Proper Technique

[K9Jay79]

I could use some direction. I'm pretty new to bass now. I went out and bought an Ibanez SR-505 for my first bass along with an Ampeg SVT-3PRO head and an Ampeg SVT-410HLF cabinet (I thought I'd share that. I love my equipment! )

My real question is just a simple technique question. I looked at several lesson books to go through. I had taken regular guitar lessons when I was younger, so I have some type of foundation. I settled on "The Complet Idiot's Guide to Bass Guitar." I've been really happy with it. The one thing, though, that I noticed it doesn't discuss is a simple question. What's the proper technique for resting your picking hand? I watched a guy at a guitar store move his thumb down to the string right above the one he was always playing. I had a buddy of mine that has played bass for several years laugh at me for playing like that. He always rests his thumb on a pickup when he finger picks. I would like to know what everyone thinks. I'd rather avoid bad habits right away while I'm learning! Thanks Everyone!

[doctorjazz]

There isn't really a proper technique per se, it's all based on individual preference. Some people rest their thumb on the top string and keep it there (I do, even on a 6 string). Others move their thumb to the string above the string they're playing, some people will rest it on the pickup, others play with it free-floating and not resting on anything at all.

Basically, do whatever's most comfortable to you and lets you get a good consistent attack on every string.

[mikezimmerman]

Hmm, there's a sticky "Floating thumb technique" topic with lots of discussion down in the Technique forum:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f21/

Mike

[kayakbass]

Bottom line (no pun intended) your technique is only a problem if it holds you back! I play the same way ( thumb following picking fingers from string to string ) and found it kept my hand in a more relaxed position. Been playing this way for 23 years and it's never held me back from playing anything ( jazz, rock, funk, latin, country, folk, fusion...) Actually found that Billy Sheehan plays this way! Recomended it to some of my students that were having a problem with reaching over to the D and G string and maintaining a "rest stroke" ( instead their fingers were hooking and producing the thinner sounding "free stroke") Cleared the problem right up and two of them just got accepted to music schools. Jeff Berlin once told me "your technique is fine until it holds you back from playing music". I know it's "another Berlinism" but it's true! If you find your hand is more comfortable with your thumb switching strings than do it. This also allows you to rest the thumb of your picking hand across lower strings that might be ringing open on you otherwise. VERY useful for you 5er's! Just ask Gary Willis! Hope this helps!

[puff father]

Originally Posted by mikezimmerman

Hmm, there's a sticky "Floating thumb technique" topic with lots of discussion down in the Technique forum:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21

Mike

+1 I think the floating thumb thing has a lot of merit. There really is no one right way to do it, though there are bad habits that are easy to fall into. Relaxed is a good thing to go for. Tension is a killer especially for playing fast.

[Lowpro]

Rest your thumb where it's comfy. Proper technique is different for everyone, developed from your own playstyle that you develop while trying to emulate others. Comes with practice.

And I rest my thumb on my P pickup, or on my E string, depending on what I feel like doing really. Floating the strings reduces sympathetic vibrations.

[Bryan316]

I've always rested my thumb on the neck pickup. But I've seen players rest their thumb on the side of the neck, on the pickguard, just touching their thumb against the side of the body, NOT rest their thumb at all, just rest their forearm on the body and float their hand out there... it really depends on what's comfy for you. It also makes a difference how you rest your bass across your body. Are you a belly button player? Belt buckle player? Jean pockets player? Kneecap player?

[basssalad]

One thing that wasn't mentioned is dealing with open string noise. Resting thumb on string above and draping it over lower strings will clean up your sound. Muting is very important and often overlooked. This not only clouds up your sound but destroys the bottom end of the whole band.Try recording yourself and listen back eith headphones you will hear what I mean. There are many ways to incorporate muting into your playing. This technique keeps your right hand wrist straight so you can play longer.Also if you play 5 and 6 string basses you won't have to alter your technique.
Keeping your thumb on the pu on a wide spaced 6 string isn't a good idea. Some players can get away with it. Most players will develop CTS.

[Tape]

I also rest my finger on the string above where im playing.

[ehque]

i play a six with the 2 fingered-rest stroke. my thumb, ring finger and last finger mute strings lower (in pitch) than the one im playing, my fretting hand mutes the ones higher (in pitch).

works for me, dont know if anyone uses this. i play "at the armpit", tho.

[bbehrens]

ALL EXCELLENT POSTS PPL!

