5 String Question

[green3101]

Stupid question time (i usually find most people on here bare with my stupid questions and are friendly enough to provide reasonable answers that put my mind at ease - so i just ask away) - it just occurred to me when playing a 5 string fingerstyle, I will often rest my thumb on the B string, as I would a pickup on a 4 string, especially when playing the E and A strings. Now, not all songs I play require notes on that Low B, so my thumb may be resting on the B string much more than say the E string when playing the D or G strings. Will this throw the bass out at all in regards to the bridge/saddles/intonation/the neck (anything along these lines - i'm not that technically versed)?

Please note for those who will recommend floating thumb - i've been playing bass for years and only recently ventured to 5 string (hence the question). Floating thumb is not something I like to do or find particularly comfortable (i've had multiple unrelated health issues in the past, so have a way that works for me). Also please note - this is NOT the reason why I made the jump to 5 string. It's just an added plus that I've discovered.

Interested to hear people's thoughts

Mike

 

[Nashrakh]

Any well-built fiver (which means, most of them, these days) will not be thrown out of whack by this. Unless you put so much pressure into it that you're constantly bending the string, but if that were the case, you'd have noticed this on the E and A string to some extent too.

 

[green3101]

Any well-built fiver (which means, most of them, these days) will not be thrown out of whack by this. Unless you put so much pressure into it that you're constantly bending the string, but if that were the case, you'd have noticed this on the E and A string to some extent too.

Thanks mate

 

[Lobster11]

If you don't like the floating thumb you might try the "moveable anchor," which sounds similar to what you're already doing: i.e., anchor on a pickup when playing the B string, anchor on B when playing E, and so forth:

 

[green3101]

If you don't like the floating thumb you might try the "moveable anchor," which sounds similar to what you're already doing: i.e., anchor on a pickup when playing the B string, anchor on B when playing E, and so forth:

Thanks for the link and advice! appreciate it!

 

[enricogaletta]

Hey man, I think that in most cases the stupid questions turns to be the real ones
You can rest the thumb on the B string as well on the E, no intonations problem will occur unless you don't push so bad the thumb too the body.
Personally I rest the thumb on the E and mute the B with the thumb side so in this way the fattest strings won't ring causing any noise. And rest on the pickup just when I need to play the low B .

 

[chris_b]

. . . . it just occurred to me when playing a 5 string fingerstyle, I will often rest my thumb on the B string, as I would a pickup on a 4 string, especially when playing the E and A strings.

The pull/tension on a B string is around 50 - 60lbs. The extra lb or two when you are resting your thumb on it won't make any difference.

 

[vindibona1]

There is "floating thumb" and what I call "moving thumb". Both have similar outcomes. Floating thumb requires contacts with the strings as the right hand moves across. Moving thumb seems to be more of a timed step-by-step action, often with a different angle of the thumb, but potentially just as effectiver or even moreso if you get the timing right.

But ANY change in tactile feel or habit is going to feel foreign- because it is. The sooner you choose to include one of these techniques in your routine the sooner one will feell natural.
Be aware of one thing... When you switch initially you WILL get confused from time to time as to what you are doing. Cerebralize it. Continue with it. You will emerge on the other side fully aware and fully functional of the right thing to do.