Right hand technique for heavy metal

[SeismicAssault]

I'm a fairly new bass player (converted from guitar), and I've got two bass method books that are giving me two different right-hand techniques for playing. Since I'm fairly new, I'd like to start out with good technique, and not have to break a bad technique down the road. I'll mostly be playing heavy metal, if that makes a difference.

The two techniques are the following:

1. One book says to anchor your thumb on the pickup for the E and A strings, anchor your thumb on the E string for D, and anchor your thumb on the A string (muting the E, too), for the G string.

2. The second book says to always anchor your thumb on the pickup.

So my question is this: Is there a preferred method for your right hand, and what is it? Also, if you're anchoring on the pickup, should I be anchored on the neck or bridge pickup.

I've already read the floating thumb sticky, but that doesn't really answer the question of which method is the best.

[*insertcoolname]

There is no best. Which ever feels more comfortable for you is the best for you, but not necessarily for the next guy. I like to keep my thumb in the same position but that's just me. Also, for heavy metal you might want to think about using a pick, which is the prefered technique of a lot of metal guys.

[BellBottomBlues]

I hate bass players who use the E string for a thumb anchor. There is no positives associated with it and the negatives are abound. How do you play on rapidly going for the G to E strings?

Also some players prefer to anchor their thumb on the bass side of the neck.

I usually just rest my hand on the body of the bass close to the bridge.

[Steve³]

I keep my thumb on the E string most of the time (unless I'm playing it, of course), but I move it to the A string to play the G. Regardless of which string I rest it on though, I keep it right in front of the pickup (p-bass). As for which pup you want to rest on, try both and see which gives you the sound you're looking for. I like the stronger fundamental of playing more toward the neck, but you might like the sound of playing closer to the bridge. It's entirely a matter of personal preference. Not much help, was I?

[Bassman12593]

I also play floating thumb style, thumb anchored on the string but i guess thats cause i play a 5 string and the top of the pickup is pretty far from the g. Its uncomfortable to play it any other way.

[BellBottomBlues]

Originally Posted by Bassman12593

I also play floating thumb style, thumb anchored on the string but i guess thats cause i play a 5 string and the top of the pickup is pretty far from the g. Its uncomfortable to play it any other way.

I didn't know that in floating thumb you actually anchor your fingers on strings. That one is news to me.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the floating thumb a non-anchor technique?

EDIT: I do play with my thumb by the way, depending on the passage I'll use the thumb to pluck and mute the E string quickly while my pointer and index fingers work the other 3 strings. I still am not using it as an anchor as my thumb usually rest either on the pup or the cover depending on the bass I use.

[rockwarnick]

i rest my thumb on the string lower than whatever string i am playing. pickup for E, E for A, A for D, and D for G. And if, like someone said before, im playing multiple strings it still applies. its not something i practiced, nor do i suggest it. i just developed it over the years and happened to notice.
I feel that having an anchor lets you know where the strings are in relation to your hand thus letting your mind focus more on other things. groove, feel, rhythm, whatever.

[David Lansen]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

I didn't know that in floating thumb you actually anchor your fingers on strings. That one is news to me.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the floating thumb a non-anchor technique?

EDIT: I do play with my thumb by the way, depending on the passage I'll use the thumb to pluck and mute the E string quickly while my pointer and index fingers work the other 3 strings. I still am not using it as an anchor as my thumb usually rest either on the pup or the cover depending on the bass I use.

I believe you are correct, that floating thumb is a non-anchor technique. The other technique, where the thumb archors but also follows whichever string is being played, I think some people here call it "movable anchor".

[Nikoubis]

Originally Posted by rockwarnick

i rest my thumb on the string lower than whatever string i am playing. pickup for E, E for A, A for D, and D for G. And if, like someone said before, im playing multiple strings it still applies. its not something i practiced, nor do i suggest it. i just developed it over the years and happened to notice.
I feel that having an anchor lets you know where the strings are in relation to your hand thus letting your mind focus more on other things. groove, feel, rhythm, whatever.

+1 with an extra low B. Note that for some quick passages on the D and G I just keep my thumb on the A and don't bother to move it. It may be wrong but it's more economical...

[SixStrings]

One book says to anchor your thumb on the pickup for the E and A strings, anchor your thumb on the E string for D, and anchor your thumb on the A string (muting the E, too), for the G string.

if movable anchor is what it's called, I'm a big fan...

and seeing as how I'm the first metal bassist to respond (apparently), I'll give you my take on things:

The movable anchor technique allows me the ability to simply forget about my right hand. I never have to worry about which string I'm plucking because my fingers stay the same distance from my thumb. The rare times I do anchor my thumb on the pickup I notice immediately because in reaching for the strings I start to miss, etc. I anchor on the neck pickup, depending on the tone you want I guess you could go at the bridge, but IMO you won't be as fast (a key requirement in metal).

