Double Bass Strings ringing

[Justin Hoang]

How do I stop strings from ringing when playing a different string? E.g. Low E string rings when playing E on D string.

 

[Samatza]

In general you need to mute the other strings usually with your right hand fingers/thumb.

 

[Sean Riddle]

You can stop it with your left hand while bowing but at the same time I'm a big believer that what your describing, which is known as sympathetic resonance, is a great thing for double bass. It really helps out with volume and projection. There are plenty of schools of thought about it and it of course comes down to a matter of personal taste. For me the only time I stop any sympathetic resonance is when I'm playing in a loud amplified setting because it's going to cause feedback. Otherwise for medium-low volume amplified playing and especially when I'm playing acoustic I aim for as much sympathetic resonance as possible.

 

[Reiska]

Sympathetic resonance is a great intonation teacher, it`s your bass telling you that you`re in tune!

 

[AGCurry]

In general you need to mute the other strings usually with your right hand fingers/thumb.

Umm ... how do you do that while bowing?

 

[Samatza]

Umm ... how do you do that while bowing?

Don't really know, totally missed the bowing part of the question. Fretting hand is the only other option.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Sympathetic resonance is a great intonation teacher, it`s your bass telling you that you`re in tune!

Oh yeah, forgot about that reason too! Listen to your bass in the end, it’ll tell you if you’re playing it right.

 

[unbrokenchain]

I've noticed that dissonant vibrations can also mute the ringing note to a certain extent. For example if I play an A on the G string, the lower A string rings, but if I move up to a Bb, the open string goes quiet faster than if I stopped playing and left it to ring. Or maybe it's an illusion I don't know, but I never worry about the ring unless it's a loud amplified show like Sean mentioned, then it can be an issue.

 

[downunder]

This is a problem when trying to bow an amplified bass. Electric bass players who slap like to mute their open strings by using variations on something called a fretwrap - A piece of padded cloth that Velcro’s on around the neck. I am trying ond on my DB now. It works for my purposes, not sure if it would be appropriate for most players who Bow. I have two basses with false nuts on them to reduce the string length. So I can push the thing up over the nut when I don’t want the strings muted. On most instruments the thing would be engaged all the time, which is weird when you start playing pizzicato and don’t necessarily want your open strings muted.

 

[Sean Riddle]

I've noticed that dissonant vibrations can also mute the ringing note to a certain extent. For example if I play an A on the G string, the lower A string rings, but if I move up to a Bb, the open string goes quiet faster than if I stopped playing and left it to ring. Or maybe it's an illusion I don't know, but I never worry about the ring unless it's a loud amplified show like Sean mentioned, then it can be an issue.

There is definitely cases of notes half step apart ringing sympathetically. My bass does that with the F# on the A string and open G. You may also get a D harmonic ringing, either the 8th or 16th partial if you’re into that stuff, when you play that Bb on the G string.

This is a problem when trying to bow an amplified bass. Electric bass players who slap like to mute their open strings by using variations on something called a fretwrap - A piece of padded cloth that Velcro’s on around the neck. I am trying ond on my DB now. It works for my purposes, not sure if it would be appropriate for most players who Bow. I have two basses with false nuts on them to reduce the string length. So I can push the thing up over the nut when I don’t want the strings muted. On most instruments the thing would be engaged all the time, which is weird when you start playing pizzicato and don’t necessarily want your open strings muted.

Usually when I’m bowing in a loud amplified environment I find myself stopping any unnecessary sympathetic resonance either with my left and or with my neck when I’m playing in thumb position. Definitely not the healthiest way to go about it, but I’m not in those situations often so it doesn’t stick. Your method though does sound really useful and may be of use to try out. Something else that might work for you alongside this is putting a rag or ball between the tailpiece and top or using something to cover up the f holes.