playing with the thumb

hanna · #1 03-12-2009, 10:23 AM

hey guys,

i've recently done some research on the first fender p-bass, and i was wondering what this thing is called and what exactly it is used for. (i marked it with an arrow)

i heard it was used for placing the fingers on it if you play with the thumb, is that right? but how would you play with your thumb i guess you wouln'd have any control over the strings and you would be totally slow. could someone explain that technique? (maybe with pics if possible) i also heard that monk montgomrey used technique.

thanks for your help!

Jim Carr · #2 03-12-2009, 10:13 PM

It is an easy, worthwhile, and old fashioned technique. Leo Fender (the father of Fender Basses) thought that the thumb was a good way for guitarists to get the sound of an upright bass from the electric bass.

Yes, it is a fairly limited technique, unless you stop and consider that Victor Wooten's double thumbing uses only the thumb, too.

So, if you want to do it, do it. In my opinion, the thumb alone sounds much like using only the index (first finger). It is a very easy starter technique, but can be taken to amazing places.

And---I would encourage you to try it, even if you are advanced. When I was a young bassist, I used first the thumb (Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys was an exemplar), then a pick (thanks Paul Maca), and then 1, 2, and 3 fingers (thanks Jamerson, Harvey Brooks, and all those cats with James Brown)!

Now-a-days, thumb plucking technique and the tugbar (the thing your arrow points to) get very little respect, yet Segovia--THE master classical guitarist of the 20th century considered the thumb to be the equal of all fingers and the master of the hand.

Ric5 · #3 03-12-2009, 10:20 PM

It is the old Mel Bay thumb plucking technique ... then the little thing on your bass is a tug bar for anchoring your fingers.

hanna · #4 03-13-2009, 06:28 AM

check this beach boys vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1Faf...eature=related
is that the technique, brian wilson uses there? i can't really see it, is he laying his hand that "thing"?
and is it the technique leo fender had intended to be used with his bass?

Jim Carr · #5 03-13-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanna

check this beach boys vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1Faf...eature=related
is that the technique, brian wilson uses there? i can't really see it, is he laying his hand that "thing"?
and is it the technique leo fender had intended to be used with his bass?

Yes, pretty much, though in that (classic) clip, Wilson is often gripping the lower edge of the neck butt, and is plucking right over the upper frets. This gets a dark and somewhat dull tone that is not what you hear on the BB's studio recordings. Those have the sound of a pick for the most part, if I recall correctly. Perhaps Carol Kaye on bass?

With the "tugbar" technique, the thumb is used in a downward stroke, with the side of the thumb tip contacting the string, and several of the other fingers hold onto the bottom edge of the bar.

One thing to keep in mind with this technique is that you will get a nasty blister on your thumb if you over do it in the beginning. Build up calluses by regular practice, several times a day perhaps, but not long enough to cause a blister. A little soreness is OK and even good, a lot of soreness or a blister is bad, IMHO. Hope this helps.

hanna · #6 03-13-2009, 11:36 AM

thanks y'all really helped me a lot!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

One thing to keep in mind with this technique is that you will get a nasty blister on your thumb if you over do it in the beginning. Build up calluses by regular practice, several times a day perhaps, but not long enough to cause a blister. A little soreness is OK and even good, a lot of soreness or a blister is bad, IMHO. Hope this helps.

@ Jim Carr: thats right, i went through that with every thenique i tried, fingerstyle, slapping, palm muting. they're real mean!

metdistortion · #7 03-14-2009, 01:35 PM

When I started playing, I used my thumb, but then slowly replaced it with fingers. But I do find it's sometimes easier to play arpeggios and chords with my thumb.

Fergie Fulton · #8 03-18-2009, 05:01 AM

The thumb in the position that the grab bar puts your hand in is a wonderfull position to go to when simple lines or songs require tone and feeling rather than speed and dexterity. Combine it in to a technique you can use, it will give your plucking hand fingers a rest and lets your wrist straighten out so reducing the strain on it.
Its a wonderfull technique but as bass moved on it was deemed restrictive so the bar was removed.
In basses of the period where they are not fitted, you will find scratchplates with the holes drilled in them for it, but not the body of the bass. This i believe was because the scratchplates were mass produced and rather than junk them they were used till they ran out and the new ones with out the holes were used.
How true this is i don't know, but i remember seeing an old precision with the same holes drilled and the holes for the pick-up guard drilled as well, but not in the body????