
I had the exact problem mentioned here. I spent some time learning to play with free strokes, and it helped tremendously. I had to rework learning to mute with my fretting and picking hand, and it took a little commitment, but I no longer get into the pick-up or strike neighboring strings.
Click to expand...


Since my original post I've gotten a lot of good advice. I've paid more attention to how my fingers go across the strings. I'm letting the amp do more work & made some changed to the amp settings. I really didn't have the amp setup very well, but I sat down one evening & set all the nobs straight up & went from there till I got a sound that I liked. I have a ULTRABASS BX3000T head with a Fender Bassman 2x15 cabinet.
Thanks for all the comments. Don't stop!
 

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