Muting!?

[SabreATK]

I come from the world of guitar(20 years), am a strong solo/lead player and am transitioning to bass. My left hand is way ahead of my right in development.

I have a couple questions about muting.

When I first started out, I was using my RH 1-2 alternating to pick notes, play scales. When I would cross strings (say from E to A) I would use the tip of my LH fingers to mute the E string, while fretting notes on A. This works well and is one of the techniques you use to mute on a guitar. (Use the unused fleshy parts of your left hand to mute strings.)

However, all the Bass videos I'm watching show to move your thumb to rest/mote on the last string played. This makes string skipping a bit more challenging, but I want to learn it right.

Ive been practicing this and can do it fairly well for linear scales, but what about arpeggios? and one note per string lines? It seems almost impossible to move your thumb to the last string played when you are essentially sweeping. In this case, I have been "rolling" my LH off the strings I want muted, similar to the way you would do a sweep arpeggio on guitar.

When going from a higher to lower string, I use the fleshy parts of my fingers on LH to mute the higher strings (like guitar).

Can someone give some pointers on the art of muting strings?

Am I correct that muting is a concerted LH and RH affair with different application for different techniques? It seems that it is largely similar to guitar, except that instead of using the palm of your picking hand, you use your thumb to mute last played string.

And you LH pitches in wherever possible.

[JohnnyGuest]

I wish you luck on the transition!

It's gotta be a combination of both hands muting, sometimes double covering with both hands.

Specifially, your thumb can move along with your fingers, and keep your fingers at the same angles for the 1st string as they are for the 4th or 5th strings. If the thumb stays put, then you' wind up stretching it out, and your fingers drive the strings toward the pickups, instead of sideways or at a slight downward angle. Does that make sense?

[Mirios]

Just keep practicing it slow until you get it, and you will. Then you will be doing it without thinking about it. (or thinking you are doing it while not thinking about it) Which is probably what I do. I need to find a video camera......

[GeoffT]

For right hand thumb position you'll find 3 main ways to go about it.

Fixed anchor: Thumb rests on pickup or lowest string when not being played and stays put nearly all the time. Not a lot of muting from the thumb that way but some guys have developed ways to use ring or pinky along with it to mute strings.

Movable anchor: Thumb moves up and down the strings as you mentioned above. Have seen guys also use ring and pinky for muting this way.

Floating thumb: Thumb is not really anchored but moves along with the rest of the hand as needed and kinda lays flat against the lower (pitch) strings to mute.

You will find all kinds of threads and opinions if you search any of those 3 words and I'm sure someone will likely be kind enough to link a few.

Having recently switched from Movable Anchor to more of a Floating Thumb style (after about 20 years of playing) this is the method I would recommend. Many advantages since thumb is not anchored and whole hand moves to where it is needed, easier string skipping, all strings physically above plucked string get muted from thumb laying across the unused strings, more consistent attack angle on the each string, and less stress on your hand (this is my main reason for switching, to relieve stress on hand from fixing my thumb on a sting and moving my hand around it).

You understand the importance of string muting whether it be right or left hand and that it is a combination of the two that is often necessary, so that is a huge plus right there, just have to work at whatever method you choose to go with until you find what works best for you.

[SabreATK]

Originally Posted by GeoffT

For right hand thumb position you'll find 3 main ways to go about it.

Fixed anchor: Thumb rests on pickup or lowest string when not being played and stays put nearly all the time. Not a lot of muting from the thumb that way but some guys have developed ways to use ring or pinky along with it to mute strings.

Movable anchor: Thumb moves up and down the strings as you mentioned above. Have seen guys also use ring and pinky for muting this way.

Floating thumb: Thumb is not really anchored but moves along with the rest of the hand as needed and kinda lays flat against the lower (pitch) strings to mute.

You will find all kinds of threads and opinions if you search any of those 3 words and I'm sure someone will likely be kind enough to link a few.

Having recently switched from Movable Anchor to more of a Floating Thumb style (after about 20 years of playing) this is the method I would recommend. Many advantages since thumb is not anchored and whole hand moves to where it is needed, easier string skipping, all strings physically above plucked string get muted from thumb laying across the unused strings, more consistent attack angle on the each string, and less stress on your hand (this is my main reason for switching, to relieve stress on hand from fixing my thumb on a sting and moving my hand around it).

You understand the importance of string muting whether it be right or left hand and that it is a combination of the two that is often necessary, so that is a huge plus right there, just have to work at whatever method you choose to go with until you find what works best for you.

Thanks, that is exactly what I need. Maybe someone can post a link to the third technique you described? I think I can visualize it but would like to see it.

I was anchoring on the jazz pickup, then switched to a floating anchor, and want to see what the third way is about.

Anchoring on the pickup has the drawback that I am always playing at the same place on the string, it would be nicer to sometimes play closer to the bridge for a different attack.

Thanks again.

[GeoffT]

The best explanation and example that I've seen of the Floating Thumb technique is from Todd Johnson:

Todd Johnson Bass Guitar : Floating thumb technique - YouTube

Note that a lot of people refer to the method you described above as Floating Thumb, when Movable Anchor is probably a better term for that method since it still involves anchoring the thumb.

[SabreATK]

Originally Posted by GeoffT

The best explanation and example that I've seen of the Floating Thumb technique is from Todd Johnson:

Todd Johnson Bass Guitar : Floating thumb technique - YouTube

Note that a lot of people refer to the method you described above as Floating Thumb, when Movable Anchor is probably a better term for that method since it still involves anchoring the thumb.

Nice! Thank you good sir.

[grendle]

I use everything pretty much. I mute with my left and right hands, palm, thumb, free fingers. Kind of a cross between guitar and bass style muting. I had to really think about how I do it because its pretty subconscious now.