Right hand position

Jacob Bartfield · #1 09-14-2003, 10:41 PM

Hey. I was curious where the most popular place is to play on the bass for fingerstyle: back near the bridge, or over the neck pickup.

Infernal Affair · #2 09-15-2003, 12:44 AM

What about between the two pickups on a two pickup bass?

Howard K · #3 09-15-2003, 06:32 AM

I can't specify one in particular... I try find what I think is the best spot for the part I'm playing.
Same with the amount I 'dig in', whether I play rest strokes heaviliy theourgh the strings or a lighter pluck, or with my thumb, or finger nails, or... the list goes on...

ZuluFunk · #4 09-15-2003, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Howard K
I can't specify one in particular... I try find what I think is the best spot for the part I'm playing.
Same with the amount I 'dig in', whether I play rest strokes heaviliy theourgh the strings or a lighter pluck, or with my thumb, or finger nails, or... the list goes on...

I'm with HK...it depends on what I'm playing and how I want to sound. It also depends if I'm playing my 4 or 6 string. I compensate for my tone much more with my technique and location than adjusting the preamp settings.

Jacob Bartfield · #5 09-15-2003, 10:08 AM

when I practice, I usually put my right hand way back next to the bridge, because I like the way it sounds better, but when I'm playing in a band setting, I often end up playing over the neck pickup about half the time, because it sounds fatter and warmer.

98% of the time, I don't touch the tone controls on my bass or amp. I leave my amp flat, and usually role the bass and treble knobs all the way off on my bass.

Figjam · #6 09-16-2003, 01:46 PM

I usually play over the neck pickup, but when im in Drop D, and the tension is looser, i play by the bridge pickup.

Rick Blanc · #7 09-16-2003, 02:01 PM

Since mine is an SR5 (no neck PU) I play infront of the bridge PU

AaronS · #8 09-17-2003, 10:47 PM

I range from the 20th fret to the bridge, but 50% of the time I'm about 2 inches (5 cm for JMX) in front of the front pickup. It's about the same for guitar. The only time my hand is really anchored is on dobro and steel guitar.

FretNoMore · #9 09-18-2003, 09:26 AM

I tend to anchor my thumb on the neck pickup most of the time, so picking happens somewhere between the pickups (favouring the neck pickup I think). I move around a bit though to get different sounds, towards the neck or even onto the fingerboard for mellower and towards the bridge for more bite, as the music calls for it.

Infernal Affair · #10 09-18-2003, 10:03 AM

FretNoMore: I'm the same way, that's how come i found the choices kind of limiting. I guess I can put down "both evenly" but it varies depending on what I'm playing and what bass I'm playing, but usually I try to get between the two for an even sound.

Figjam · #11 09-20-2003, 08:17 AM

When i first started, i would always play by the Bridge pickup. Whenever i tried playing on the neck pickup,i found the less-er tension there to be weird. It was probably not for several months until i switched to playing over the neck pickup. My endurance got longer (that sounds very un grammar good :-/) because it was easier to play there, and the strings are slightly closer together. Now when i play by the bridge, i dont really like the sound of the "bite".

Jacob Bartfield · #12 09-20-2003, 11:27 PM

OK, I admit the choices are a little limiting, but I guess it was either that or have a pole with like 50 different choices. Some people for instance might only play over the bridge pickup and in between the neck and the bridge, while other may only play over the neck itself and over the neck pickup. I do realize that many people play all over the bass, but I just decided to pick the two most common places. By "over the neck pickup" I'm refering to anywhere where your thumb is anchored to or in close proximity with the neck pickup, (or neck pickup area if your bass doesn't have a neck pickup).

XavierG · #13 09-20-2003, 11:33 PM

I'm usually either back near the bridge, or up over the fretboard at around the 17th or 18th fret position. If you want to achieve a wide-tonal-spectrum, it's wise to not limit yourself to any one position.

wulf · #14 10-01-2003, 09:36 AM

Generally between the neck pickup and the base of the neck but I move around a fair amount as required. Probably at least 75% of what I'm playing at the moment works in that region, but its good to be aware of the full range available to you (eg. if you always play in one place, deliberately practise in some other spots and reflect on the differences).

Wulf

Chad Michael · #15 10-01-2003, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FretNoMore
I tend to anchor my thumb on the neck pickup most of the time, so picking happens somewhere between the pickups (favouring the neck pickup I think). I move around a bit though to get different sounds, towards the neck or even onto the fingerboard for mellower and towards the bridge for more bite, as the music calls for it.

I'm with this technique.

si_mon13 · #16 10-01-2003, 12:31 PM

where i play pretty much depends on the sound i want if i want a sharp 'guitarish' sound ill play either by the brigde using the lower pickup as rest or just the other strings. the fatter sound i want the more i move towards the neck, kyuss for instance, i play resting on the buttom on the neck.

JMX · #17 10-01-2003, 01:09 PM

I use a flexible approach, but I find that I play over the bridge pickup 80% of the time.

**embellisher** · #18 10-01-2003, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by XavierG
If you want to achieve a wide-tonal-spectrum, it's wise to not limit yourself to any one position.

Good advice.

It depends on what tone I need, and to a lesser extent, what bass I am playing.

When I play a Jazz bass, I spend a lot of time closer to the bridge pickup, but not as close as a lot of people.

When I play a fretless, I spend most of my time plucking over the 24th 'fret'. To get that bloomy, mwaahh tone. I go back near the bridge only if I need that punchy Jaco 16th note sound.

On my 12 string, I use a pick, back near the bridge about 80% of the time.

On my Cirrus, I am all over the place. It is more responsive to tonal changes from changing your plucking position than any bass I have ever played.

deepbob · #19 10-01-2003, 11:59 PM

from the bridge all the way up the frets, i'm not consistent, rather let the flow drag me around in different positions. i do have certain places i'll go for consistent tones and effects, like getting leverage for pops off my wrist by flexing off the bridge, but it's pretty loose.

but i play mostly with thumb (inside edge) and index finger (all over the place), which makes this very easy.