Who in here plays with their thumb?

de la mocha · #1 08-21-2006, 04:09 PM

I play with my thumb and a pick more then my two fingers. Anybody else use their thumb to play?

jyee · #2 08-21-2006, 04:47 PM

I'll occasionally use my thumb (and index finger)... mostly when i need to do alternating lines for country/polka/salsa type songs. oom (thumb) pah (index) oom pah oom pah!

All_¥our_Bass · #3 08-21-2006, 04:49 PM

I do, but mainly for octaves, certain finger picking patterns and the ocassional slap.

pocket_groover · #4 08-21-2006, 05:45 PM

When I first started playing ('60's) I played with my thumb. If you remember, the finger rests on those old Fenders are on the bottom, so this was intended as a "grip" for your fingers while you used your thumb. Fender switched the rests to the upper part after a while for finger style.

Now, I primarily play finger style but I still use my thumb to do the palm muting thing to get more of a double bass thump for certain blues/country songs. Somehow, the root/5 styles end up more even in time when using the thumb; I can 't expalin why. I can play up/down strokes with either my thumb or index finger....guess this comes from playing guitar a lot with a pick.

keb · #5 08-21-2006, 06:09 PM

Sometimes I use my thumb kind of like a pick, but it's more of a double-thumping thing.

seanm · #6 08-21-2006, 07:07 PM

Maybe once or twice per gig, I will use my thumb on slow songs just to get a really mellow tone.

Jimbow · #7 08-21-2006, 09:59 PM

To slap obviously, but once in a while if my other fingers are busy.

Erick Lam · #8 08-21-2006, 10:03 PM

I do for chords.

Owen's hound · #9 08-22-2006, 08:56 AM

I use my thumb a lot. I started as a guitar player and use my thumb when finger picking chords. This has become part of how I play bass. I also use the floating thumb technique and play with 2 and 3 fingers.
It is good to have various tools in your bag of tricks and being able to play with various techniques will expand your abilities and make you a more well rounded player, IMHO.

Jason

brothertupelo · #10 08-22-2006, 09:16 AM

i do. i use my left thumb for fretting, too.

Sagaris · #11 08-22-2006, 10:25 AM

Only my right thumb for slapping which I do very little of anyway. Occasionally I use it for songs that are slow and mellow sounding.

EADG mx · #12 08-22-2006, 03:06 PM

I use everything except my pinky to pluck.

Synplicity · #13 08-22-2006, 03:15 PM

when i started playing bass i used jst my thumb, then changed to first and second fingers, now i only use my thumb when im doing octaves.

Petary791 · #14 08-22-2006, 03:35 PM

I use my thumb for playing chords or palm muting/dub.

totem · #15 08-23-2006, 01:14 PM

I have to play with my thumb, because my fingers don't work because of a neurological injury. I have recently taken up the bass again after a long hiatus. I played bass many years ago .. fingerstyle then .. but lost interest and sold my bass. A few months ago, I picked up a friend's bass and tried to play. I found that I could play with my thumb .. sort of like pickstyle but without a pick.

So after playing my friend's bass for a little while, what happens? I now find myself with a nice MIA Deluxe P and a thinner wallet, but I'm getting big kicks being a bass player again.

de la mocha · #16 08-23-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totem

I have to play with my thumb, because my fingers don't work because of a neurological injury. I have recently taken up the bass again after a long hiatus. I played bass many years ago .. fingerstyle then .. but lost interest and sold my bass. A few months ago, I picked up a friend's bass and tried to play. I found that I could play with my thumb .. sort of like pickstyle but without a pick.

So after playing my friend's bass for a little while, what happens? I now find myself with a nice MIA Deluxe P and a thinner wallet, but I'm getting big kicks being a bass player again.

I wish you many many years of fun bass playing!

pocket_groover · #17 08-23-2006, 03:49 PM

Totem, that's cool! Who says you gotta play fingerstyle? Jamerson could play lines with his "hook" that I have trouble with using fingerstyle.

hyp.spec · #18 08-23-2006, 03:57 PM

I use my thumb as a rest!

My fingers are so long I have no need for using my thumb when playing octaves or chords. w00t....

Baryonyx · #19 08-23-2006, 03:59 PM

Yep, it has many uses.

Slapping, octaves, laying down thumpy 8th note lines, muting, harmonic node, all sorts!

Shawman · #20 08-23-2006, 04:02 PM

i tried using my thumb every now and again on the E string but it didn't work for me. then i tried the "floating thumb" technique and i wasn't a fan so my thumb remains firmle on top of the neck pickup