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I am so thankful that so many of the visitors to Bass Survival 101 are willing to email me with their questions and suggestions. It really helps me feel connected to the army of bass players that are spread throughout the world, and it also lets me know what you are interested in learning.
One of the most common questions that I get is, "How can I clean up my technique?" At some point all players get frustrated with the fret noise, squeaks and overall sloppiness of their playing, and they search for ways to purify their abilities. I became fascinated with this quest many years ago, and I sought out several hi-profile players who were renown for their cleanliness, and I asked them what their secrets were. Although I asked bass players from all walks of life, there were some common suggestions that they all had.
Get "Set-up": Slow Down: I cannot emphasize enough how important this type of practicing is. I strongly suggest that you bust out you metronome or drum machine and give it a try for yourself. Start off by playing something that you feel comfortable with, but be sure to later work in everything in your sonic arsenal. You will see an almost immediate improvement in your playing.
Lighten up: If you play in a situation that requires an edgy tone, I know you may be hesitant to try lightening up your attack. All I can say is that it has worked out for me and it could work out for you. After all, what good is having a 600-watt amp if you don't let it do some of the work for you!
Keep Tracks: I hope you give some of these suggestions a chance. I am extremely interested in how it works out for you. Also, if you have any other suggestions on how to clean up your playing, please email them to me. If I get enough ideas, I will post them in a future lesson.
Until next time... Stay Tuned!
The proper bass set-up is essential for clean execution. If the strings are too high you will struggle to fret your notes, which could create nasty sounds from your bass. Conversely, if your action is too low, you will easily get fret noise when you exert too much pressure. Setting up your bass takes patience and a little know-how, but it isn't rocket science. Several of the bass mags have publish excellent articles on the subject, and there are even some good books and videos on the subject. If you would rather not deal with it, most music stores have guitar repairmen who can dial-in your axe for a nominal fee. By having your bass properly set-up, you can then focus your attention on your hands.
One of my bass heroes is Stuart Hamm, the bass phenomenon who opened the world's ears to a whole new way of playing the bass, and he gave me some of the best advice on how to clean up my technique. He simply said, "Slow down." He explained that he had been practicing all of his songs and techniques at a snail's pace, focusing on making every not as pure as he could. His conviction on this topic inspired me to try this for myself. I went home and took out my metronome, and began playing one of my slap lines at 40 beats per minute. At first it was a challenge to make the slowed-down line groove, but once I was able to find the pocket I began focusing on my technique. I really concentrated on each note and made sure that what I was playing was the best it could be. After about fifteen minutes I set the metronome to 120 beats per minute and played the same line. The improvement was shocking. Not only was my technique immaculate, but also my groove was much better. Encouraged, I made this "slo-mo" exercise a regular part of my practice routine.
As I canvassed the bass community for suggestions as to how a player can clean up his or her technique, many bassists suggested that I lighten up my attack. By attack I mean how hard I pluck the strings. I was playing in an industrial metal band at the time, and I thought that there was no way that I could lighten up my technique while still maintaining my aggressiveness. Luckily, I gave it a try and it worked out superbly. By lightening my technique I was able to reduce the fret noise and mis-frets, and my tone was considerably cleaner. Also, my hands didn't fatigue as quickly, which gave me better control throughout my entire performance. (And for me, control equals cleanliness.) It did take me a few days to regain my aggressive tone, but the intensity did returned.
Recording yourself playing is by far one of the best ways to check your technique. As any studio player will tell you, the tape doesn't lie. Shortly after I began playing the bass, I was thrust into the studio scene, and I can still remember the embarrassment I used to feel when the producer and engineer would have me listen back to my isolated tracks. Egad! I swear that every buzz, rattle or hum was amplified to the point of pain. It didn't take me long to by a 4-track and begin recording myself practicing. This allowed me to listen back to my playing and focus on areas that needed cleaning. I also cataloged and save my tapes so I could later review them. This gave me a sense of accomplishment and encouraged me to continue the practice.
