Right Hand Positioning

[JoZac21]

A few months ago I was playing a gig, when a much more experienced bass player told me afterwards that I need to play with my right hand closer to the bridge... that it would increase the initial attack on the notes.

I play in a Soul/Funk/Rock band, and I was wondering what other people's takes are on right hand positioning.

Obviously, when we're playing a reggae-esque groove, I move up towards the neck, etc. but typically as of late, I mostly play up by the bridge... but I feel that by doing that, although I gain a snappier attack, I sacrifice some roundness to my tone.

Any thoughts on right hand positioning?

[PJSShearer]

Depends on the song you're playing and therefore the tone you're looking for. Listen objectively to the sound you are getting - and ask people who's opinion you value for their input. Playing nearer the Bridge would defnitely increase the initial attack, but do you want, or need, to increase the initial attack?.

If I'm aiming for a Jamerson type tone (or playing a waltz!) its up by the neck and if I'm leaning more towards Bernard Edwards then its up by the Bridge. With a Fretless, the "Mwah" comes from plucking at the fingerboard and Jaco parked his thumb on the bridge pup!!.

However, a thought:

Some years ago, my latest girlfriend came to see my band and, in the break, asked me "why do you move your right hand up and down the strings?". "To vary the tone" came my reply. "Really, I couldn't tell a difference"..

[Skitch it!]

I tend to stick around the pickups for anchoring and a ramp feel, on the back for the funk stuff, on the front for deeper. The basses I use have a slightly softer string tension over the bridge pickup compared to a Jazz bass, but yes, usually over the pickups on whatever bass.

[Imyrhuckleberry]

Jack Cassidy is who I consider to be the most conscious of his choice of right hand positioning and it's tremendous effect. If you have any interest in checking out his instructional video -in which he goes thru a number of Hot Tuna material wit Jorma-I personally found it very informative on the subject of interest.

[puddin tame]

Originally Posted by JoZac21

A few months ago I was playing a gig, when a much more experienced bass player told me afterwards that I need to play with my right hand closer to the bridge... that it would increase the initial attack on the notes.

I play in a Soul/Funk/Rock band, and I was wondering what other people's takes are on right hand positioning.

Obviously, when we're playing a reggae-esque groove, I move up towards the neck, etc. but typically as of late, I mostly play up by the bridge... but I feel that by doing that, although I gain a snappier attack, I sacrifice some roundness to my tone.

Any thoughts on right hand positioning?

**** that.

maybe experienced but that doesn't mean he's any good - some people operate on bs for a long, long time. playing in different locations makes different sounds, so you should be able to play anywhere at any time depending on the sound you want. I believe that was one of the big points that jaco stressed...

playing right up against the bridge gets a very trebly sound, I find playing closer to the neck is 'smoother' so i'll use that when i want my notes to have a sort of relaxed flow to them

[Matthew_84]

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

Some years ago, my latest girlfriend came to see my band and, in the break, asked me "why do you move your right hand up and down the strings?". "To vary the tone" came my reply. "Really, I couldn't tell a difference"..

I think that because we're bass players we're able to hear the little nuances better than an average person.

My first bass was a Stagg BJ-300 (a cheap Jazz copy) and the other day I upgraded and got an MIA Fender P. My girlfriend came over, who've I played for a lot, and I played her something on the Fender that she's heard a dozen times on the Stagg. She said, "it's a get looking bass, but it sounds the same as your old one." Mind you, I was playing through a 15w Vox guitar amp (...I know, another upgrade soon to come), and although the difference isn't as noticeable as it would be through a bass amp, they're still obviously different tones. I plugged the Stagg in and compared the two.

Finally, she agreed that they sounded different, but I think that was to shut me up. Lol.

[Rudreax]

Do what you you gotta do to get the sound you want. There's no set way to play.

[Mark Wilson]

Understand how adjusting your right hand will get different tones.
Know those tones, and know when to play where!