Bass Question

Steoob

hey all.. ive been playing bass for nearly 2 years now (even tho i stopped for a good while but im back playing now) but something ive never been able to get around is how to let go of a note without it buzzing off the fret as i lift..

is there any special technique i need to use to stop it?

chamlis

I know what you mean, but I dunno. I just started being less aggressive with it. I find it's worst at the lower end tbh, like the E (and strings.

Zapp Brannigan

It could be 2 things. You're strings might be set too low so that it buzzes, though I dont think that's the case cos you're saying it buzzes when you let go.

The other thing is finger pressure. You're gonna just have to keep playing a note and releasing it until you get the perfect amount of finger pressure and then commit it to muscle memory.

Doctor J

Get something like this to build up your finger strength. Also do plenty of chromatic exercises to a click and build up your accuracy and speed. There are no shortcuts to good technique, it's all about how much work you put in.

Steoob

hmm.. i kinda get what ye mean.. also if i lift fast enough it doesn't have time to buzz off the fret because its already away from the fret..it should turn out grand after practice

Parsley

Doctor J wrote:

Get something like this to build up your finger strength. Also do plenty of chromatic exercises to a click and build up your accuracy and speed. There are no shortcuts to good technique, it's all about how much work you put in.

I picked up one of those things in Amsterdam, they do good work, along with practicing finger shuffles to a metronome.

Zapp Brannigan

Steoob wrote:

hmm.. i kinda get what ye mean.. also if i lift fast enough it doesn't have time to buzz off the fret because its already away from the fret..it should turn out grand after practice

Be careful of lifting to fast, it'll prolly kill your notes and make you play constant stacatto!

CyberGimp109

are you playing just behind the frets? with your left hand otherwise that might be it

eoin5

Do you mute the string as you lift. If you dont your not only prone to buzzing but some also some harmonic noise depending on the fret, you might have noticed something like that happening too.

Rigsby

All of the above is good advice. Changing the type of strings you use could help also. Roundwound strings are inclined to give finger noise. Flatwounds are smooth to the touch so less noise from the fingers. They are also more warm and mellow sounding, so it depends on what kind of sound you want.

Rustar

There's also a type in the middle called 'groundwounds', which have most of the brightness of roundwounds, but are less apt to make fret noise.