My bass makes a metal sound when i play from string hitting fret?

Question

I'm trying to teach myself to play bass online because i dont really know anyone that plays bass. But when i hit my strings they vibrate off the fret making a metal sound. How do you stop this from happening? seems like it doesent make a dif how hard i push on the strings.

Answer 1

The above advice is right. I'll add this.

Take $40 and go to your local music store and tell them to fix it. If you know someone who is a good guitar player, they may know how to work on it. But only let them do that if you trust them. Guitars aren't very complicated instruments. Anyone who is handy and has a basic sense of how the instrument works can at least get it playable. I do all of my own work on all of my guitars, but evey once in a while I get something that stumps me and I have to take it to a pro.

As an aside if you take lessons at a music store where they do repairs they will sometimes adjust your guitar for free, since they don't wnat you learning on an instrument that barely works.

http://www.chaddukes.org/

Answer 2

Something that has been overlooked in the other answers that may be the cause is the force you are using to play the note. As you may know you only want to give enough touch on the string to start it vibrating. You don't want to pull on it as though it were a bow shooting arrows. Pulling on the string and letting it slap back is not the correct way to produce a clear sound. However, there are styles that utilize such a technique but, then it is used intentionally. Also; you shouldn't have to push too hard on the string with your left hand (assuming you are right handed), just enough to have the string lay firmly across the fret. If all of this is done correctly and you still have a problem with "fret buzz" then refer to the above answers.

Answer 3

The "action" on your bass needs adjusting. The "truss rod" might need to be moved a bit. If you don't know how to do this ask somebody that really does. NEVER move a truss rod more than one-eighth of a turn per day or you can wreck the neck. It might also be that you have your action set too LOW, and it may need to be raised. Without actually seeing the bass in person, its hard for me to tell.