As recent as yesterday, I was still anchoring my thumb on a pickup. Due to my recent switch to the 6 string world, and my left hand muting just not covering all the sympathetic vibrations no matter how hard I tried, I find myself switching to the floating thumb technique. It is going to be a while before I am up to my normal playing speed, but I already see the obvious improvement in muting the strings particularly on a 6 string. After practicing for a couple of hours tonight utilizing the floating thumb technique, I tried to go back to anchoring on a pickup. It just felt wrong bending my wrist that much, and the sympathetic vibrations sounded really sloppy. I can see the floating thumb technique only being a step in the right direction for my 6 string technique.

So I just want to say thanks Todd! Having you in this forum opened my eyes to a new technique I was not familiar with. It seems to be the right solution for my problem.

~Tony

I'm in the same boat, but I can already tell how much it is gonna help me with my muting. It's really weird still, but is becoming progressively more comfortable.

I've discovered, as many of us have, that putting in the time on this technique is time well spent. Single technical change that has had the biggest affect on how I approach the instrument. Goofy it may sound, but I feel more in touch...my right hand seems to now caress the strings and help keep me more orientated as well as in tune with my axe. :bassist:

Hi guys,

Well done my friends. I'm proud of you all for having the integrity to pursue excellence!!

At the risk of sounding like a salesman etc....I'd really like to recommend you pick up my "Technique Builders" DVD. The YouTube video I put up is just a quick overview... The DVD goes into great detail....Plus there are "NUMEROUS" exercises that are all meant to help you adjust to this new technique ASAP. Also, the DVD will help you weed out any confusion or misunderstandings....Plus it will help you avoid learning bad habits.

Again, sorry to sound like a salesman....it's really the "teacher" in me that just wants to see you improve as quickly and efficiently as possible. Make sense??

I'm here to help!!!

per your recommendation Todd I ordered the Technique Builders DVD today.

Ever since I switched to a 5er, the string noise has increased, and I occasionally get pain/soreness in my right arm after playing for a while (over 2 hours).

Hopefully i can get the Floating thumb technique down and save myself some medical bills!

i'm also looking foward to the right hand muting instructions.

I used a half-assed floating thumb technique. I was not dropping my arm down, then pulling it up and holding that position as I played - I was floating my thumb over the strings - but my arm and wrist position were not technically the same - more "typical" - wrist having a good bend in it...

But just last night as I was practice-recording some tracks, I found that I was experiencing some wrist discomfort - mostly due to the fact that I use a mouse and keyboard all freakin' day, then play all night... Anyway... I did the Todd Johnson, "drop your arm down, pull it up, play like that thing" and my wrist immediately felt much better.

Ok, my right shoulder started feeling the pressure, but my wrist sure appreciated it! I am counting on what Todd says to be true - that my shoulder will get used to it... I am counting on it!! LOL

Thanks, Todd, for putting out such clear and easy to understand instructions about this technique.

I used a half-assed floating thumb technique. I was not dropping my arm down, then pulling it up and holding that position as I played - I was floating my thumb over the strings - but my arm and wrist position were not technically the same - more "typical" - wrist having a good bend in it...

But just last night as I was practice-recording some tracks, I found that I was experiencing some wrist discomfort - mostly due to the fact that I use a mouse and keyboard all freakin' day, then play all night... Anyway... I did the Todd Johnson, "drop your arm down, pull it up, play like that thing" and my wrist immediately felt much better.

Ok, my right shoulder started feeling the pressure, but my wrist sure appreciated it! I am counting on what Todd says to be true - that my shoulder will get used to it... I am counting on it!! LOL

Thanks, Todd, for putting out such clear and easy to understand instructions about this technique.

Hi Tzer,

Good for you........The shoulder will take it....no problem....It's a LARGE MUSCLE GROUP....that's what it's designed for. Cool huh!!???

Again....not to sound like a broken record...but I'd really like to recommend you pick up my "Technique Builders" DVD. It will just save you a TON of trial and error..... Don't spend any more time devolping bad habits....it's a waste of time. For $40 it will save you MONTHS of trial and error....(mostly error)...then you can move ahead with confidence. It just make a lot more sense.

Sorry to preach there.....:D ....It's just the teacher in me.

I'm here to help.

per your recommendation Todd I ordered the Technique Builders DVD today.

Ever since I switched to a 5er, the string noise has increased, and I occasionally get pain/soreness in my right arm after playing for a while (over 2 hours).

Hopefully i can get the Floating thumb technique down and save myself some medical bills!

i'm also looking foward to the right hand muting instructions.

Hey, thanks Mark!!

Well done. I'll pack it up and send it out today on my way to a gig. Let me know how it works for you.....

I'm here to help.

Hey, thanks Mark!!

Well done. I'll pack it up and send it out today on my way to a gig. Let me know how it works for you.....

