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Old 10-14-2007, 07:55 PM   #1
DucksNuts
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I have a question for you strummers....

It is acceptable? desirable? tacky? or what? to have that scratchy noise in between notes?

You know, when your fingers slide up and down the strings, you get that noise?

Whats the go there?

I know, I ask bimbo questions
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Old 10-14-2007, 07:57 PM   #2
lumberjim
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i like it. makes it sound real. its just fingers sliding up or down the strings to the next spot.
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Old 10-14-2007, 08:00 PM   #3
elSicomoro
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I'd say it's generally just part of playing guitar...you hear it in pretty much any genre. Doing so makes it easier to form the next chord or note, not to mention, it helps you keep hold of the neck.
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Old 10-14-2007, 08:10 PM   #4
Undertoad
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If it's distracting to the song, it doesn't belong and the player should use a technique to avoid it.

Avoiding the noise is a large part of being a good bass player, since the winding on bass strings is larger and heavier. One way is to turn the treble down on the bass until the sound is just a bunch of mud. The other way is to use strings that haven't been changed in 20 years and eat greasy fried chicken just before every gig. James Jamerson, maybe the most important bass player in history, used that second technique.
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Old 10-14-2007, 09:06 PM   #5
Flint
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Quote:
James Jamerson
aka "the hook" ... because he played with one finger
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btw: I read "scratchy noise" as "scratchy nose in between notes"
...because I'm always fiddling about with one hand while holding it's stick under my arm and playing the time and accents with the other one.
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it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your
expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever
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Old 10-14-2007, 09:19 PM   #6
SteveDallas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Undertoad View Post
Avoiding the noise is a large part of being a good bass player, since the winding on bass strings is larger and heavier. One way is to turn the treble down on the bass until the sound is just a bunch of mud. The other way is to use strings that haven't been changed in 20 years and eat greasy fried chicken just before every gig. James Jamerson, maybe the most important bass player in history, used that second technique.
You didn't mention which method you prefer.
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Old 10-14-2007, 09:34 PM   #7
Flint
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveDallas View Post
You didn't mention which method you prefer.
Oh good golly miss molly, the "things-you-mentioned-in-your-post" Police are here.
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******************
There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there
it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your
expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever
gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio
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Old 10-14-2007, 09:56 PM   #8
Undertoad
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Oh I use the unmentioned third method... proper muting with good right-hand techniques. There's a "wandering thumb method" which seemed so sensible from the outset that I just learned to do it normally. My thumb is normally anchored on the string above where I'm plucking. That provides a mute for that string and a very strong hand position to get whatever sound I want, plucking soft or hard, fast or slow.
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Old 10-14-2007, 09:58 PM   #9
elSicomoro
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Yeah...I bet you have an excellent right-hand technique.
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Old 10-14-2007, 10:05 PM   #10
Undertoad
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Oh I'm the mother of all pluckers.
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Old 10-14-2007, 10:10 PM   #11
Flint
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With my last band I always ordered a pizza for the guys before every gig.
Not to grease their strings with, but to make sure that nobody would be playing on an empty stomach.

btw: never washing the caked on spilled beer and accumulated dust etc. off, is also a great "EQ" for your cymbals.
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******************
There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there
it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your
expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever
gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio
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Old 10-15-2007, 12:47 PM   #12
Cicero
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I must be more of a bimbo than you Clod, because I've said it before and I'll say it again...There is nothing I like better than a strong, authentic sounding male-vocalist, with dirty guitar. Strum, distort, tap, slide, whatever you want.....I prefer musicians that don't sound too manufactured, contrived to be just like x band or songwriter, and can appreciate the small imperfections as much as I can. Then again I like most music to be very "raw". I like cohesive, tight, music.....but there's nothing wrong with a little dirty guitar.

On that note, I will also take this opportunity to say:

Thurston (Sonic Youth)....I love you. Oh and my husband knows. So it's ok to call. He'll understand. We can still be friends.

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Old 10-15-2007, 01:22 PM   #13
Clodfobble
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cicero
I must be more of a bimbo than you Clod,
Er, you mean Ducks?
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Old 10-15-2007, 01:27 PM   #14
lumberjim
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lets not get into bimbo ranking here, ladies.
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Old 10-15-2007, 01:27 PM   #15
lumberjim
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ok....let's
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