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Trouble muting with rest strokes?

A

AzzaTheBassist

Guest
Jan 1, 2013
40
4
#1
Hello all,

I've recently switched to playing over the bridge pickup with a lighter touch and turning the amp up as opposed to digging in and playing hard, for the sake of speed and control. I've always played with a movable anchor and played with rest strokes, but since changing my technique I've encountered a problem. Say for example, I'm playing on the G string, and my thumb is anchored on the A string. As my plucking finger follows through and lands on the D, the D is ringing slightly and causing a sort of drone. I've noticed that this only seems to occur, or at least be noticeable when playing over the bridge pickup. I used to mostly play over the neck pickup so maybe this is an existing problem with my technique? Any ideas? Thanks!
 
#2
AzzaTheBassist said:
Hello all,

I've recently switched to playing over the bridge pickup with a lighter touch and turning the amp up as opposed to digging in and playing hard, for the sake of speed and control. I've always played with a movable anchor and played with rest strokes, but since changing my technique I've encountered a problem. Say for example, I'm playing on the G string, and my thumb is anchored on the A string. As my plucking finger follows through and lands on the D, the D is ringing slightly and causing a sort of drone. I've noticed that this only seems to occur, or at least be noticeable when playing over the bridge pickup. I used to mostly play over the neck pickup so maybe this is an existing problem with my technique? Any ideas? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Here are a few thoughts, questions and experiments to consider but please forgive that they may be wholly inaccurate since I don't have the benefit of hearing or seeing what is going on firsthand.

Since it is less noticeable when plucking over the neck pup, would you say that the drone could be actually a stray harmonic? Does the same drone sound or pitch happen no matter which note you fret with your left hand? Is the drone noticeable exactly half as much if playing exactly halfway between the two pickups? Since the strings are much looser at the neck, the recovery time it takes for the string to come back to center is different. So by the time your finger lands on the D it would deaden it rather than keep it going. Does it still happen when you play slower or faster? Does the drone happen from D to A as well? Try tuning all of your strings up or down a half step and see if it changes.

You are trying to nail down whether or not it's technique or your bass or a little of both. For example, I had a heavy brass Hipshot A bridge for a long while which I really loved but I had to really focus on muting all the of strings. I recently put a standard Fender bridge on it for the heck of it and all the extra faint ringing noise just went away. I used to chalk it up to just my technique but can be a little of both.

Perhap some of this helps.
 
#3
neckdive said:
Here are a few thoughts, questions and experiments to consider but please forgive that they may be wholly inaccurate since I don't have the benefit of hearing or seeing what is going on firsthand.

Since it is less noticeable when plucking over the neck pup, would you say that the drone could be actually a stray harmonic? Does the same drone sound or pitch happen no matter which note you fret with your left hand? Is the drone noticeable exactly half as much if playing exactly halfway between the two pickups? Since the strings are much looser at the neck, the recovery time it takes for the string to come back to center is different. So by the time your finger lands on the D it would deaden it rather than keep it going. Does it still happen when you play slower or faster? Does the drone happen from D to A as well? Try tuning all of your strings up or down a half step and see if it changes.

You are trying to nail down whether or not it's technique or your bass or a little of both. For example, I had a heavy brass Hipshot A bridge for a long while which I really loved but I had to really focus on muting all the of strings. I recently put a standard Fender bridge on it for the heck of it and all the extra faint ringing noise just went away. I used to chalk it up to just my technique but can be a little of both.

Perhap some of this helps.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty certain that the drone is actually the string ringing out. It just seems strange as surely the string should be muted as I come to rest on it? I tried muting the string with my left hand while plucking, and it stops, but obviously that's not practical as it involves constantly having fingers taken up with muting.
 
#5
INTP said:
I think it's a harmonic, as neckdive suggested, above. If it is, moving your plucking hand slightly should change (or eliminate) it.
Click to expand...
On closer inspection, I think you might be right. Is there any other way around it, or do I have to move my plucking hand? I see many bassists playing in the same place and they don't seem to have any problems.
 
#6
You probably won't have to move much to get it to stop. I routinely move my plucking hand position between the bridge and the neck for a variety of reasons, including this one. FWIW, I also keep the action fairly low, and if I dig in too much near the neck I get clanking noises so plucking closer to the bridge helps. Bottom line is to work on plucking in different areas.
 
#7
I tend to anchor my thumb on the string next to the plucked string. So if I'm playing the G-string, my thumb is on the D-string (usually). Whichever fingers are not being used to fret, they tend to be in an area to either be ready for the next note and/or mute. Or if I was fretting the D-string, the rest of my finger is usually lying on the G-string to mute it. I also need to be careful on not resting it on a natural harmonic. So now I have strings muted in two areas.

I pluck in different areas mostly for tone, however I tend to pluck near the neck as I personally like that sound the most.
 
#8
Given that you said you are transitioning from plucking aggressively to doing so more softly, I wonder if this problem might be a kind of holdover from your previous technique: That is, you might still be plucking just as aggressively, but the energy of that aggressive "pluck" is simply shifting from the string of the note you're playing (say, the G string), to what is supposed to be a "rest" on the next (D) string. In other words, by trying to hit the G string more gently, you might be (inadvertently) whacking the D string too hard on your follow-through. If you are successful in lightening your touch, your plucking finger should come to a gentle rest on the lower string rather than smacking it hard enough to make it sound. Does that make any sense?
 
