floating thumb techniqe

[labgnat]

i don't pigeon holed into other peoples so called techniques

haha yes it's moveable achor, and it's splendid

[tempo2112]

Ive just been reading this thread, and Im trying to get my head round the "floating thumb", im only new to the instrument, but this technique feels a bit alien, esp. if you play a tune over all 4 strings, try RHCP's 'Mellowship slinky'.
What are the benifits?

[dlloyd]

Originally Posted by tempo2112

Ive just been reading this thread, and Im trying to get my head round the "floating thumb", im only new to the instrument, but this technique feels a bit alien, esp. if you play a tune over all 4 strings, try RHCP's 'Mellowship slinky'.
What are the benifits?

Economy of motion and muting...

http://www.adamnitti.com/bass_player_02.shtml

[ganga]

Originally Posted by dlloyd

Economy of motion and muting...

http://www.adamnitti.com/bass_player_02.shtml

Exactly.

[Kickin'Fruit]

I used both floating anchor but I mostly put my thumb on top of the pup and bring my plucking fingers up far enough to mute the string above it.

[clockworkwar]

I play floating thumb, Cant get to grips with the leave the thumb on the pup because on say the 'G' string i get a 'pop' sound because ive pulled away instead of plucked.

[Flintc]

I do a good deal of flatpicking. This entails moving the thumb (which is holding the pick) back and forth across the strings, so the hand is constantly moving up and down. Now I set down the pick to use two fingers, but very little has changed. The thumb floats across the strings just as though it were holding the pick, but instead rests on the lower-pitched strings to mute them. I find these two techniques complement one another enough so I wouldn't want to try to adopt another...

[SurrenderMonkey]

I have the bad habit of keeping my thumb glued to the pickup and wizz all the way down. But now I'm trying to 'unlearn' all those bad habits (bad left-right hand coordination, rarely used the left hand pinky, ...). Starting all over again, and get some proper techniques, working on dexterity and independence first.

I must say, I find that forcing the thumb to rest on the string above to be a hindrance, but I prefer the free-floating system, even though it feels less 'powerful' and accurate, but that I guess will come after more practise.

[Shawman]

i tried the floating thumb for a few days and really didn't like it so i just keep my thumb on top of the neck pickup

[johnvice]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

My 2 cents: when I played four string I anchored my thumb on the pickups. When I switched to five, I realized that my thumb was now floating. Sometimes it's a moveable anchor: I'll rest it on the string below the one I'm playing. But that's mostly when I'm playing lines that don't move much. When I play fancier riffs, I realized that my thumb floats... it hangs straight down, and mutes the lower strings when I'm playing riffs up high. The more strings on the bass, the more important this would seem to be!

Again, I didn't consciously adopt these techniques, they just happened out of need. I believe I'm a better player now that I don't anchor my thumb on the pickup.

+1
I have the same technqiue that I also developed unconciously. For at least 80% of my playing, I am on 4-string, anchoring my thumb on a pick-up and plucking with my index and middle finger. When I play 5 string I use the low B as an anchor so it feels like a 4. Because I don't like thesound of the low B string, I like to be conginzant of when I am on that string and having to flot my thumb is a nice reminder.

If I am playing a one pick-up bass, I stretch out my thumb all the way so that I can pluck closer to the bridge. This gives you a sound like Jaco or Ross Valory (from Journey). Also, the strings are tighter closer to the bridge so I find it is easier to play faster passages here.

[ryan_adelphi]

Last week I was strictly resting on the pup... now I'm down with the movable anchor, resting my thumb on the pup for E and sometimes A, and resting it on the A for D and G. I'm not having any issues with notes ringing out, so I may stick with this for a bit. If I start to notice rediculous note ringing I'll try to adapt to the "floating thumb".

[Norwegianwood]

On my five string bass my thumb was floating quite well, but I very rarely used the B string, so I bought myself a four string instead.
I´ve played that for about a year now, not focusing any on technique - as the upright has taken most of my practise-time. So now I realise that my right hand technique is really akward. I love floating thumb until I play on the E-string - but then I have nowhere to put my thumb. Of course that was no problem on the five-string. I´m not very keen on the moveable anchor thing either, as I think there is too much motion involved in moving the thumb up and down from the pickup all the time....
So where do you floating four-guys put your thumb while playing on the E-string?

[Mitzu]

What is the opposite of floating thumb? Is it just to keep your thumb on the pick-up or other fixed resting point? You have to sling you bass a bit higher, depending how low your starting point is obviously, but I kind of feel I play slightly more evenly. The problem with this is that your wrist can end up in a more 'cocked' position which I would imagine could affect blood flow. Not sure how this would work with more than 4 -strings as well. I'm kinda just throwing ideas out here so don't quote me...

