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Weird thud sound when plucking
- Thread starter TriedTrue
- Start date
Sounds like your 2nd finger sliding sideways on the string. Practice releasing the string without sliding.
This is my thought as well. I forgot to add that the sound is particularly prominent on the A string. The only way I can get rid of the sound is if my middle finger hits my thumb instead of E string. I have tried different hand positions.
Then you are probably hearing 1) the noise of that finger impacting/moving the E string or 2) some subsequent collision of the E string with something else.
Look up rest strokes vs free strokes (Apoyando vs Tirando)
Maybe your pickups are too high and they’re bringing out the sound of your fingers hitting the E string. You could try lowering the pickups and/or plucking a little softer. Are you accidentally hitting the pickup pole pieces?
From an absolute Pro Bass instructor I had when I was a young teen. This dude was phenomenal:
Turn your volumn down, rehearse the movement slowly R,M,I (Ring, Middle, Index fingers in that order)
Continue by shifting notes and on different strings.
Try scaler and intervalactics. Keep rehearsing the RMI.
2 finger plucking is popular, however at some point that Ring finger is going to come into play so coordinate and strengthen the appendage.
Pick up speed in a few days a few bpm's faster.
Going fireball at the get-go doesn't facilitate the muscle memory. Go for clean repetitive RMI but initially at slower RMI cycles.
Sound every note with the same dynamic and same BPM throughout. Even strokes, even time.
As your finger strength increases and the attack has more controlled focus and power your improvements will bear fruit.
When you're not rehearsing your strength and timing you can play as outlandishly as you wish, but set aside 20 minutes a day for this exercise.
Turn your volumn down, rehearse the movement slowly R,M,I (Ring, Middle, Index fingers in that order)
Continue by shifting notes and on different strings.
Try scaler and intervalactics. Keep rehearsing the RMI.
2 finger plucking is popular, however at some point that Ring finger is going to come into play so coordinate and strengthen the appendage.
Pick up speed in a few days a few bpm's faster.
Going fireball at the get-go doesn't facilitate the muscle memory. Go for clean repetitive RMI but initially at slower RMI cycles.
Sound every note with the same dynamic and same BPM throughout. Even strokes, even time.
As your finger strength increases and the attack has more controlled focus and power your improvements will bear fruit.
When you're not rehearsing your strength and timing you can play as outlandishly as you wish, but set aside 20 minutes a day for this exercise.
An alternative POV…
Ignore it. Bass is noisy and that’s how it is. As long as you mute unwanted notes, you’re fine.
Ignore it. Bass is noisy and that’s how it is. As long as you mute unwanted notes, you’re fine.
THAT, my good friend, is the sound of the attack.
Damn that sounded cool.
But ye, if I'm not entirely mistaken; you middle finger isnt calloused the same as your pointer finger, and it sounds like you strike harder with the middle.
Do you start with your middle?
I'd practise my 16ths for like an hour a day for a week, then do another recording and compare.
Pretty sure that should sort it out.
Damn that sounded cool.
But ye, if I'm not entirely mistaken; you middle finger isnt calloused the same as your pointer finger, and it sounds like you strike harder with the middle.
Do you start with your middle?
I'd practise my 16ths for like an hour a day for a week, then do another recording and compare.
Pretty sure that should sort it out.
I've listened through headphones several times and I don't hear anything unusual. Sounds like normal plucking to me.
My guess is that your finger touches the pickup after plucking the string. If that’s the case, try plucking towards the next string (upwards) instead of towards the body.
If your bass has multiple pickups, this is easy to confirm: if you only hear it when you’re plucking above a pickup that is in use, then it’s likely that that is the problem.
If your bass has multiple pickups, this is easy to confirm: if you only hear it when you’re plucking above a pickup that is in use, then it’s likely that that is the problem.
I thought something was wrong with me after listening to the clip and seeing all the detailed comments. Glad there are other ignorant non-audiophiles chiming in!
That’s just an uneven attack between your index and middle finger.
Practice alternating fingers slowly until you can get the notes to sound the same with either finger.
You are thudding your finger (s) on the E on the play through when hitting the A.
Technique adjustment will eradicate
IMHO, the OP should quit worrying and be happy he can play that fast. I can barely play 8th notes. If I need to play that fast, I need to use a pic.I thought something was wrong with me after listening to the clip and seeing all the detailed comments. Glad there are other ignorant non-audiophiles chiming in!