Just curious..

If you're playing the open E string and then go to play something on the A string, how do you stop the E string from ringing?
I just naturally rest my ring finger on the E string to stop it ringing over onto whatever i'd play on any of the other strings, but when i made a video of me playing earlier (my video camera cant pick up the bass frequencies so i'll have to get a direct input cable) it looked weird.. my right hand looked all cramped up, even though it felt comfortable.

For instance.. the verse for Rose of Sharyn by Killswitch Engage:
|-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------|
|------------65-------10---------1111-3333-|
|-0-00000----0000----00000---------------|

How would you stop the open E's from ringing when you play the parts on the A string?

Are you playing with your fingers?

If so, when you play the A string, your finger should natrually come to rest on the E string, which should mute it. Let me make a small vid clip...

yeah fingers all the way, which finger should rest on the A string though?

Heya, bud.

Yea, personally, I rest my thumb on the above string when I move. This automatically stops the other strings from ringing...

yeah i tried that method of playing when i first started playing, because you recommended it
i didnt really get into it though, i couldnt switch to a different string fast enough
now i just rest my thumb on the pickup the whole time..

Yea, I mean that's ok as well. But...you face the problems you are having.

It's ok, though you just need to adjust technique. You can do very quick mutes before you "leave" the string with your fretting hand. Just lightly and quickly touch it to stop it from ringing out.

It will feel awkrard at first, but it's something that comes in time....

I think Smaz's video will be usefull.

Short vid:

To stop the string below ringing, your finger should come to rest on it after playing the string above it. So if you play an open E, then 5th fret A string, you should mute the E string when you play the A naturally. As for then stopping the string above, just lift your fingers slightly so you're no longer fretting the note

http://smaz.co.uk/bass/vidforfuzzy.wmv

Video only shows what I mean, it's nothing special

Any help?

I tried having my fingers rest on the string below it to mute, but just couldn't get it, I find using my thumb to mute with my right hand natural.. You need to use a combination of things though to really get solid muting.

Basicly what Samz said about lifting your finger from the fret and still holding the string combined with having your unused fingers rest on the other strings due to the other strings ringing even if you don't play them (forget the word.)

My tehnique is to rest the thumb on the pickup when I play the E string, and move the thumb on the E string when I play any other strings.
It's the easyest way for me...

general lee wrote:My tehnique is to rest the thumb on the pickup when I play the E string, and move the thumb on the E string when I play any other strings.
It's the easyest way for me...

Yeah, to learn to do the thumb muting that's how I made myself start playing, the rest just came natural after that.

Woah, I never really thougt of this..

I think I mute it with my finger the second I pluck the A string, while keeping my thumb on the pickup. I think it just comes naturally whilst playing..