dwally89

Hi,

I've been playing guitar for around 8 years now, played on friend's basses occasionally and finally just bought my own (Yamaha RBX374).

I'm practising playing both with my fingers and using a pick so that I'll be able to do both. While I find when playing with a pick I can mute strings/prevent unwanted noise in the same way I do when playing the guitar, when playing fingerstyle, I end up getting unwanted noise when playing on the D and G strings.

I found this guide online which has helped a bit, but I wanted to see which techniques you guys use, if you agree with what is written in the guide and if you have any tips.

Just to clarify, I have no problems muting when playing on the E and A strings, only when playing on the D and G strings.

Thanks

__________________
Adam Black 12 String
Alesis X Guitar
Epiphone DR-200ce
Italia Maranello Standard
Fender American Deluxe Strat

Digitech Whammy
Vox Crybaby
Behringer UD100
Boss RC-2

Roland Cube 15
Marshall DSL-401
Sound City 20 Watt Valve

CJ Noble

most of the muting on bass is done with your left hand. it's one of those skills that don't translate well between bass and guitar.

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1978 Peavey T-40 -> Ampeg Micro-VR - > Ampeg SVT210AV + Ampeg SVT-15E

dwally89

When playing on a low string, it's easy to mute the higher strings, e.g. if playing on the low E, it's easy to mute the other three using left hand muting, but if playing on the G, then how do you mute the other three?

__________________
Adam Black 12 String
Alesis X Guitar
Epiphone DR-200ce
Italia Maranello Standard
Fender American Deluxe Strat

Digitech Whammy
Vox Crybaby
Behringer UD100
Boss RC-2

Roland Cube 15
Marshall DSL-401
Sound City 20 Watt Valve

Zaqq

Rest your thumb on the string lower - e.g. playing on a G rest it on a D string. One of the first techniques I actually learned on bass.

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remx15

agreed. if you go to your local music store, there may be some books on bass techniques that explain it well. i had one that i used that helped my playing alot. ill see if i can find it and give you the name and stuff. its was a great help, especially for things like muting.

dwally89

Surely that would only stop the D string ringing but wouldn't stop the E or A?

((Probably worth mentioning that I currently rest my thumb on the neck pickup)

__________________
Adam Black 12 String
Alesis X Guitar
Epiphone DR-200ce
Italia Maranello Standard
Fender American Deluxe Strat

Digitech Whammy
Vox Crybaby
Behringer UD100
Boss RC-2

Roland Cube 15
Marshall DSL-401
Sound City 20 Watt Valve

dwally89

Anyone?

__________________
Adam Black 12 String
Alesis X Guitar
Epiphone DR-200ce
Italia Maranello Standard
Fender American Deluxe Strat

Digitech Whammy
Vox Crybaby
Behringer UD100
Boss RC-2

Roland Cube 15
Marshall DSL-401
Sound City 20 Watt Valve

RaginGus

Right hand: Use for thumb rests not only your pickup but your strings too, just E and A are enough. Your plucking finger will also be muting the next lower string. ie you have a piece that uses A D G strings. Rest your thumb on E and sometimes move it to A, according to the piece you play.

Left hand: You'll have to use your left hand too. In the above example, when you want to mute G or D you must use your left hand fingers to mute the appropriate string.

I don't know if I make any sense, but muting on the bass when you play finger style requires both hands to do it properly.
Keep practicing and you'll get it.