#9
That's a good question, because in my opinion bass is first of all finger touch, after come the instruments, the amp, effects etc etc.
Is very important be careful to the playing and at the same time muting the other strings while you playing, on both high o low action. I think is a thing very different and personal for each bass player but is also true that sometimes, yours can inspiring others to fix and find their own.
In my case for example, i use to play fingering with the index and the middle, always with a good alternating movement, and than I use the thumb, the ring finger and the pink to mute all the other strings.
For example for a 4 bass strings if I have to play on the E strings, I use to put the thumb on the pickup side and rest my middle and pinky on the E string stopping the notes I play if required, than on A string I move my thumb on the E always together the middle and the pinky stopping the E while I play on A, than if I have to play D I leave the thumb on E and put my middle and pinky on the A stopping in this way the E and the A string. Finally about the G, I just put the middle on D, the pinky on A and the Thumb on E. In this way I mute all the strings I don't play.
For a 5 strings I just use to mute the E with the thumb fingertip and the B with the Thumb side. I hope this will help you, anyway if you need further help just let me know.
Have a great weekend!
 
#10
Thank you all for your replies. It's been a few days now, and I still haven't made much progress. I've tried a few things, including having a go at floating thumb, which I've been meaning to do for a while now. It's definitely a huge help with general muting, but every now and then the string I'm coming to rest on is making noise. It's driving me mad! Of course, I could play over the neck pickup but I'm trying to get that 16th note funk kind of tone, which I think playing over the bridge pickup is an essential part of, due to the higher tension and brighter sound. I have a little solo set on Saturday, so ideally this needs to be sorted by then. Any more ideas? Thanks!
 
#11
I don't claim to have any particular expertise here -- I'm just kinda spitballin' -- but two other possibilities come to mind (beyond the one I suggested in an earlier post):

1. In switching to the play-softly-and-turn-up-the-amp strategy, you've simply gone a little too far -- such that the slightest string noises, which would otherwise be imperceptible, are getting magnified. If that's the case, maybe just back off the amp volume a bit, and play not-quite-so-softly.

2. In making that switch you have the amp volume set optimally for when you play over the neck pickup, but the bridge pickup is a bit too hot. Maybe try lowerering that pickup a wee bit?

Other than that, my only advice is to get together with another (experienced) player who can watch you closely and see if they can figure it out. Do you know any other (experienced) bass players nearby? Maybe there's another TBer in your neighborhood who could help out?
 
#13
AzzaTheBassist said:
I'm pretty certain that the drone is actually the string ringing out. It just seems strange as surely the string should be muted as I come to rest on it? I tried muting the string with my left hand while plucking, and it stops, but obviously that's not practical as it involves constantly having fingers taken up with muting.
Click to expand...

Effective muting is nearly always a combination of rest strokes and left hand muting. If you plan to rely only on rest strokes you will always have a problem. But because you are aware of the issue, you can focus on it to address it. Practice using your left had to assist in muting. Your focus will be to fret notes and mute at the same time. Eventually you will do it without thinking.
 
#15
Hello,
Sorry to bring back a nigh on year old thread, but I still haven't quite solved this issue. I've managed since but I want to sort it out once and for all, so I decided to record a video demonstrating the ringing that I am referring to. I would very much appreciate it if you could take a look and try and work out what's going wrong:


Thanks!
 
#16
Can't see your left hand in the video... how are you muting the B and E strings when you are playing the G string? I don't see any part of your right hand touching these strings, so you are muting them somehow with your left hand, correct? If not, well then, that's your problem right there. In the year you have been struggling with this, did you take any lessons? ;)
 
Last edited:
#17
Mushroo said:
Can't see your left hand in the video... how are you muting the B and E strings when you are playing the G string? I don't see any part of your right hand touching these strings, so you are muting them somehow with your left hand, correct? If not, well then, that's your problem right there. In the year you have been struggling with this, did you take any lessons? ;)
Click to expand...
The ringing I am referring to is coming from the string that my plucking hand fingers are landing on when I'm playing. For example, when playing the G string, the D string will ring out and drone etc.
 
#18
AzzaTheBassist said:
The ringing I am referring to is coming from the string that my plucking hand fingers are landing on when I'm playing. For example, when playing the G string, the D string will ring out and drone etc.
Click to expand...

What (if anything) are you doing with your left hand to stop the ringing?

Do I interpret your lack of answer to my questions as tacit acknowledgement that you do not practice any form of muting on the E and B strings while you are playing the G string, and you have not taken any lessons?
 
#19
Mushroo said:
What (if anything) are you doing with your left hand to stop the ringing?

Do I interpret your lack of answer to my questions as tacit acknowledgement that you do not practice any form of muting on the E and B strings while you are playing the G string, and you have not taken any lessons?
Click to expand...

I mute the E and B strings when playing on the lower strings, but I don't have any problems with them ringing at all; they are not the issue.
I have not taken any bass guitar lessons in the past year, no. To stop the ringing with my left hand, I have to dampen the string with one (or more) of my fingers. This is quite impractical as it needs to be over a spot without a strong harmonic, and tends to make things awkward and limit my movement.
 
#20
Based on the video you posted, I can see and hear that your right hand muting is incomplete and your left hand muting is non existent. It is foolish to expect a clean, well-muted tone until you have mastered Muting 101 basics with both hands. A good teacher could have cleared this up for you a year ago. You must make contact with each unplayed string at at least one (and preferably two) points that are not harmonic nodes. If you don't do this then you WILL get unwanted sympathetic vibrations as demonstrated in your video. :)
 

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