Anyone else do this on fretless?

[BellBottomBlues]

I just got a Warwick Thumb BO bass (fretless) and I really like the way a fretless sounds and feels. But it got me thinking, since there aren't any fret lines, why not use your thumb as a moveable capo?

Its an odd hand position (my palm is facing flat towards my body) but its really opening up so interesting solo opportunities.

I've never taken bass lessons before, let alone know anyone who plays fretless. So, is this a real technique or am I just making stuff up (genius that I am)

[Anscari]

Quite an upright technique.
Why has it to be fretless to be used?

[Bassic83]

It doesn't- I do that on my fretted basses all the time. First time I saw it was in the mid-late 80s, Brian Bromberg was playing. I saw him do it and thought, hmmm....

[Deacon_Blues]

Not really sure about what you mean by using your thumb as a capo. If you just mean you're using it to hit the root notes and play a melody or chords above it on the higher strings, then yes I do that sometimes (not on gigs though...) I use it for chords only, mainly for bossa style songs. (I'm only using this technique on fretted basses). The smooth sound of the bass sounds really good for that IMO.

If I had a 5string, I would probably not use the thumb anymore for playing the root in the chords, as it'd be easier with the index finger.

[Messiah25]

You should check out Steve Bailey, He does it.

[BellBottomBlues]

I'm gonna google david bromberg and steve bailey.

My thumb stretches out across the entire fret board of my warwick, so the closest I can describe it as is a capo.

I never thought to do it with a fretted bass. It just popped in my head because I can gradually slide my thumb down and change the pitch gradually.

[fryBASS]

Its called thumb possision on upright bass.

[BellBottomBlues]

I wanna start playing upright, but I don't have a grand kicking around at the moment.