Resting your thumb on the pick up

drewsky2004 · #1 03-14-2011, 12:48 PM

Lately I've found this so much more comfortable. I can walk across the strings much easier. Just curious as to anyone else who may use this technique, wanted to get some input.

**bassacechase** · #2 03-14-2011, 12:50 PM

That is the way I have always played. On a jazz bass I like to use the neck pickup.

Gearhead17 · #3 03-14-2011, 12:52 PM

As long as you are muting strings with your fretting hand, it should work just fine. I have seen many do this exact technique and I have heard strings ringing out at the worst moments.

I do the floating thumb technique, mute with my fretting hand and my plucking hand.

Rock on!

Plays_For_Dog · #4 03-14-2011, 12:52 PM

I prefer it. Kinda like a reference point so I know how far to reach for each string. I never understood the "benefit" of the floating thumb technique. Seem like more work and less certainty. I guess if you're tought the floating thumb from day one, and that's all you know then I guess it could work out better for you. Stick with what works and for me that's using the pick up as a thumb rest.

tdub0199 · #5 03-14-2011, 12:53 PM

Thats where i have always rested my thumb....

drewsky2004 · #6 03-14-2011, 12:55 PM

For a while I have used the floating thumb technique to alternate between the first and fourth string. But lately I have found that resting my thumb on the pick up allows me to do this much easier. Glad to know others do it as well!

pica · #7 03-14-2011, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassacechase

That is the way I have always played. On a jazz bass I like to use the neck pickup.

Same here. My instructor never told me NOT to play that way. I saw a girl on Youtube who kept her thumb on the bridge pick-up, that seemed kind of weird.

bassplayerbob · #8 03-14-2011, 12:56 PM

I have been anchoring my thumb between the 2 screws on my sterling since 1999 and the pickup cover at the front screw has conformed to my thumb.

Sizlack · #9 03-14-2011, 12:58 PM

I typically keep mine on the pickup, but do bring it down to rest on the A string if I'm playing more than a few notes on the D or G.

NKBassman · #10 03-14-2011, 01:00 PM

That's how I started out. Lately I've found myself floating more and more though. Just a natural progression I suppose.

intheory · #11 03-14-2011, 01:02 PM

I switch between resting on the neck pickup and the low B string-really depends on what I'm doing at the moment (when I play the low B, I naturally rest my thumb on the pickup, and do at other times as well).

Pollinator95 · #12 03-14-2011, 01:03 PM

I rest mine on the p/u, and use the floating thumb when soloing on the higher strings.

BigOldHarry · #13 03-14-2011, 01:08 PM

That's one of my favorite things about MM basses - the pickup is in the exact right position to rest my thumb...

JoZac21 · #14 03-14-2011, 01:09 PM

I rest my thumb on the B string typically... when playing the B, my thumb winds up on the body... sometimes, when a groove revolves around the higher 3 strings, my thumb is on the E... most of my playing happens somewhere between the two J bass style pick-ups, usually close to the bridge pup... anyone else do something similar? I vaguely remember picking up this right hand technique from watching someone play, but I can't remember who it was... hmm...

bassplayerbob · #15 03-14-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

That's one of my favorite things about MM basses - the pickup is in the exact right position to rest my thumb...

I gotta try to snap some pics of it. The plastic around the front screw looks like a mini ramp now! Lol!

Gearhead17 · #16 03-14-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

As long as you are muting strings with your fretting hand, it should work just fine. I have seen many do this exact technique and I have heard strings ringing out at the worst moments.

I do the floating thumb technique, mute with my fretting hand and my plucking hand.

Rock on!

I rest my thumb on the string above to play the strings below - I will use my index for one string and the middle for the other string when plucking two notes simultaneously. I use the top of the pickup when playing the B string. Always having the fingers hit the back of my thumb allows me to play quite fast and I am very comfortable this way. Helps me mute properly too.

I have seen others rest their thumb on the pickup and never move it - it looks difficult for some to do so when they are plucking the G string. All of our wrists are different, so do what feels right and causes no pain.

_Sasquatch_ · #17 03-14-2011, 01:17 PM

Thats how I do it..I rest on the neck pickup and mute with my fretting hand.

MycooLeeyun · #18 03-14-2011, 01:19 PM

On a Jazz bass, for me anyways, I like to pluck in between the pickups. Resting my thumb on one of the pickups is not preferable. Timmy C has a thumb rest installed between the two pickups so he can rest his thumb while still plucking in that sweet spot. I just use the floating thumb technique because it is convenient to mute strings that way for me.

NKBassman · #19 03-14-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

That's one of my favorite things about MM basses - the pickup is in the exact right position to rest my thumb...

I feel the same way about the Precision bass.

DRay521 · #20 03-14-2011, 01:24 PM

I use a combination of resting on the pickups (for different tones) and floating thumb. Basically if I'm not sure I can mute a certain passage with the fretting hand, I'll switch to floating thumb ahead of time to be sure. I will add that it's much easier to keep the thumb anchored on the pickups on a 4-string bass, whereas floating thumb seems to work much better on a 5, IMHO.