FREE Todd Johnson floating thumb video @ YouTube.com

[Todd Johnson]

(I've added this to several other posts...but I wanted to post this by itself so it would be easier to find for some folks.)

Hi Guys,

Go to my YouTube.com page www.youtube.com/user/toddjohnsonmusic and check out the "floating thumb" video I just uploaded.....

This has been a popular subject and this video should clear up a few things for some of you...

If you like what you see, be sure and leave a comment or two....or subscribe to my channel....

More videos to come in the "near" future!!...

Oh....if you should have any questions or comments, come on over to my forum and say "hello"!!

Enjoy!!
__________________

[Poop-Loops]

My teacher has been teaching me this from day 1 and it works wonderfully. I'm surprised more people don't do this. =/

[Fuzzbass]

Excellent advice Todd... nicely presented. Thanks for sharing the video segment!

I wish I'd known about floating thumb over the 20 years I played fours. I figured it out on my own out of necessity when moving up to fives.

[Bernie Connors]

Very cool, Todd! Thanks a bunch. I really need to pick up your DVD's.

[Alec W. Conway]

Great stuff Todd!

Oh and, I cheked your "autumn leaves bass solo" video on youtube. MAN! I LOOOOOVE your tone on that solo

[SBassman]

Really nice explanation and demonstration.

[PluperfectArson]

I really wish that I had my bass on me, so I could test that out and see how effective it is for me.

[Poop-Loops]

It takes a bit of getting used to, but there is no reason that it wouldn't work for you.

[PluperfectArson]

I just wanted to see how effectively I could use it while playing fast lines. I am sure that it can be done, and I shouldn't have a problem doing it, but I just want to see whether it would be worth it to invest my time in to it.

[j-bass-kreep]

Practice it it's worth the time , I used to be a pick player until I started learning this technique 3 months ago . Now I rarely grab a pick .

[SubGuitar]

Thanks for the video Todd. The other videos are great too.

I'm used to playing with almost straight fingers, doing the moving anchor thing. I keep my elbow up to minimise wrist bending anyway, so I'm not worried about injuring myself. I also have no problems muting.

I do see the obvious benefit of always moving the fingers in the same way for each string though, and just doing some scale patterns my playing sounds and feels more even, and easier at higher speeds, so I have to get this technique right.

I have a question though, if anyone would be so good as to help me out here: What do you floating thumbers do when you need to skip strings alot? (eg. the first bar of Teen Town). Do you lift the hand up to more of an anchor type position (where you can play all the strings from one position) or still move across the strings using your shoulder? It seems very hard to "move the mechanism", as todd puts it, at that kind of speed.

Any advise? Thanks.

And thank you again Todd. These videos should keep me occupied for a while

[PluperfectArson]

Originally Posted by SubGuitar

I have a question though, if anyone would be so good as to help me out here: What do you floating thumbers do when you need to skip strings alot? (eg. the first bar of Teen Town). Do you lift the hand up to more of an anchor type position (where you can play all the strings from one position) or still move across the strings using your shoulder? It seems very hard to "move the mechanism", as todd puts it, at that kind of speed.

See, that's my whole concern with it. I tend to skip strings in my music, so I wanted to see if I could execute this technique properly while still being able to maintain string skipping.

[Poop-Loops]

Depends on the situation. Sometimes you might have to just anchor, especially if you need to let the notes ring out while playing others. But you get used to moving the mechanism. It becomes as second nature as sliding up and down the neck.

[Todd Johnson]

Hi Friends,

Thank you all for your kind words and support. It's appreciated.

You can DEFINITELY skip strings with this....it just takes a little time and effort to develop this technique so string crossings become easier.....

At the risk of sounding like an "informercial tease"..... I have a bunch of exercises to get you comfortable with string crossings on my "Technique Builders" DVD....forgive me.... I don't mean to spam here....OK??

BUT.... it's very doable.....

PLUS..... if you're anchoring the thumb.....YOUR STRINGS ARE RINGING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .... ....

Drop me a note in my forum and let me know if I can be of help.

That's what I'm here for!!!

[Peregrine]

Thanks, that really clears it up.

Is there any circumstances that you shouldn't use the floating thumb?

[SubGuitar]

Ok, thanks Todd.

I'm actually more interested in your walking bass module system now

I really do have no trouble keeping my strings quiet at the moment though, even on my 5 string. I'll probably get your technique DVD when I get the 6 string fodera I've been pining over for years

Emlyn.

[iamlowsound]

I just watched the video and realized that you do it they way that I have been working on so I can mute all the strings effectively (fellow six string player). Were you just running an extended scale there? Also dig the tone.

lowsound

[geoffkhan]

Right on!

I've messed around with the floating thumb technique before, but this is really convincing that it's a great muting technique. If I wasn't playing a 4-string bass (and thus, the muting is pretty easy to control), I'd definitely convert to floating thumb.

[Todd Johnson]

Originally Posted by geoffkhan

Right on!

I've messed around with the floating thumb technique before, but this is really convincing that it's a great muting technique. If I wasn't playing a 4-string bass (and thus, the muting is pretty easy to control), I'd definitely convert to floating thumb.

Geoff,

If you anchor on the E string....then every time you play a couple of notes on the G string...then your A string will RING ....EVERY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!........

Sorry about that........

[Todd Johnson]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Thanks, that really clears it up.

Is there any circumstances that you shouldn't use the floating thumb?

Not that I can think of.........

There might be.... but I can't think of one.....

Well, obviously thumb slapping is a differnt thing....... but you get my point.

Enjoy.....