I'm here to help.

Todd I got the DVD thanks. I have a couple of questions though.

With my right hand technique, after i "pluck" the string should my finger go all the way back and rest on the string before it, or should it just pull up and not hit anything? If I am resting on the string how can i reduce the noise of hitting that string? Also if i do hit that string how do i play double stops?

With the Floating thumb is the back of my forearm (below my elbow) supposed to be resting on the body of the bass OR floating off it? Also, is there anyway to cut down on the string noise from moving my thumb up and down?

Also, with the Floating Thumb are you ALWAYS supposed to follow the next finger with the thumb on the string below it, or are there times when the thumb will be a string or two below? If there are, when is that, and is the technique different?

Sorry about all the questions, i Just wanna get it right this time so I don't have to re-learn how to play again. I'm glad to be learning the Right Way now, but yikes, i Feel like Newbie, i can barely play simple licks.

Todd I got the DVD thanks. I have a couple of questions though.

With my right hand technique, after i "pluck" the string should my finger go all the way back and rest on the string before it, or should it just pull up and not hit anything? If I am resting on the string how can i reduce the noise of hitting that string? Also if i do hit that string how do i play double stops?

With the Floating thumb is the back of my forearm (below my elbow) supposed to be resting on the body of the bass OR floating off it? Also, is there anyway to cut down on the string noise from moving my thumb up and down?

Also, with the Floating Thumb are you ALWAYS supposed to follow the next finger with the thumb on the string below it, or are there times when the thumb will be a string or two below? If there are, when is that, and is the technique different?

Sorry about all the questions, i Just wanna get it right this time so I don't have to re-learn how to play again. I'm glad to be learning the Right Way now, but yikes, i Feel like Newbie, i can barely play simple licks.

HOLY COW.:eek: ....That's a bunch of questions!! Ha!;) :D

No worries....that's what I'm here for. :) I'll answer as many as I can.

1. Your finger should "follow through" and hit the string below it. That's called a "rest stroke". It shouldn't make a big noise unless you're just slammin' the thing way to hard. Watch the DVD again...there's A LOT of detail in there.

Double stops is a whole other thing.......... I "generally" play them with more of a "plucking motion". This is EASY stuff to show you....and VERY difficult to email about....Sorry about that. I wish I had a better description. :hmm:

2. Your forearm should be in contact with the body of the bass. That's totally covered in the DVD.....watch it again...Like I said...there's a lot of little details in there and they're easy to miss.

3. You asked "Also, with the Floating Thumb are you ALWAYS supposed to follow the next finger with the thumb on the string below it, or are there times when the thumb will be a string or two below? If there are, when is that, and is the technique different?".....WHEW!!!

I want to be careful about saying ALWAYS....but "for the most part (almost always)...You'll follow the next finger with the thumb on the string below it......Like I said...for the MOST part. I'm sure there are exceptions... Remember, there can be some subtle adjustments....Don't worry about the exceptions right now....LEARN THE RULE FIRST!!!....then once you've established that, then you can make those "adjustments". You know...try this...go to my YouTube chanell and check out some of the videos of me playing and see what I'm doing. That SHOULD answer some of your questions....Cool???....Cool.:cool:

The main thing is to TAKE YOUR TIME. This technique will NOT happen overnight.....I repeat...THIS TECHNIQUE WILL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. You can't possibly hope to replace years of muscle memory in just a few days. Go through the DVD and get the first 3 (or so) exercises together. Be PATIENT...take your time....then, add 1 or 2 more exercises a week....Then, give yourself a few months to start feeling comfortable with this stuff. You'll be able to play them relatively soon....but it'll take some time for them to become "muscle memory" or second nature. Make sense??

I hope this helps.... Man, I REALLY wish I could sit down with you for 20 minutes and show you in person. That's all it would take. Anyway....this is the best I can do for now.

Thanks for your questions....AND....your enthusiasm to learn!!

thanks todd for the fast response. that was very helpful. like you said I'm going to have to watch the DVD a couple of times and really work on the exersizes a lot.

Thanks again!

thanks todd for the fast response. that was very helpful. like you said I'm going to have to watch the DVD a couple of times and really work on the exersizes a lot.

Thanks again!

Cool....have fun...take your time....Keep me posted!!

Wow. . . this is really good stuff.

Can't wait to get my DVD.

:D

I busted my shoulder up and can't hold my elbow up long enough to comb my hair and I cant get around it to play with my elbow over the front of the bass to use a pick (don't dig the sound too much anyways =P) =/

I busted my shoulder up and can't hold my elbow up long enough to comb my hair and I cant get around it to play with my elbow over the front of the bass to use a pick (don't dig the sound too much anyways =P) =/

Hi Kevin,

OUCH!!!!!!! :help:

I hope you get well soon.....:)