[spindizzy]

When I am playing my B string (lowest on my seven) my thumb stays just above the string (although occasionally I will rest it against the body of the guitar above the string) or I am using it to strike the B. I haven't anchored on anything for a very very long time so it feels perfectly natural for my thumb to be still floating even above the B string. I am certain that this would work regardless of how many strings you have. I don't play it as much as I use to but my fretless is a four and I just naturally float on that as well.

As far as Mitzu's questions (and I won't quote you) I suppose the opposite of floating thumb would be anchoring virtually anywhere (thumb rest, pickup etc.) and in the middle there would be the use of the movable anchor technique (which is generally when you anchor your thumb on the string just above the one you are playing).

I usually have my bass up a little higher than most but not because of the FT as I have always worn it higher. I keep my right hand (Todd Johnson has a very detailed approach in his videos which I highly recommend you take a look at) fairly straight and don't find any issues with either blood flow or cramping. I also tend to raise the neck a little higher (not quite upright style but sometimes approaching that) which helps to keep both hands aligned in a more comfortable position.

Also as I mentioned above I use the technique on a four string and continue to find benefits. As I use my thumb quite a bit in conjuction with my index, middle and ring fingers to strike the string the speed, economy of motion and ability to mute in a dozen different ways all translate well, for me at least, to the four. I admit though that I spend much more time on my seven so someone who more regularly plays a four with this technique may be able to shed more light on it. Again, and I have never purchased Todd's instructionals so I only have the little videos he has posted to the web to go by and his writing here, Mr. Johnson appears to do a lot of his instruction on four and five string instruments as well as his six string so get his stuff if you are serious about learning this technique.

[j-blurry]

i think all the plucking is personal preference...i don't do any anchoring just let my thumb hang like my hand was by my side...i think it learns your hand the distance between strings on its own not giving it a point to go off of...makes your playing much more efficient..you can move from string to string much faster or two or three strings just move your hand...your hand doesnt change positions. if you anchor your hand it is sometimes curled more on the a string playing verse the g string playing...why not stick with one position (hang the hand) and just move the hand up or down...watch flea play he does this so much no anchoring just freehanding it.

[j-blurry]

Originally Posted by .matthew e wengerd.

This is the opposite of the technique we're talking about here. The idea is to create a consistent plucking mechanism for all strings. When I play, the goal is no anchor at all, just muscle control.

that is exactly what ive been trying to say....think about this...a boat goes slow or even stops when you drop anchor...keep the boat moving don't anchor freehand is the way to go.

[Todd Johnson]

Hi Guys,

Please watch my "floating thumb" video on YouTube.com.....there seems to be A LOT of unnecessary confusion about this....watching the "free video" on YouTube.com should clear up the confusion and misconceptions......Thanks!

My thumb DOES NOT anchor..... it is in "lite" contact with the strings....just enough to keep them from ringing.....my "wrist/forearm" is in contact with the bass....

I talk about having a relaxed, basic hand position....then I move the "mechanism" ....from my shoulder....

You can play plenty "fast" with it..... Ocataves are not a problem...

BUT........

The main reason for this is to eliminate RINGING STRINGS!!!

Also.... understand that I'm not saying this is the only way to play!! OK?!! You're welcome to play however you like...

But... it is a very efficient, logical and ergonomic way to play.... I would encourage you to check it out.... give it some time and I think you'll find it an excellent way to play the bass.

For what it's worth.... I go into greater and deeper detail in my DVD.... if this is something you REALLY want to develop, then I would encourage you to pick it up and fine tune your approach.......food for thought.

Cool...........

[Enden]

I've been working on it. It's such a pain to me, but I feel it'll broaden my ability. I pretty much only use my pickup or B string as an achor.

[Cutty]

When you use the floating thumb techniqe do you rest your fore arm on the top of the bass to support the weight of your arm or is your arm floating too?

[spindizzy]

My usual disclaimer applies that your best resource for information on this technique is Todd Johnson either via his forum here at TB or his website and YouTube.

Now, I am one who spends maybe 60% of the time with my forearm resting a little on the body of the bass. Todd puts this perhaps better and the video he has on YouTube will provide the visual but as much as possible, in floating thumb, you are trying to maintain a cohesive mechanism to move your hand across the strings. Depending on the type of bass you have you can accomplish that with your forearm sliding against the top of your bass body but you should be trying even then to keep your wrist and forearm aligned and straight. This is not only for the sake of the technique it is also so that you keep pressure off of your wrist and avoid either strain or joint damage.

Occasionally I find that I will sort of drop the right side of my palm down (I play with almost constant contact with the strings) when I am playing my E or B string but I am quite sure that Todd would probably frown on that. Take a look at his brief video on YouTube which I think will give you the bulk of the rationale behind the technique and then if you want to learn more I would pick up his Technique Builders DVD for more education. I have not used any of these myself as it seems that Todd, Gary Willis, myself and perhaps dozens of other bass players from back-in-the-day were developing this technique independently from each other. However Gary is probably the most reknown for its use and between him and Todd are the best at instructing its use. I am always just glad to know I wasn't completely crazy for starting to play this way so many years ago.