I have a question for you strummers....

[Undertoad]

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.

[Flint]

James Jamerson

aka "the hook" ... because he played with one finger
__________________

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.

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

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.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

You didn't mention which method you prefer.

Oh good golly miss molly, the "things-you-mentioned-in-your-post" Police are here.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

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.

...and died relatively young. Of course, the booze and drugs may have contributed somewhat.

What a killer bassist he was. If you haven't seen it, you must watch "Standing in the Shadows of Motown", the documentary about the Funk Brothers, the studio musicians who backed most of the great music to come out of Detroit in the golden era.

[Elspode]

Re: finger squeaks - I posted a rough mix of a track Lane and I have done that is absolutely *ruined* by the squeaking of my fingers on the guitar as I slide up to a chord. The slide is necessary, the squeak makes it all but unusable.