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05-04-2009, 09:18 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New York, NY | | | Is it weird that I play with my thumb?
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Yes, everyone I am a thumb bassist. I have a double-jointed thumb, which makes it easy for me just to move the top half it, making it faster for me than playing with fingers. I can-kind of sort-of play with my fingers, but i wouldn't gig like that. Basically, what I'm asking is, how many other bassists play with their thumbs, and also, do you guys think it would look weird if i gig like that?
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05-04-2009, 09:26 PM
| | | | Just play to what is most comfortable and efficient to you. You would be surprised by the different methods of how people play their instruments.
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05-04-2009, 09:26 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quebec | | If it works and you get the tone you want, who cares how it looks ? I never was able to get anything usable out of my thumb (slap included  ), but different strokes for different folks heh ?
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05-04-2009, 09:27 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minnesota - Twin Cities | | | This was how it was done in the 60s..
I play with 4/5 of my fingers.. you do loose the crispness of the 3 other primaries by not using them. I use the thumb for flabbier softer sounds.
Tim
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05-04-2009, 09:31 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sunbury, Ohio | | | It's weird but not wrong. I know several high profile players who incorporate their thumbs in their fingerstyle playing. I do it sometimes too.
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05-04-2009, 09:42 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Here we are... | | | I know alot of old blues dudes who use only the thumb.Not popping or slapping.just regular playing
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05-04-2009, 09:45 PM
| | | | Hey Geddy lee does it sometimes! Check out the "Driven" bass solo on Rush in Rio. |
05-04-2009, 09:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brookfield, CT | | | Watch bebob guitar cats. Wes Montgomery, or George Benson. That's how they play guitar.
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05-05-2009, 03:31 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: London | | | Also that would make Thumb and Palm Muting a cinch! Which can get you a great tone for reggae or upright bass sounds.
You can use loads of cliches: If it sounds good, it is good (Alexis Sklarevski). It it ain't broke, don't fix it. Etc etc.
If you're happy with how you play and can do what you need to do then you're good to go. |
05-05-2009, 03:47 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia | | | That's how fender intended you to use the bass (as can be seen by the original position of the thumb rest). Rick Rosa (Neil Young's touring bassist and album bassist on several occasions) plays like this, i find it more comfortable to use my thumb and my finger when doing octave work as it works easier for me. Play however you feel comfortable and however you like you can make yourself stand out from other bass players by exploring different techniques like this.
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05-05-2009, 04:01 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia | | | Pino Palladino does it like that... I think. |
05-05-2009, 04:49 AM
|  | Working on successful. Got the sucks part... | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Huddinge, Sweden | | | Paul McCartney and Sting do quite well using their thumbs...
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05-05-2009, 07:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Windy City | | | I stretched the tendons in my second finger, so two finger pizzicato is pretty much out. I started using my thumb out of necessity a few years ago, and I love it more. |
05-05-2009, 07:34 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: CT USA | | | Weird - no ... unusual - perhaps. But If you are able to accomplish what you desire using this technique I say go for it. As my guitarist likes to say: 'the ears don't lie'.
I use my thumb at times for a certain tone. I also sometimes use it alternating with my index finger.
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05-05-2009, 07:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Greenville, NC USA | | | "Weird" is a relative term. Just do what works for you. If you make your groove fit in the band, and that style of playing works for you, keep doing it and don't let anyone tell you any different.
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05-05-2009, 07:40 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Stillwater Minnesota | | | Thumb is fine
Thumb pick is fine also
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Best of Luck,
Wesley R.
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05-05-2009, 07:40 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico | | | When I play ballads in my band, I play using my thumb, I get a fatter, more consistent sound that way. It works. I do it.
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05-05-2009, 07:50 PM
| | | A good friend of mine Pat Ellwood and fellow bassist uses his thumb and is very good with it i might say.He plays with the Marshall Tucker Band.Also MTB original bass player and band leader Tommy Caldwell played with his thumb as did his brother Toy Caldwell on Lead Guitar.Tommy was killed in a vehicle accident in 1980 and Toy passed away in 1993.Here is of a clip of my buddy Pat doing a solo on MTB song 24 hours at a time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_YzzX7WgVk |
05-05-2009, 07:53 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Western Washington | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jewbass Yes, everyone I am a thumb bassist. I have a double-jointed thumb, which makes it easy for me just to move the top half it, making it faster for me than playing with fingers. I can-kind of sort-of play with my fingers, but i wouldn't gig like that. Basically, what I'm asking is, how many other bassists play with their thumbs, and also, do you guys think it would look weird if i gig like that? | 1. I started playing bass in '73 with my thumb. Although I normally use fingers now, I occasionally use my thumb when the situation calls for it.
2. If you're most comfortable playing with your thumb, don't even worry about what others think. You're the bass player!
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