As for "Also, for heavy metal you might want to think about using a pick, which is the prefered technique of a lot of metal guys." I don't think this is true at all. Dave Ellefson is one of the few bassists in metal I respect that plays with a pick, but for the most part the best metal bassists are the ones that play fingerstyle (see: John Myung, etc.). Since you didn't specify what kind of metal you're playing, I have no idea if you'll want a pick. But since you're a guitarist who's made the switch and your question's about fingerstyle, I assume you're taking the harder, more worthwhile route. Which is good.

[elpelotero]

SeismicAssault, as you can see, there are a LOT of different techniques. Unfortunately, there is no right or wrong way to approach the right hand. The left hand, yes. BUt the right? No.

Electric bass is still fairly new compared to something like guitar or acoustic double-bass. We are still figuring out the techniques.

The best thing to do is first of all, play what is most comfortable to you. If you have long fingers, then anchoring on the pickup shouldn't bother you as much. If you have short fingers, moving your thumb around would be beneficial.

After you have experimented for a few months, learn all the techniques you can. Learn floating thumb, movable anchor, and pickup anchor (the three most common). Then you can do whichever feels right for that moment. I usually stay on the pickup and then move to my B string to play the higher notes. If it's a slow passage, then I will go to other strings or do floating thumb. However, it is entirely possible to do movable anchor or floating thumb 100% of the time in fast passages as long as you practice it.

[Traver]

I personally play a 6-string, and, while I -can- play all the strings with my thumb rested on the pickup, it's a lot easier to play if I move my thumb as well (although this of course requires some training).
Point of this post being:
If you decide to go with anchoring your thumb on the pickup, you -might- find it harder to play like that, should you ever want to play with more strings.

[mattofash]

I play in a metal band and I prefer method B I never really found it hard to switch down to play more strings or anything like that, and I do go all over the place quite often.
If your like me and there are quite a lot of rythem changes and tempo changes I also Switch to using a Pick at times as well, often switching a couple of times in one song so that I can get the proper rythem

Also at times switch to playing it Geezer style right up on the fretboard

[chaosMK]

I play with one finger, but *really* fast.

[paradigm_shift]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

I hate bass players who use the E string for a thumb anchor. There is no positives associated with it and the negatives are abound. How do you play on rapidly going for the G to E strings?

Also some players prefer to anchor their thumb on the bass side of the neck.

I usually just rest my hand on the body of the bass close to the bridge.

The positive with anchoring on the e-string is it mutes it.

Originally Posted by SeismicAssault

The two techniques are the following:

1. One book says to anchor your thumb on the pickup for the E and A strings, anchor your thumb on the E string for D, and anchor your thumb on the A string (muting the E, too), for the G string.

2. The second book says to always anchor your thumb on the pickup.

So my question is this: Is there a preferred method for your right hand, and what is it? Also, if you're anchoring on the pickup, should I be anchored on the neck or bridge pickup.

I've already read the floating thumb sticky, but that doesn't really answer the question of which method is the best.

Welcome to the forums! I actually use both to a varying degree. On my six string, I use much more floating thumb than anchored thumb, but on my four string, I tend to use more anchored thumb than floating thumb (maybe it helps that I have banana trees for hands). As has been mentioned, neither method is any more correct than the other; it just depends on what works for you. Focus espeically on what sounds good and what's the most efficient way of achieving that sound, and work from there.

[IanStephenson]

Originally Posted by paradigm_shift

The positive with anchoring on the e-string is it mutes it.

+1

left to it's own devices the bottom E will start resonating and sound horrible. I anchor my thumb on the E, and just lift it off when i need to play that string.

I can see the benefits of moving my thumb up to the A string when playing on the G, but thats less of a problem - for me at least, so I don't find it necessary. When playing the D string A gets muted anyway by the plucking finger (and simlary D when playing G). If I was playing 5 or 6 string I'd look into it seriosly.

The other advantage of using a string as the anchor is it doesn't lock you into one position - on a single pickup. You probably want to play nearer the bridge for a harder sound, but moving towards the neck is nice for a fatter sound. Resting on a pickup limits this - if you really don't want to rest your thumb on a string, then just let it rest on the body of your bass.

Ian