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Vibrating strings.

CaptainTuna

CaptainTuna

May 13, 2011
132
1
#1
Hi friends!

Just a simple question:

I've got a 5-string bass and whenever I play a B on my G-string the B string vibrates. This also happens with other string/note combination.

Is it normal? A friend of mine suggested that it's because of my cheap bass (cort gb75). What do you think?
 
#5
Yep heard of that...just wanted to know if it was totally normal or if the quality of the instrument or strings somehow affects that.

I'm using the moveable thumb technique so I just asked out of curiosity really :)
 
#6
AFAIK, the ringing overtone that you're experiencing can happen on any string instrument...ask your guitar playing friend to play an E on the 9th fret of his G string without touching his open E,....the same thing should happen

Actually happens in pianos as well....
 
#8
CTC564 said:
AFAIK, the ringing overtone that you're experiencing can happen on any string instrument...ask your guitar playing friend to play an E on the 9th fret of his G string without touching his open E,....the same thing should happen

Actually happens in pianos as well....
Click to expand...

... and sitars.
 
#11
The higher qaulity and more resonant a bass is the more sympathetic vibrations on other strings can occur. Being a pick user, I use combo of side of hand and last two fingers for string mute rests as needed. When I played doubleneck bass & guitar combos Id sometimes put a capo on guitar side ussually on 10th or 12 fret to get sympathetic drone tones off the guitar side while playing bass sometimes.
 
#12
Sympathetic vibrations are more prone to happen when strings naturally produce frequencies (like those of your four major natural harmonics) that are harmonics of another string. For example, on your G-string, the fourth fret harmonic is a B, and that B harmonic is only a few octaves up from your low B-string, and so you get sympathetic vibrations.
 
#13
It is good that you noticed, because it means you are listening well captaintuna.

Sure enough if you really listen there is a lot of ringing along that takes work to get under control. This is a good reason to play a four string especially in the studio where you strive for a good tone in the recording. I have been playing six string bass a long time now and mute with both hands pretty aggressively. Rooms ring along too with standing waves that can make it tough to get a well-defined sound.

Sometimes, though, the ringing along can be really cool if you work it into what you are playing. This can be an open string or harmonics.
 
#15
CaptainTuna said:
Yep heard of that...just wanted to know if it was totally normal or if the quality of the instrument or strings somehow affects that.

I'm using the moveable thumb technique so I just asked out of curiosity really :)
Click to expand...

:confused:

The floating thumb technique should mean that your B string is muted when playing on the G. But that's really for the Technique forum. As far as strings go, they're not the problem. :)
 
#16
SoVeryTired said:
:confused:

The floating thumb technique should mean that your B string is muted when playing on the G. But that's really for the Technique forum. As far as strings go, they're not the problem. :)
Click to expand...

Sorry for the confusing post, I just meant that the vibration of strings is totally under control, since I mute lower string with my thumb and higher strings with my fretting hand.

It was just to say that the whole vibrating strings issue wasn't really a problem, and I was just asking out of curiosity :)

Thanks for the help everyone!
 
#17
CaptainTuna said:
Sorry for the confusing post, I just meant that the vibration of strings is totally under control, since I mute lower string with my thumb and higher strings with my fretting hand.

It was just to say that the whole vibrating strings issue wasn't really a problem, and I was just asking out of curiosity :)

Thanks for the help everyone!
Click to expand...

Ah, okay. Yes, it's something I notice occasionally - when my technique gets sloppy!
 

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