Left hand (fretting) thumb

Michael Campbel · #1 08-24-2008, 06:23 PM

Just starting, but I've read a couple places that mention my left hand thumb should be pointing at the ceiling. Not sure I understand that; I assume that means straight up?

Let's go with that for now. Is the thumb "pad" (nearest the palm) supposed to touch the neck?

I'm going to be taking lessons, but the instructor isn't available for a couple weeks, so trying to get a little up on the game.

I've just started, BTW, so no bad habits to break yet.

Rudreax · #2 08-24-2008, 06:28 PM

Assuming that you hold your bass at angle from your waist, your thumb should be pointing in an angle so the nail is pointing towards the ceiling. The pad should be against the middle of the neck (obviously the back), and you shouldn't have it go any higher unless it's necessary.

Michael Campbel · #3 08-24-2008, 06:40 PM

Great, thanks. So I'm clear, I want to make sure you and I are talking about the same "pad"...

unclejane · #4 08-24-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Campbel

Just starting, but I've read a couple places that mention my left hand thumb should be pointing at the ceiling. Not sure I understand that; I assume that means straight up?

Let's go with that for now. Is the thumb "pad" (nearest the palm) supposed to touch the neck?

I'm going to be taking lessons, but the instructor isn't available for a couple weeks, so trying to get a little up on the game.

I've just started, BTW, so no bad habits to break yet.

Generally, the thumb should be behind the first finger or between the first and second finger, and on the back of the neck.

Try not to let the thumb stick up and wrap around onto the fingerboard unless it's an essential part of your technique. Some bassists do this normally (i.e. Louis Johnson, probably the finest slap bass player in the world).

But basically, keep the neck out of the palm of your hand. It should be suspended by the end of your thumb (the flat part) and your fingers only.

A commmon problem is a neck-heavy bass and the neck will have to be supported by the palm right below the fingers. This leads to the thumb-sticking-up/neck-in-palm technique (don't ask me why I know this). You shouldn't have to support the neck - add weight or sit on the strap or something to keep the neck where you can comfortably fret it without holding it up.

LS

Rudreax · #5 08-24-2008, 06:41 PM

Yep, that's the pad I'm talking about; the one directly under the thumbnail.

Michael Campbel · #6 08-24-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclejane

Generally, the thumb should be behind the first finger or between the first and second finger, and on the back of the neck.

Try not to let the thumb stick up and wrap around onto the fingerboard unless it's an essential part of your technique. Some bassists do this normally (i.e. Louis Johnson, probably the finest slap bass player in the world).

But basically, keep the neck out of the palm of your hand. It should be suspended by the end of your thumb (the flat part) and your fingers only.

A commmon problem is a neck-heavy bass and the neck will have to be supported by the palm right below the fingers. This leads to the thumb-sticking-up/neck-in-palm technique (don't ask me why I know this). You shouldn't have to support the neck - add weight or sit on the strap or something to keep the neck where you can comfortably fret it without holding it up.

LS

Gotcha, thanks. I'm finding that as I discover and try more finger exercises I'm having a hard time with the lower strings; trying to fret some of the lower frets causes 1 of 3 things:

* my thumb sticks way up (to the point where I COULD wrap it on the fretboard), or...
* my thumb slides and rotates so that it points in the same direction as the neck instead of "up", or...
* I'm having to bend my wrist quite a bit to keep the thumb roughly centered, but get my finger over the top of the fretboard to the to the fret on the E

I guess some of this is unavoidable.

unclejane · #7 08-24-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Campbel

Gotcha, thanks. I'm finding that as I discover and try more finger exercises I'm having a hard time with the lower strings; trying to fret some of the lower frets causes 1 of 3 things:

* my thumb sticks way up (to the point where I COULD wrap it on the fretboard), or...
* my thumb slides and rotates so that it points in the same direction as the neck instead of "up", or...
* I'm having to bend my wrist quite a bit to keep the thumb roughly centered, but get my finger over the top of the fretboard to the to the fret on the E

I guess some of this is unavoidable.

Yep, this is a challenging part of the neck period, not just for beginners (called "half position" or "first position"). The first one of the things you're talking about is the one you want to avoid. The second, where your thumb points towards the headstock is fine as long as it's still behind the neck and resting on the neck (I actually do this too).

The third is what you have to do to keep your hand in position. This is especially hard to do on a bass with a thick neck like a 5 or worse a 6 string. Some amount of contorting your wrist around will be necessary but be careful if you experience any sigificant pain in the wrist or sudden stabbing/pulling pains anywhere in the hand, wrist or arm. Stop immediately if that happens.

I'm one of the poor slobs that can't contort my wrist around like that so I play a 4 string with a thin neck at the nut (a G&L with a jazz bass style neck). This reduces the amount of twisting I have to do of my wrist when playing near the headstock.

You can also help this by not letting the neck lay down too far to where it's hard to reach. Prop the bass up so the neck is pointing more upwards and is easier to get to.....

LS

Martin Bormann · #8 08-24-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Campbel

Just starting, but I've read a couple places that mention my left hand thumb should be pointing at the ceiling. Not sure I understand that; I assume that means straight up?

Let's go with that for now. Is the thumb "pad" (nearest the palm) supposed to touch the neck?

I'm going to be taking lessons, but the instructor isn't available for a couple weeks, so trying to get a little up on the game.

I've just started, BTW, so no bad habits to break yet.

I think the people who said that weren't being very clear. You want to place your thumb on the middle of the neck so that the middle of the thumb is resting on the middle of the neck. Now you want your thumb to be pointing in a direction perpendicular to the neck. And from this point on, never let your thumb move off the centre. it can move up and down on the neck but don't move it off the centre of the neck.