Technique doesn’t change the sound!

[bigdaddybass12]

Now that I have you looking, at my gig Wednesday night, we have a song that I miss the same note every time thru. One of the singers plays bass also. I handed him my bass asked him to show me how he plays it. My bass sounded so different. It sounded deep and smooth. Where it’s more clanky when I play. I am more of a “down player” where he plays more “across” the strings. I always knew how I play affects the sound. I finally heard it on just my bass. Any others experience the same situation?

 

[Killing Floor]

Yep.
Dig in and learn multiple techniques.
It’s also why people say it’s “the player” not the gear.

But still, gear is cool.

 

[monsterthompson]

I’ve definitely heard other players use my gear and get different sounds out of it. I’m not sure how different and on what scale I’d measure it.

I’ve not heard a person make a P sound like the bridge of a J, or the neck of a Ric sound like the bridge of a MM, but there’s certainly a way to get a given bass to make a variety of sounds based on pickups selected and technique applied and picking location. Some techniques and instruments probably have a certain synergy.

 

[Pings Bass]

Whenever a guitarist picks up my bass they sound like an arythmic noodler

 

[Five or Six]

The first thing I was told when I started, a "light touch" is you friend. You didn't say, both using finger style, both pick, one pick one finger style. It does matter. Dynamics in music are important. Some players, no matter the instrument, the music type, never learn this technique. Not to mention where you are at when you play. Close to the amp, usually. Listening, much farther away will get the full real sound. Something you don't get to do when you are playing. It will sound different the farther you are from things.

 

[Ritter667]

Darth Vader is not Luke Skywalkers dad.

 

[RattleSnack]

I believe most bass players underestimate power of using different techniques for different sounds. Most I've heard get one or max two sounds and pedal from the beginning to the end of the gig with it.
I do my best pull out lots of different sounds in my gigs. I switch positions when playing classic two finger picking, play whole songs slap/pop or put in slap/pop fills where it's tasteful. I do thumb, index and mid finger for retro disco songs (1-8-8 pattern). I do palm mute with any finger's combination for chill parts of songs. I am decent pick player and use it live when can be bothered to bring pick. I even string-tap without picking hand just for fun and giggles.
I would advise everyone to develop at least three distinctively different techniques and use them.

 

[2saddleslab]

You've typically experienced your tone from the stage. Could it be the difference you were hearing was due to listening to another bass player from the audience prospective?

 

[dune]

Any others experience the same situation?

I have, and from what I have read here and elsewhere across the internet, everyone has.
In Rick Beato's interview with Nuno Bettencourt, Nuno recalled the time that Eddie Van Halen invited him to play through his rig.
Thinking that the was finally going to sound "Just like Eddie." he was profoundly disappointed that he sounded like himself, even through Eddie's rig.
It's in the hands.

 

[HolmeBass]

The player’s touch, really regardless of technique, is the most difficult thing to replicate. But then, why would you want to? Having your own sound is where it’s at.

I find my sound is a complex convolution of everything: my touch, technique I am using (finger, slap, pick), the bass (strings, pups, electronics, wood), effects and their settings, amp and its settings, and the cabinet. It all has an effect on the final sound.

Touch is the one thing that is almost impossible to copy. I say almost because some people have managed to copy someone else’s sound, but usually to the detriment of their own sound!

 

[Jogobass]

I was on a jazz session once. And a electric upright player who didn't bring his bass asked to play on my fretless Gary Willis bass. He plucked right against the bridge, had the treble all the way down and the session manager ran to the bass amp to turn down the mids. When I play jazz I pluck closer to the neck usually which gives a much warmer sound and the mids and treble are not an issue at all.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

I always knew how I play affects the sound

I'm trying to reconcile your thread title with that !, "Technique doesn't change the sound!" with the above provided statement from your post.

 

[monsterthompson]

I'm trying to reconcile your thread title with that !, "Technique doesn't change the sound!" with the above provided statement from your post.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

View attachment 7063601

“Now that I have you looking,“
Made you look!

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I'm trying to reconcile your thread title with that !, "Technique doesn't change the sound!" with the above provided statement from your post.

Senseless...

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I was on a jazz session once. And a electric upright player who didn't bring his bass asked to play on my fretless Gary Willis bass. He plucked right against the bridge, had the treble all the way down and the session manager ran to the bass amp to turn down the mids. When I play jazz I pluck closer to the neck usually which gives a much warmer sound and the mids and treble are not an issue at all.

I play MM style bass. I play at the neck. Gives it a nice big sound. But I play a little clanky, so I add a little lows seems to fatten up the sound a little. I need a lighter touch.

 

[chris_b]

I've been through the lot, from digging in to stroking the strings, and IMO stroking across the strings gets a far better and even sound, flow and groove than any other style I've used.

 

[60bass]

Started playing bass in 1969. Yeah, I'm that old. By 1971 my style, sound, and technique were in place and at a point where I was happy. At least for the most part anyway. I've changed things a bit over the years but the basis of my playing style hasn't changed much. Musicians I've played with for decades say that regardless of what gear I'm using I always sound like me. So I guess I've got it figured out LOL. Lots of different sounds available to a player who's using different techniques and playing positions. Experimentation is key. You'll never know what you'll come up with.

 

[J Wilson]

There is a LOT of tone control A) in your hands, how you work the strings, and B) WHERE you strike the strings along the length from the very end of the fingerboard all the way back to the bridge.

I set the tone controls on the amp and bass to take advantage of this.

And you're right: Two players on the same bass may sound very different. This is why it's an utter waste of time to buy most everything Your Bass Hero uses.:

Believe me, if Victor Wooten let me play his Ying/Yang Fodera through his rig, I'd sound like me, not Vic. And if I handed VW a Squier Affinity, he'd STILL sound like Victor Wooten !

 

[Ritter667]

Technique is like a box of chocolates...