Norm Stockton is a clinician for Gallien-Kreuger (freddy? _ I think not!) and MTD basses. He has a video series called "Art of the Groove" which comes highly recommended - especially for newer bass players. He recommends the floating thumb technique - Does not INSIST on it but simply recommends it.

"Art of the Groove" is a very good series. It covers basics like care and feeding of your bass and technique as well as styles.

www.normstockton.com

- bsb

[TBalls]

I pretty much agree with what everyone has said - there's no right way to do it. Personally, when I first started playing I anchored on the pickup becuase that's what my teacher did. Over the course of 13 years, my playing naturally evolved into the floating thumb. I say 'naturally' because I didn't even realize I was doing it until a couple of months ago when someone asked me about it.

Bottom line is do what's most comforatable now, and eventually your body will do what's natural.

[Hyper-Flexion]

i do use the floating thumb technique too...but if someone shows you another way to do something on the bass I say try it! you'll only get better!

[K9Jay79]

All that info helps. I would say so far, I'm somewhere between a "belt player" and "pocket player." That's about where I've been positioned since I started playing a few months ago. The two ways I was doing it had positives and negatives, I thought. Keeping my thumb anchored on the pickup made it seem like there was less coordination involved. But originally I was using a moving anchor style I guess. The advantage to the anchor seemed like I could pick faster no matter what string I was on, because my hand would always be at the same angle. I just pulled my bass out and tried what Basssalad suggested. I did a moving anchor but draped my thumb across the lower strings as well. I think I really like that. One thing I noticed just trying it was that it flowed nicer while moving up and down the strings. When I anchored straight down on a string with my thumb, it felt like I had to physically pick up my thumb and put it on the next string. I'm sure that feeling can be overcome with more practice, but laying my thumb across felt just like an easier transition from string to string. I think I'll mess with that for a while. Thanks guys.

[lamarjones]

Originally Posted by K9Jay79

I watched a guy at a guitar store move his thumb down to the string right above the one he was always playing. I had a buddy of mine that has played bass for several years laugh at me for playing like that. He always rests his thumb on a pickup when he finger picks. I would like to know what everyone thinks. I'd rather avoid bad habits right away while I'm learning! Thanks Everyone!

What is real funny is probably a lot of people are laughing at your friend for laughing at you!!!

It's not that he is wrong or right, but a lot of good players float like that, and it kinda seems like your boy just don't know.

[spindizzy]

FT baby all the way! Like the rest I agree on the no right or wrong way as long as you are getting what you want or need. But...if there was a rule I would make it floating thumb. It has been my friend for over twenty years (maybe closer to thirty, I'm old I can't remember) and as my age has introduced bone, joint and muscle pain I have found that it is extending my playing life due to the efficiency of movement and the lack of too hard a touch (what I call the bone beater). So, experiment, try lots of things and use what suites you. I highly recommend FT as one of your options.

Spin

[BullHorn]

Both techniques are good.

I play a 4 string, so I only use the floating thumb technique when I play near the bridge or when I play complex string-jumping songs, to avoid string noise.

[blankstare77]

I use four strings, and I tend to use Jaco's muting style.

[Lesfunk]

As you progress and play more, you'll develop a technique that works for you. I sometimes anchor my thumb and sometimes let it float. It depends on how and what I'm playing.

[Rumblestiltzkin]

1) Stay relaxed, especially when delivering a fast line such as metal or punk.
2) If you feel tension or pain, stop and re-evaluate your body. Try to find where the pressure is building. Maybe your right toe is curling up (happens to me). Or maybe your entire left shoulder is tense? If you feel pain, it's not good, it will slow you down big time. Try to find what's causing it.
3) Imagine yourself looking at you playing. If you can see your left-hand thumb sticking up above the neck, bring the thumb down to the middle of the backside of the fretboard.
4) If your thumb hurts, practice playing lines w/o the thumb ever touching the back of the neck.
5) Keep your fretting fingers as close to the fretboard as possible. If your fingers stick out more than an inch or 1/2 inch, if you're anal, you need to practice finger independence excercises. Remember this: It is too late to correct the problem after it has happened.
6) Breath
7) Tap your foot
8) Use a metronome
9) Practice standing up as well as sitting down
10) Thats all?

If you went to a guitar teacher, hopefully these are the basics he would force you to do.

IMO, only somebody harping at your bad technique can get you to force yourself to fix it.

Otherwise, you'll just make excuses to yourself about a lot of things or never be aware of your body tension.

Damn, this outta be a sticky