Can anyone put there thumb on why...

[Hoover Johnson]

I'm sorry if this has appeared before, but I couldn't find it. So many bass players (especially in country music) play with their thumb. I'm not talking about slap here, being a practitioner I more than understand why people do that.

My question is: Does this makes a difference I haven't noticed?

[meev991]

well, it's a very natural way to play...think of, classical guitar, or country music for that matter, the thumb is used all the time. Mostly because it has the most mass and gives a rounded out tone.

that, and movement of the whole hand + thumb is probably less tiring than using just two fingers, in an extended set.

[manjar]

Even if you don't make it your primary technique, it's not a bad tool to have in the bag for notes or passages where you want a gentler attack and mellower/bassier tone. Can sound really fat with fretless, too. More in the direction of upright, but of course far from really sounding like an upright.

[dlb1001]

For me, there are some instances where I can hit a note quicker with my thumb, rather than moving my hand to pluck with my index finger. It works where I hit a note on G then immediately have to pluck a note on E. It makes for nice muffled thump sound that sort of emulates an upright bass, which fits in nicely in a blues or country song.

[Tnavis]

I'll use my thumb from time to time, as a way to play muted notes (using a palm mute, and playing with the thumb). I also use it for fingerpicking chords in a more traditional classical guitar style.

Also, Sting often played with his thumb, because it's much easier to sing and play bass while using your thumb.

[tZer]

Seems that I have seen Sting play that way - using the thumb in a more "picking-like" fashion.

When I do it I definitely get a different attack than when I use traditional finger style, Wooten thumb, Stanley thumb or a pick. So to me it is just another one of many great ways to pull sound out of your bass.

[meev991]

Originally Posted by tZer

Seems that I have seen Sting play that way - using the thumb in a more "picking-like" fashion.

When I do it I definitely get a different attack than when I use traditional finger style, Wooten thumb, Stanley thumb or a pick. So to me it is just another one of many great ways to pull sound out of your bass.

Correct me if i'm mistaken, but I believe that in the song "Snow" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, I think flea is using his thumb in "picking-like" fashion as well, even tho i'm sure he's more than fast enough to not have to do that.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Hoover Johnson

So many bass players (especially in country music) play with their thumb.

In country, you'll see it done to try to cop an upright bass vibe just like you'll see a pick come out to cop the old school tic-tac bass sound.

Give me my fretless P, the right peice of foam and a thumb and you wouldn't know it wasn't an upright if your back was turned.

[meev991]

Originally Posted by bikertrash82

In country, you'll see it done to try to cop an upright bass vibe just like you'll see a pick come out to cop the old school tic-tac bass sound.

Give me my fretless P, the right peice of foam and a thumb and you wouldn't know it wasn't an upright if your back was turned.

hey, I would know, because you would be louder


hahhahahha

[tZer]

Originally Posted by meev991

Correct me if i'm mistaken, but I believe that in the song "Snow" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, I think flea is using his thumb in "picking-like" fashion as well, even tho i'm sure he's more than fast enough to not have to do that.

I am not familiar with that song or Flea's approach - but based on your description - and based on re-reading my post, I want to clarify my description of "picking-like".

Victor Wooten (and his bro, Reggie) use a thumb technique where they actually use their thumb as a pick. They stiffen it up, and with a very fast wrist motion, strike the string in both directions.

They get blazing speed out of this technique.

What I meant by "picking-like" was more like imagining you are holding a pick - now take the pick away and using mostly down-stroke, play. I see bass players who play with their thumbs this way, and if you don't look closely, you may think they are using a pick because of their hand position and the minimal amount of motion.

I have see a lot of players from the 50's and 60's play this way - and I believe that is the reason you find the "thumb" rest on older Fender basses on the G-string side as opposed to the E-string side. So obviously a lot of players would "grip" that with their fingers and "pull" their thumb across the strings back then.

