Tips to play extra clean?

[Mantis Tobaggan]

It comes with practice. Just keep doing it. Nothing anyone can tell you will make your playing clean.

 

[TJH3113]

You know, in all the tutorials that mention muting, I think not enough focus is on muting technique and different ways to apply muting. Usually the subject of muting is glossed over with someone saying "use the floating thumb", or "lay your thumb against the strings". I think muting is much more subtle than that. I have a large curvature in my thumb, and while it doesn't anchor anywhere and largely lays across the strings, there are sonic gaps where the strings don't get muted while I think I'm going the mechanics correctly, but the result is insufficient. Are there any instructionals that focus solely on muting?

Years ago I did a video on the topic. I did it more as a personal favor for a friend. I do not consider myself an instructor of any sort, but I went through some of the techniques that I use as best I could. I will post the link if you are interested.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Focus on keeping your fretting hand fingers as close to the strings as possible. This greatly helps with the amount of force subjectively needed to fret a note as well as shaving off a little bit of the time required to do so. Fretting the notes quicker, and with less distance being pushed down, greatly increases the ability to play smoother, more under control, and cleaner. Even with being consciously aware of this it still takes time to implement. Your ability to do this will gradually increase with practice time.
Muting with both hands also plays a big part in being smooth.

 

[devnulljp]

Practice with a metronome, slow everything down and only begin to speed up once you can do it clean at your slow speed. You don't want to be playing at the edge of your ability.

 

[lowphatbass]

I’ve heard a lot of practice, practice and more practice...that’s solid advice even though it seems a little obvious.
I would recommend practicing with your amp set “flat”, or at least don’t cut any mids or highs.

Also.....flatwounds

 

[Frampton]

Here's what I do to improve technique. Practice with no compression or other effects. Get the cleanest sound you can so you can hear every buzz, pop and string glide. This helped me immensely to play cleaner.

 

[Frampton]

Clean?
Why?

This is a good point. Here's another:

 

[trevcda]

In addition to the very good advise given above, I'd suggest that what ever you're using for your personal rehearsal amp/system is set up to let you hear every fret, string and finger noise you're making. Play through whatever floats your boat, but when you're rehearsing, masking those sounds is not going to let you improve. I rehearse direct to a board and through headphones, with nothing else, other than a maybe a tuner, inline. I need to hear exactly what I'm playing, to improve my accuracy. Then take it to your amp and your sound.

 

[Frampton]

I haven't read through all the comments so someone may have already touched upon this, but I think one of the most important things to consider when striving to play "extra clean" would be to focus on your muting techniques. Striving to get the best possible sound out of each note is very important, but so is ending them cleanly and precisely, as well as keeping the chatter behind them to a minimum.

Nice to see you on the board, Troy. I really enjoy your videos and I've learned from watching your technique.

 

[40Hz]

You know, in all the tutorials that mention muting, I think not enough focus is on muting technique and different ways to apply muting. Usually the subject of muting is glossed over with someone saying "use the floating thumb", or "lay your thumb against the strings". I think muting is much more subtle than that. I have a large curvature in my thumb, and while it doesn't anchor anywhere and largely lays across the strings, there are sonic gaps where the strings don't get muted while I think I'm going the mechanics correctly, but the result is insufficient. Are there any instructionals that focus solely on muting?

Muting can be accomplished with either your fretting hand or your playing hand. And you’ll want to get comfortable with both since to effectively employ muting you will usually be switching back and forth between both hands at different times depending on what and how you’re playing.

There’s several ways to mute. This video covers the most effective ones:



I’d also suggest working on developing the ability to play with the lightest touch possible consistent with the song you’re playing. A lighter touch allows you to execute lines more quickly and cleanly. So it’s not necessary to really “dig in” most times in order to get the sound you want. The amp will handle all the heavy lifting. And one thing I’ve noticed with many newer players is a tendency to play the strings far harder than necessary.

 

[LanEvo]

There was an old DVD by Gary Willis where he explained his muting technique: typical muting with the left hand; simultaneously muting with the right hand by resting the thumb/fingertips on the strings similar to classical guitar.

That’s always worked for me when I want things tight and clean.

You can also add some noise gating (and even compression) to exaggerate the envelope around each note.

 

[GonzoBfiddy]

I'm at that point where my bass playing has improved enough that I have to start paying more close attention to detail. I'm now (only) beginning to develop an ear for the sound that I want to get (not quite there yet). And while I don't see myself in a "rock" band, I want to pursue more musical theater and perhaps at some point even recording. As I listen to the pros that I want to emulate, everything I'm hearing is super clean. And while I can play most of the stuff that's put in front of me, sometimes it's not as clean as I would like it to be. So I'd like to know what some of you guys think about, or how you approach your bass so that every note becomes clean and clear and precise, with no buzz; just pure bass tone with controlled attacks.

TIA

One of the most efficient way to 'clean up' your sound is to record yourself playing and then listen critically to what you've recorded. The tape won't lie and it will help you focus in on where your problem areas are.

 

[Tom in Portland]

I've been playing for 40 years, and just last week I became aware of Fretwraps.


I agree with others here that good technique comes first, but this seems like at least something handy to have in the toolbox when you want that certain pristine sound.

 

[vin*tone]

Record -> Listen back -> Cringe-> Repeat.

 

[Bahjark]

"Bass muting for dummies"

No comment

 

[Charlzm]

As others have said - muting is key. Make your attack even. Play as lightly as you can get by with, keep the pressure even and light with your fretting hand, move your fretting hand as little as possible (from position to position - do not slide all over the neck if it can be avoided). Practice deliberately and regularly.

 

[dr doofie]

“Playing Cleanly” can mean a lot of different things. Probably the best advice I can give you is to get a pocket recorder and a metronome. Then start working on individual figures, review and correct often.

+1

 

[Bahjark]

+1 or +2 on having a well set up instrument. I found that that really helped me out.

I also noticed a huge improvement with my playing when I upgraded my amp and cabinet. I had been playing thru an old cat pee stained 15" combo with a torn speaker. It had very little low end and no high end clarity. After I got a proper, respectible, urine free rig, I was able to hear all the small mistakes I had been making.

Others have said something similar, but I'll say it once more:

Practice does not make perfect.
Practice makes permanent.
Perfect practice makes perfect permanent.

 

[magyk8ball]

Record yourself and listen back regularly if you have a DAW setup. Recording yourself and listening back gets humbling real quick.
I made some "warm-up" tracks based on exercises that i record and review periodically. Its helped a lot.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm at that point where my bass playing has improved enough that I have to start paying more close attention to detail. I'm now (only) beginning to develop an ear for the sound that I want to get (not quite there yet). And while I don't see myself in a "rock" band, I want to pursue more musical theater and perhaps at some point even recording. As I listen to the pros that I want to emulate, everything I'm hearing is super clean. And while I can play most of the stuff that's put in front of me, sometimes it's not as clean as I would like it to be. So I'd like to know what some of you guys think about, or how you approach your bass so that every note becomes clean and clear and precise, with no buzz; just pure bass tone with controlled attacks.

TIA

Raise your action