Alternating strings

[LuisDaniel]

I'm a self taught bassist, and I am having trouble with playing alternating strings fast. The way I learned to play is to place my thumb one string above the string I am playing. For example, if I am playing notes in the A string, my thumb will be resting in the E string. Currently I am trying to play this:

G|--------------------------------
D|--11--9---------11--9-----9--
A|----------11--9----------11----
E|--------------------------------
However I can't play this fast enough without my thumb getting in the way, and when I try to leave my thumb in the E string, the A string keeps ringing while I play the D string. How does a more experienced bassist play this pattern at a high speed? What should my plucking hand do?

 

[FatStringer52]

I'm assuming you are playing fingerstyle, alternate plucking. It sounds like you might be using a free stroke technique. In this case, a rest stroke technique should solve your issue. If you leave your thumb on the E-string, when you pluck the D-string your rest stroke should automatically come to rest on the A-string, therefore muting it. Plenty of YT vids cover this.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bass+rest+stroke

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bass+plucking+technique

You could also start to use a technique called "floating thumb." Once again, plenty of YT vids.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=floating+thumb+bass+technique

As always, with any new technique, start slowly and build up your speed gradually.

Hope this helps and best of luck on your endeavor!

 

[SteveCS]

In addition to checking out the rest-stroke stuff, you should probably try to raise your awareness of what is actually going on in your right hand as you play. There are several ways of articulating that line/riff with the right hand - you should consiously and deliberately explore all of them. Here are 4 possibilitites - i above the note indicates right hand index finger and m indicates right hand middle finger. See how in the first two examples the right hand fingers play strict alternation and in the second two examples there is a 'rake' - playing consecutive notes on an adjacent lower string* with the same finger - as you cross strings:

You might also take a closer look at your left hand - are you holding a barre on the 9th fret or are you stopping each note individually, that is to say moving a left hand finger between strings or stopping on the same fret with different left-hand fingers? Sometimes barring with left hand fingers can aid muting.

* rakes don't really work going onto a higher string

 

[SteveCS]

...
in the second two examples there is a 'rake' - playing consecutive notes on an adjacent lower string* with the same finger - as you cross strings:
...

Just noticed that the RH fingerings in the last two are the same!! Here it is corrected (first 'leading' with m and then i):

The important point is that none of these are 'wrong' or 'bad', but that they might all be understood and practiced separately, deliberately and correctly as written, as opposed to just 'letting your hand decide'.

 

[Shenron]

However I can't play this fast enough without my thumb getting in the way, and when I try to leave my thumb in the E string, the A string keeps ringing while I play the D string. How does a more experienced bassist play this pattern at a high speed? What should my plucking hand do?

I am NOT a more experienced bassist and I myself still figuring out what is more convenient for me. Previously I was doing the same as you, moving the thumb to always touch the string below the one being played by the other fingers. Then I noticed Billy Sheehan suggesting casually in an old interview not to move the thumb from the same resting position... so I changed a bit and am I currently only moving the thumb between resting on the neck pickup (when playing the E string) and resting on the E string (when playing any other string), so overall a small thumb movement, but not more exactly because the thumb was getting too much in the way.

I am doing mostly rest strokes, so that any finger playing a string ends up muting the next string below. E is muted by thumb anyway, A is muted by rest strokes on D, and D is muted by rest strokes on G. When playing lower strings, higher ones get muted by the left hand. The only risk of unwanted ringing string is A when playing notes on G, so if it happens I might still move my thumb up one string for a while.

I am using free strokes only on some special case when it is required for a string to keep ringing, e.g. some arpeggios or broken chords.

 

[Les Fret]

Very hard to tell what the problem is without a video. Can you make one? Otherwise it’s just wild guessing.

When having the thumb on the E string it should not get in the way, otherwise you are doing something wrong.

As an alternative to alternate picking you can try raking. As in the last two examples of SteveCS. This technique is just as valuable and probably easier for many players.

 

[Chris Chong]

It’s ok to keep the right thumb on the E string. You just need to figure out how to mute the other strings with your left fingers.

 

[SteveCS]

...
without my thumb getting in the way
...

...
because the thumb was getting too much in the way.
...

...
When having the thumb on the E string it should not get in the way, otherwise you are doing something wrong.
...

I'm trying to work out where the thumb has to be for it to be in the way. The only way I can get mine to interfere with the action of my fingers (placing it in line such that the fingers clatter into it a la Billy Sheehan) requires considerable and painful contortion in my hand and wrist. That certainly feels like doing something very wrong

 

[Les Fret]

Where did the OP go?

 

[Les Fret]

Apparently the OP drops a question and then leaves? That’s not nice for the people who took the time to help….

 

[SteveCS]

Where did the OP go?

"They seek him here, they seek him there
Those folks they seek him everywhere.
Is he in heaven? Or is he in hell?
That damned elusive Pimpernel!"