I would continue to speculate that technique exists because guitar players who usually play with a pick were picking up Fender basses and playing with a technique that they were already familiar with. By dropping the pick, they found the need to anchor on something to maintain stability - thus, the thumb because an obvious choice to pluck the stings.

BUT - based on your reference to Flea being "fast enough" and because I am not familiar with the song - I am assuming you are talking more about the "Wooten" thumb picking (blazing fast, back and forth) as opposed to the "Sting" thumb picking (not so much for speed as for feel - more thumpy - more Reggae sounding) I was referring to.

[meev991]

OOOOOh okay, thanks for the clarification.

and yes, ironic how its called a "thumbrest" when it was moreso for anchoring your other fingers =)

Occasionally, I use a thumbpick

[moogboy]

Originally Posted by meev991

Correct me if i'm mistaken, but I believe that in the song "Snow" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, I think flea is using his thumb in "picking-like" fashion as well, even tho i'm sure he's more than fast enough to not have to do that.

i got a transcription of that song and the transcription that said that during the chorus where Flea plays chords, to use you finger nails as a downstroke and the thumb nail as an upstroke.

[tZer]

For a "fast and furious" technique, I highly recommend the Wooten thumb. You can "scrub" chords, single notes, scales, and so on and a ridiculously high rate of speed.

But remember - speed kills.

But some people use the word, "kills" to mean something good - so, that could be good - if you are one of those people.

[Chili]

did the bass player from the meters use his thumb? george porter i think his name is, i want to get better at this technique, can anyone give me some tips plz? also does anyone use much palm muting on bass, i've dabbled in it but dont really know any proper ways todo it, again, some tips would be really helpful

[meev991]

Originally Posted by Chili

did the bass player from the meters use his thumb? george porter i think his name is, i want to get better at this technique, can anyone give me some tips plz? also does anyone use much palm muting on bass, i've dabbled in it but dont really know any proper ways todo it, again, some tips would be really helpful

Palm muting is great, and very very expressive.

I think the most useful tip that I can give, is to "not be shy when you palm mute" Really press down on the strings and muffle them. Of course, u can use varying degrees of pressure, but if u want to hear what can really be possible with Palm muting, really get into it.

[Hoover Johnson]

Thank you, you've all saved me from years of unbearable wonderment

[Jumbotron]

Originally Posted by Chili

did the bass player from the meters use his thumb? george porter i think his name is, i want to get better at this technique, can anyone give me some tips plz? also does anyone use much palm muting on bass, i've dabbled in it but dont really know any proper ways todo it, again, some tips would be really helpful

Yeah, George Porter uses his thumb. But his technique with it is pretty weird. I've seen him play several times and I can't really remember how to explain it. He doesn't slap, but he can really rip with that thumb--uses it to solo and everyhing.

[dlb1001]

OK. There is only one guy that I remember who picked in the manner described and he was the bass player with Marshall Tucker-Tommy Caldwell. His brother, Toy, also, played guitar strictly using his thumb. Don't know if Youtube has one of their videos but it might worth a shot.

[Chili]

Originally Posted by meev991

Palm muting is great, and very very expressive.

I think the most useful tip that I can give, is to "not be shy when you palm mute" Really press down on the strings and muffle them. Of course, u can use varying degrees of pressure, but if u want to hear what can really be possible with Palm muting, really get into it.

thx ill take keep that in mind, also, when palm muting, is it best to use your thumb on the E and A string and your index finger on the D and G strings? or is it best to use your index and middle?

[meev991]

Originally Posted by Chili

thx ill take keep that in mind, also, when palm muting, is it best to use your thumb on the E and A string and your index finger on the D and G strings? or is it best to use your index and middle?

lol I never gave it much thought. Personally, I think that whatever fingers you use are fine, so long as u sufficiently palm-mute. i think its moer important to pay attention to how your playing technique responds when using certain certain fingers. That is, does your hand lift up off the strings and you're no longer properly muting the strings?