Where is your hand mostly when you’re plucking? Is it conscious? Or do you deliberately place your hands?
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Where do you pluck your strings?
- Thread starter Dlew919
- Start date
It depends on the tone I'm going for. Near the bridge is a bit more taut and nasal, you can also play a little faster as there is more tension there. Near the neck is a bit more bassy and soft, but the strings feel a bit softer. Over the middle is kind of baseline, the tone everything else is compared to. I start there and then move depending on the sound I'm going for for a particular part or song.
It depends a lot on the sound I want, but most of the time I pluck right over the middle/neck pickup, depending on the bass. The sweet spot is directly over a P pickup, using it as a ramp - especially comfortable with the DiMarzio Relentless without any exposed pole pieces.
If I want that thumpy, warmer tone however - I usually pluck right by the edge of the fretboard, and sometimes over it.
If I want that thumpy, warmer tone however - I usually pluck right by the edge of the fretboard, and sometimes over it.
Fingerstyle usually a bit in front of the bridge pick up.
Picking is done in front of the neck pick up.
But these locations are not absolute.
Picking is done in front of the neck pick up.
But these locations are not absolute.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,059
- 38,426
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Most of my plucking is centered between the two pickups. If I want that fretless sounding Latin, I will solo the bridge pickup, and pluck very near the bridge, with the pointy end of my finger, near the nail. If I want a warm, imperceptible attack, upright sound, I will solo the neck pickup, and pluck somewhere between the start of the neck and the 12th fret, depending upon how “uprighty” I want it to sound. Here I use flatter fingertips, and pluck with the round fleshy part.
Most of the time, I’m plucking over the bridge pickup, especially when I’m playing a fretted bass. I shift around a lot more when I’m playing fretless.
Anywhere from the bridge up to over the end of the neck depending on the technique, tone, and timbre in the context of the music. From song to song and even moment to moment.
Most of the time I'm just above the bridge pickup, though I'll purposely get closer to the bridge for punchy, staccato playing, or closer to the neck for a rounder, more mellow tone.
Default for me is over the bridge pickup, but will move all the way to the bridge for an extra fast funk tune, or as far as the 14th fret for a super mellow tone.
I will move it around when needed, but the default is over the neck pickup (on a P-Bass, or the equivalent of that position). I like more of a full sounding note than the burpy by-the-bridge tone (in general).
I used to just play over the pickup when I played P basses until I bought my passive Stingray.
I learned then the value of playing everywhere. So much easier to just play closer to the neck than mess with EQ.
Now I couple of years later I find myself unconsciously moving my plucking position for subtle (or not so subtle) changes in tone
I learned then the value of playing everywhere. So much easier to just play closer to the neck than mess with EQ.
Now I couple of years later I find myself unconsciously moving my plucking position for subtle (or not so subtle) changes in tone
Where I need it. But most of the time when playing live it’s middle. The main reason is we always have FOH support. I try as much as possible to keep my timbre and volume as consistent, which makes our sound guys job a lot easier.
D
