Funky Dunky Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) I hate it, but if I'm doing really quick position shifts or any kind of slurs/slides, I get that heinous EEEEK and it makes me sad/angry. What should I do with my fingers to avoid this? It seems impossible to take them completely off the strings then shift them to the next fret in the sequence and put them down quickly enough to play smoothly and flawlessly. I watch videos of good bassists playing unaccompanied and I don't hear a single EEEEEK. How in the name of all that is good and pure is this possible? I get EEEEEEK constantly! Edited February 9, 2015 by Funky Dunky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anDy LAKIN Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 what strings are you using, maybe you could try different strings like flatwounds as this is one of the reasons i prefer flats as they are smoother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 String choice, eq and technique, not necessarily in that order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I would just embrace it, it's part of the sound and probably isn't as loud through the amp as it seems to you at the neck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Try holding the note with a different part of your finger. A softer part of your finger might not make the same noise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I used to have this problem a lot , when I first got my Washburn status. Bright sound anyway , due to active pickups and graphite neck. Oh, and having all knobs on the bass set to maximum position did not help matters. Now the active circuitry. Has been taken out, most people prefer it . Obviously, new strings take a while to break in anyway . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1423459517' post='2684950'] I hate it, but if I'm doing really quick position shifts or any kind of slurs/slides, I get that heinous EEEEK and it makes me sad/angry. What should I do with my fingers to avoid this? It seems impossible to take them completely off the strings then shift them to the next fret in the sequence and put them down quickly enough to play smoothly and flawlessly. I watch videos of good bassists playing unaccompanied and I don't hear a single EEEEEK. How in the name of all that is good and pure is this possible? I get EEEEEEK constantly! [/quote] A tweak of EQ to eliminate the high frequencies that are causing the EEEEEEEEK should do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Coated strings eliminate it a little bit too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Take up keyboard Or you could try wearing gloves. Alternatively, try the more sensible suggestions above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moos3h Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Fast fret! Seriously, I love it. It's like Crack, only slightly more moreish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 My bass emulation software has 'squeak' and other handling/fretting that can be added, to make it more realistic. Just sayin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Never happens to me, am I doing something wrong? 'Sixteen' by No Doubt shows that it is to be embraced. Enhanced by overdrive, but still. Fit. Love Tony Kanal http://youtu.be/NGwx3I70YbY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Dunky Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 Thanks all, will try each suggestion. I use Dunlop Super Bright strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 The brand of strings you're using might well be adding to the string noise problem (the clue is in the name?). You might try some other brand, certainly see if you get along with some nickel rounds because these, for me at least, are less abrasive than pure steel and feel good for fingerstyle and I suspect will have less squeak for your fretting hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 (edited) [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1423526700' post='2686072'] Never happens to me, am I doing something wrong? 'Sixteen' by No Doubt shows that it is to be embraced. Enhanced by overdrive, but still. Fit. Love Tony Kanal http://youtu.be/NGwx3I70YbY [/quote] Whilst I agree with you, I can't hear any string squeak in that track. Maybe it's just me Bloody good song right enough ! Edited February 10, 2015 by ubit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 During the intro he uses it as a technique rather than trying to stop it happening. It's a great album for basslines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alun Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I used half wounds for a while which sounded nearly as bright as round wounds but with hardly any noise. Lately though I've been using rounds and have been investigating techniques that reduce the squeak. There are a few acoustic and classical guitar lessons if you rummage round YouTube that offer solutions, some more practical than others. The best thing I've found so far is to angle the finger slightly as you slide so your sliding on softer skin rather than the callus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1423511451' post='2685791'] Coated strings eliminate it a little bit too [/quote] String squeak was driving me (and the engineer) nuts on a session, to the point I had to do the track one chord at a time. A guitar tech friend of mine recommended coated strings and a thinner gauge to boot, as the wrap is more abrasive on heavy strings and the cause of the problem. It really helps, as does fast fret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Oh, and while I think of it, good damping technique helps too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb1 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 It's a matter of releasing the pressure of the finger but still maintaining contact with the string. So you only apply pressure when you want a note. If it's a slide you're after, don't apply full pressure 'til you hit the note you want. I'm not sure about this talk of different strings -it's down to technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I think this is a matter of technique - don't slide unless 'slide' is what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Play cleaner....or use it as an exercise to do so.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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