Where do you pluck the strings and why?

[Deacon_Blues]

Just curious where you usually pluck the strings. Please also post the reason why you play at that particular position.

I mostly rest my thumb on the neck pickup or right above it on a string (I use floating thumb) and pluck almost right between the pickups. To me, that's the most comfortable position and sounds good for most styles of music. However, it feels like I'm the only bassist playing at that position, as I cannot really recall a bassist playing anywhere else than above or right next to the bridge pickup. To me it feels very strange to pluck so close to the bridge even though I like the sound there, especially for certain styles of music.

Finally - Do you switch positions between different styles or do you usually play at the same position?

[beggar98]

I move my plucking hand all over the place, from right at the bridge to where I'm actually plucking the string at around the 22nd fret. Its amazing what kind of tonal variety you can get just out of your hands.

[rushfan73]

Neck pup...i love the tone and it is more comfy for my hand.

[Phalex]

I usually play fairly close to the bridge. I like hard string tension, and that's where it is.

[seanm]

I play P basses. I usually play in front of the pickup for a fuller tone with more fundamental. I play over the pickup for more volume. Very rarely I play behind the pickup for more overtones and a "different" sound.

[JimmyM]

Mostly I play between the bridge pickup and the bridge. But I'll move around to get different sounds, and if I use a pick, I almost always pick right by the neck so I don't get pains in my hand.

[Deacon_Blues]

Oh, seems I totally forgot the pick players... sorry... But I put the inches there, so that the ones with only one pickup wouldn't feel to discriminated...

[Cristo]

Usually between the two, a little closer to the neck than the bridge. Sometimes at the neck joint, sometimes nearer the bridge. Sometimes with thumb slaps, which fall parallel to the string near the neck joint.

[alexclaber]

Wherever and however makes the sound I want!

Alex

[spectorbass83]

Depends totally on the sound I want

[chaosMK]

I tend to pluck right between my pickups. It just feels right for me.

However, with different strings (like DR Lo-Riders which are extra stiff) I have to pluck a bit closer further from the bridge to get certain tones that I like.

[Volk]

Right by the bridge most of the time, I like the growlyer sound and extra tension, but if it's a light song I'll pluck over the neck pickup.

[bassgod0dmw]

Depends on my bass that I'm using.

On my Modulus: I rest my thumb on my neck pup and pluck above it or in between the neck and bridge pups.

On my Stingrays: I rest my thumb on the bridge pup (it's the only one) and I pluck right over it...so it's really close to the bridge.

On my ATT-LTD II: I rest my thumb on the p pup, and pluck right over it...just like Billy! I just don't play it that much...it just doesn't sound nearly as good as the others. I'm still trying out new things with it though...

[0rion]

Same as above.
On my 'ray I mostly play near the bridge, resting on the pickup. I love the tension down there and it growls like a beast with my heavy steels.
I also play near the neck during certain parts of songs when I want that warm boomy feel.

[dave64o]

I'll pluck wherever I need to in order to get the sound I'm looking for.

If I don't focus on that and just play then I tend to go right between the pickups. That's not something I do consciously, so I guess that's just where my hands go natuarally.

[WillPlay4Food]

I also picked the last option of the poll (no carrots option? Blasphemy! ). Anyway, the next time you play your bass, try just playing the same note, but move your plucking hand between the end of the fretboard and the bridge. You'll notice a wide variety of tones in between the two extremes.

Mostly though, what I do is play over the neck when I want to lay down the groove or I'm playing bluesy stuff. This gives me a warm round sound that makes me feel like my music is sliding through the song. When I want to be more in front of the mix, or want more snap/bite/bark then I play close to the bridge / over the bridge pickup.

I also fool around with the pickup blend because the tone will be different as well. Sometimes I play over the neck pickup with that pickup soloed, and other time I play with the bridge pickup soloed (same with playing over the bridge pickup and soloing the two pickups). I can't really describe the difference, I can only say it's there and you'll have to experiment with your bass to hear the differences and decide what you like.

[905]

Lately I've been plucking right above the neck pickup.
Works best for my tone

[Interceptor]

Another anywhere the tone I'm looking for lives kind. I've gotten to the point where I really don't have a "go home" place. That took some time to reach, it wasn't easy for me to learn how to build the intuition.

[Deacon_Blues]

Anyway, the next time you play your bass, try just playing the same note, but move your plucking hand between the end of the fretboard and the bridge. You'll notice a wide variety of tones in between the two extremes.

Done that. Know the differences. I'm sometimes sweeping between the neck and the bridge just to get the sound effect of it. I only have noticed that the whenever I play somewhere else than right between the pickups, my hand will go back to that position if I don't focus enough on keeping my plucking hand in that position. It's almost like a ball that will roll to the lowest point in a bowl if you don't use a force to keep it somewhere else... It's just the most comfortable place for me.

Sorry for ignoring the carrots option... Thought of putting it here though... I'm a bit surprised no-one has yet chose the slap, tap, pop and show off option No wooten "copies" here?

EDIT - Oh now it came!

[uturnbass]

I play mostly near the middle, but when I want to play soft/high stuff I play really close to the fretboard, and for the funky sounding stuff I play close to the bridge