Mastering the Iconic Goth Bass Sound: Tips & Techniques

[@MortuusNoctis]

Thank you …this was very helpful! 🦇

[@keithklassen5320]

People often ignore compressor pedals, but they make a massive difference once you know how to use them, and how to listen for the changes they bring.

[@picksalot1]

Yeah, I find using a Compressor on Bass helps control sudden changes in the volume that can occur unintentionally between different notes. My Bass is very sensitive to how hard the strings are played.

[@tomw6056]

Yes, but overdrive/distortion also compresses the signal. In my opinion, if you're using overdrive there isn't much of a reason to use a dedicated compressor pedal unless you're going for very specific sounds like a low compressor attack, high sustain sound. This is another reason why I think a lot of people just instinctively reach for overdrive like she says in the video. They want the compression and don't even realize it.

[@ekaterinayakubova2411]

Great tips!

[@ericzippel4607]

Thanks for the video! 😊

[@tearsforthedying]

Thanks for watching! Let me know if you'd like to see another how-to video on another topic!

[@GhilleMusicks]

Super informative, a series of goth bass tip videos would be amazing. I know part of the fun is exploring and experimenting, but its always interesting to hear from exerienced players and there really isnt a ton online thats goth specific.

[@jettdadswell]

I play fretless with flatwounds on an active bass, or flatwounds on a fretted sometimes, give me a smoother deathrock sound.

[@tearsforthedying]

I've tried flatwounds and didn't super like how they rounded off/dulled the tone. More than one way to cook an egg.

[@jettdadswell]

I switched between basses, depending on the song, always had 3 with me , so yeah, boiled scrambled or fried.

[@crankshaft383]

Cool video. 👍 I've been interested in bass 6 lately too. Want one bad. They're so cool for goth or any style. That could be a great video topic. Subtle OD/grit is a great point in many rock type styles. Just enough to not sound like clean jazz/funk-unless you're doing goth-jazz and goth-funk. Or the pinnacle of experimental/exploratory goth: reggae-goth. Don't hog all the sound spectrum. Channel highschool and the desire to disappear. Share your soundscape with other goths-Let that key-tar shine through. The fundamental goth sound is crying. Crying is The Cure for bland bass sounds. Listen to lots of Geddy Lee/RUSH. Now do the opposite. Grab that pick- goth fingers are soft and flubby and are scared of fingering foreign objects (germophobes-they welcome death but hate any illness beyond Vitamin D deficiency) Don't be picky about Bass amps, but in general, when cranked, it should sound sad.The chorus and modulation/time based effects should be subtle enough, yet nice and wet, like pasty, over-lotioned indoor skin. Clean excess makeup off your bass daily.

[@Bobby_Uterus]

Does the hair do help with tone at all?

[@whisperXcasper]

Short bangs enhance the sound exponentially 666 times.

[@GothMusicLatinAmerica]

I cannot for the life of me get the hang of playing bass with a pick, even though it is 100% better at the goth sound T_T

[@um3899]

you might want to try a different pick, you can get big fat equilateral triangle shaped picks that are easier to hold, check out the "1980" or the "Screamer" by V-Picks for example

[@Keith-rk4td]

​@@um3899Too get that authentic Goth sound,you need to really hate yourself and the world around you. 🤘⚰️😵

[@Tatenak]

Good tips, but Goth isn't some kind of tonal sound you can find.

[@tearsforthedying]

You are correct, I would add to that that there is no right or wrong way to even compose music. Theory is simply a way to explain music. Humans have an insatiable desire to organize and classify things, hence genres. I would encourage anyone wanting to play goth music to find what works best for you and make the most of it. These tutorials are simply ways to guide people to a specific bass tone that is fairly common and goth and post punk, however you do not need to play chorus pedal to play goth music, or even a traditional bass guitar

[@smthnew861]

If you dont want to change the strings, bail them

[@tearsforthedying]

may be a type-o, boiling can help prolong the life of strings, but it's not as effective as new strings

[@herrtulpeskanal1980]

@@tearsforthedying the newer elixirs (as opposed to the ones from 20 years ago) stay fresh for a very long time. no visible or feelable coating, either.

[@tearsforthedying]

@@herrtulpeskanal1980 they do last longer and have a little bit of darker tone I've found. It can be EQ'ed but they aren't quite as metallic and bright as the more common brands

[@PondoSinatra680]

@@tearsforthedyingWas that a type-o, or a type-o negative.

[@thegrandyata]

Fubuki