pull-offs

[Igos du Iskana]

I'm just getting started, but i've encountered a small problem, you guys might have some experience with. When i'm pulling my finger of a string (this is especialy so with melody strings) i keep hearing the open string that's still vibrating. It dies almost imediatly due to the dampener, but it is still audible. is there some technique to get rid of this?

cheers Auke

[rjgoos]

I guess that I have never had that problem, when the finger goes off of the string, it stops vibrating. I guess you should try adjusting the damper.

My bigger problem is finger noise, little squeeks when I take my finger off a wound string. "Exit wounds", I call them.

But come on, Auke...don't keep us in suspense....how do you like tapping?


Jay

[BrendaEM]

We need a better dampening material.

Try this experiment:
Tap a note
Gently mute the string with the fleshy part of your fingertip at the first fret.
Tap the same note

Fingertips work better than any dampener I have found. When I finish my instrument, I am going to try sorbothane, but I am not sure if even that would work as well.

[BigDaddyPoo]

Auke

I've found that if you pull you finger off kind of to the side instead of strait up, it has the effect of plucking the string. This could be the cause of your problem.

Also, if you pull your finger up far enough to get the string so it isn't in contact with the fret but not so far that your finger comes off the string, your finger is in effect damening the string. I have to do this for the deeper strings, since they have more mass, they want to keep vibrating whether you have a dampner or not.

This sounds like alot to think about at first but once you've practiced it a bit, it will become second nature.

Dan

[BigDaddyPoo]

I guess Brenda and I were posting at the same time. There were just 2 messages here before I posted my reply above.

I think Brenda and I are on to something here.
1. We need a new dampening material.
2. Fingers work best.

We could maybe make a dampner out of disembodied fingers. Could this be a new use for severed fingers?

People donate their bodies to science all the time, why not donate them to the science of tap instruments?

[traktor]

I remember this happening slightly right at first. I'm not sure, but I think it *may* happen more when you are tapping behind the fret, as opposed to tapping on the fret.

It probably happens more if your finger slides off to the side rather than coming straight up.

As you continue to practice, you will without a lot of thought begin muffling the strings with your fingers as you play.

The muffling with fingers may be easier for folks playing in normal, 'crossed' position. In that position, one plays more with the (softer) finger *flats* as if they were levers, rather than as in classical guitar where one attempts to play with the (hardened) tips of the fingers like little hammers.

Also, when beginning, many players attempt to turn their amps low, and then hit hard. But you get better control (and dynamics) if you turn your amp up and then touch softly.

And when starting practice, I think best results come from playing legato (long notes) and aiming for smoothness. This will also probably minimize audible ringing afterward, because the new note comes along quickly.

I've seen a few players, whose sound chain had lots of tinkly highs, add a bit of additional deadener on the melody side between frets one and two, but that's never been necessary for me.

I'm not altogether sure about all these particular questions. It's part of what you learn as you go along, and not all of that learning is necessarily conscious.

I think a bit of experimentation (and practice) will make it all clear.

[BrendaEM]

Sigh, the fingers will dry out after a short time : )

BigDaddyPoo, Igor, and I, vill be in ze la-bor-i-tory.

[rjgoos]

Traktor wrote:

>I'm not sure, but I think it *may* happen more when you are tapping behind the fret, as opposed to tapping on the fret.<


Guilty as charged. This is my #1 bad tapping habit.


Jay

[Igos du Iskana]

Wow that's a lot of really helpful response! thanks people!
I think could experiment some more with the way i pull my fingers off :rolleyes:
I think I'm doing everything wrong that you mentioned: tapping behind the frets, and pulling off to the side in stead of straight up... guess there's still work to do ;)

And Jay, I won't keep you in suspense any longer, Tapping Rules:cool: I'm having SO much fun trying to figure out chords, really cheesy tunes and just doodling, i just don't know were to begin.

Im sorry if my enlish is bad, but it's late here (1 a.m.), its not my native tongue and i'm tired from some heavy Taekwondo training.
I brought my megatar however, and my training-partner took his guitar. We had al lot of fun and made a lot of crazy heavy-metal poses on camera. so i'll show you the results sometime soon. for now, here's a small snapshot my mom made last week :p

http://img320.imageshack.us/img320/3743/megatar23md.jpg
normaly I don't have such a scary look on my face ;)
Auke

[ixlramp]

yep the dampener is there to stop unplayed strings from ringing, not to end a played note :D

BigDaddyPoo has good advice: when ending a note and lifting your finger off the string, let it rest briefly on the string to act as a mute to stop the vibration and cleanly finish the note: essential for lower strings

ixi :D