Hi Patrick,

I've been focusing on intonation over the past few weeks and really want to lock into the thumb placement for the Rabbath positions. I've heard it explained that to find second position, you karate chop the heel of the neck and, voila, C is there with 1st finger. Likewise, the big reference point for 3rd position is found by sliding the thumb down to the bend at the heel and there is D - with your first finger. It is my understanding that these positions were, in part, worked out by Rabbath to coincide with the harmonics, but I'm finding that on my bass with Eb neck, my hand position had to make a slight shift south to lineup. Do you think that I should train my thumb to stop in 2nd & 3rd where the Eb neck naturally refers me to do so, or place my thumb slightly (say, a half-step) lower than the reference points mentioned above?

Thanks!
Gary

Hi Patrick,

I've been focusing on intonation over the past few weeks and really want to lock into the thumb placement for the Rabbath positions. I've heard it explained that to find second position, you karate chop the heel of the neck and, voila, C is there with 1st finger. Likewise, the big reference point for 3rd position is found by sliding the thumb down to the bend at the heel and there is D - with your first finger. It is my understanding that these positions were, in part, worked out by Rabbath to coincide with the harmonics, but I'm finding that on my bass with Eb neck, my hand position had to make a slight shift south to lineup. Do you think that I should train my thumb to stop in 2nd & 3rd where the Eb neck naturally refers me to do so, or place my thumb slightly (say, a half-step) lower than the reference points mentioned above?

Thanks!
Gary

Using Rabbath technique on Eb neck is only a slight adjustment. Remember, Rabbath technique and Simandl and Nanny and Green and Streicher and all others out there are only a guide. You have to build your own technique, fitted to your bass... and the bass should fit to your physique.Best to you!
PN