Muting to resemble baby bass 'sound'

In an attempt to resemble the 'sound' of the popular Ampeg BabyBass, I'm experimenting here with a muting technique.

Very useful comment by @ericgarlandbass:
"Muting is a great way to get the sound of the Baby Bass, but the real goal, I have found, is to change your conception of note attack to be more percussive than textural. The electric bass, by its nature, is more horizontal, making the note itself more important that the rhythm. The Baby Bass, with its lack of sustain, is all rhythm, more vertical, and that's what works so well playing with congas and timbales and such. So as long as you nail the rhythm, any technique will do."


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Pros:
The higher notes especially sound more true to salsa, mambo, and other Afro Cuban styles.

Cons:
Not always a practical solution: a lot of movement in the left hand.

Other options:
- Palm mute (right hand)
- Foam under the strings (@CarlosMacMartin's comment)

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• bass
• muting
• technique
• salsa
• mambo
• afro
• cuban
• tito
• puente
• ran
• kan
• lakland
• 5502

[302861]

@ericgarlandbass Eric, thanks for the comment! I've added it to the video description.

[ericgarlandbass]

The muting is a great way to get the sound of the Baby Bass, but the real goal, I have found, is to change your conception of note attack to be more percussive than textural. The electric bass, by its nature, is more horizontal, making the note itself more important that the rhythm. The Baby Bass, with its lack of sustain, is all rhythm, more vertical, and that's what works so well playing with congas and timbales and such. So as long as you nail the rhythm, any technique will do.

[302861]

@CarlosMacMartin Thank you, I've added this to 'other options' in the description.

[CarlosMacMartin]

My friend & teacher,Carlos Ramirez of San Francisco places foam under the strings

near the bridge.Other great players have done the same too.Try it out.

[302861]

@pulgabros Yes. Muting with left is a bit easier to do, compared to the palm mute with the right hand.

[pulgabros]

Are you muting with your left hand?