Anchored vs Floating right hand

If you're a professional or a teacher or anyone who makes a living playing bass don't bother reading this because it won't make a lot of sense to you. This is for the casual player who is learning and playing and loving the experience of playing the bass ... and possibly looking for opinions and answers.

I do not read music but 50 years of playing has given me enough education to where I can comfortably play with most people by playing by ear. Recently a new bass student who'd had a few lessons told me I am playing wrong and I should rest my thumb on the strings instead of the pickups. (A few days later at his funeral I told his widow that he should have kept his opinions to himself.)

Oh boy, I am not gonna be too popular here after reading about the floating thumb technique. With respect to those who use this method I say more power to you. Whatever works for you is the "right" way to play. After hearing so many espouse that the floating method is the "correct" way I want to vomit.

In fact... I think I WILL vomit right now .... BLEECCHHHH!!!!!!! Ah that's better!

I use the pickup(s) to anchor my thumb and it works perfectly for me and I will wager that there are others who also use this method. For me it's a matter of control and feel. As much as I have tried the floating thumb method I always gravitate back to the anchor. I use the alternating index and middle finger plucking and rest stop technique and anchoring my thumb feels solid and stationary like it's supporting my plucking hand.

It just feels right to me and in my experience if it feels and sounds right ... it IS right!

Now, as to muting; Between the rest stops and my left hand lightly resting on the fretboard I have no problems with other strings ringing. But I want to take it one step beyond this and apply it to a band situation. I understand the importance of muting unwanted strings and when I am playing bass in a quiet room with no accompaniment it helps to fine tune the muting technique. BUT..... fast forward to a band situation when all these other instruments and filling the room with their sounds. Even if I am not perfectly muting among the notes I am playing who's going to hear it? It's academic in my opinion.

Come on, you're playing 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes, 1/2 notes .. whatever and you are using rest stops. What's the big deal with muting with that "floating hand"? I say you're not gonna hear anything but the notes you play especially if there's a bunch of other instruments filling up the frequencies. I'm not lessening the importance of muting but sometimes perceived imperfections are what makes the music interesting. Sometimes the phrase, "Close enough for rock n roll" makes good sense.

OK, I have opened a can of worms here and I expect a lot of negative comments from the floating hand technique users. That's fine with me. I'm not trying to win a popularity contest here. I am just expressing an opinion based upon what seems to be working just fine for me and others I have seen who also anchor their thumb on the pickup.

I could not play the way I do using the floating method and I play very well or at least good enough to have other players tell me that I am a solid bass player. I consider my left hand as the mechanism that forms the "words" and my right as the mouth that speaks the words and gives them meaning. It's like my rhythm machine and I need that anchor for my thumb so that I can make the plucked notes generate rhythm and make it interesting.

Whatever works for you IS the right way. I am not going to argue with those who float..hey live and let live. But if someone sees me play and tells me my right hand is incorrect .... they're stupid!

I'd like to hear from others who also use the anchor method and get your take on it. I am open to learning just like anyone else but there is no right or wrong way to play. If it sounds good it is good!

PS: I was just kidding about the funeral stuff above .... I didn't really kill him ... I just kicked him in the nuts!

 

Thank you so much for your reply Lee. I appreciate your concise and intelligent words. I agree that anyone stating a particular technique is WRONG is Goofy. In fact I'd go as far as saying they are not only Goofy, but also Mickey, Minnie and Donald Duck!) If it sounds good it is good.

I also use the anchored pickup approach on my 5 strings and it works fine. It's all what you get used to and what works for you.

 

Wow! I love how quickly I got a response to my thread. Thank you fearceol! Your reply got me out of my chair and grabbing my bass to try both methods and observe my wrist angle. To tell you the truth there was a slight difference in angles but not very much in my case. I have never had any problems due to this angle of my wrist and frankly, at my advanced age I think it's likely I will need a mortician before I need to see a doctor. (but I hope I won't be seeing either for a long time)

As to being too old to learn something new: According to the latest statistics released by AARP .... "When a person reaches the age of 82 he/she is too old to learn anything new!" (I just made that up for fun!) in fact, "I learned something new today ... now I know everything!" (just made that one up too!)

Thanks again for your input. I appreciate it!

 

Now that was a helpful video and clarified the technique. My point of reference was watching a guy who rested the thumb atop each string and his thumb was parallel to the strings,(floating anchor) not perpendicular or vertical as in the video which to me was very cumbersome and anti functional. That did not make sense to me but the video most certainly did make sense. I was able to play smoothly using the technique in the video. I still prefer the pickup anchoring as that is what works for me.

Thanks so much for posting that. It really helped to clarify the technique

 

You have your technique down to a science and it works for you as does my own for me. Reinforces the fact that there ain't no right or wrong, just what works for the player. A question: when you were just beginning "floating your arm" did your arm tire and did your accuracy vary? I personally find it necessary to be "attached" to the bass so my hand is always contacting the body for support. How long did it take to develop your technique?

 

A HACK????? Hello!!! You are playing your ass off to Rush songs ... not the easiest material to cover. I loved both of the videos brother. Geddy Lee would be impressed just like me. You rock! Thanks for demonstrating your technique. Awesome!!!!!

 

I hear you! that's the beauty of playing a stringed instrument. It's a different experience for everyone. It's all controlled by the hand and that really connects the player to the instrument. Organic and real!

 

You hit the nail on the head about anchoring giving more accuracy. That's the main issue for me. I feel disconnected from the bass when I try the float technique. For me, a non professional, playing is a source of enjoyment and entertainment. with respect to the technique which I acknowledge as valid and important, it just isn't enjoyable for me so I don't mess with it. I have a couple of 5's and also a 6 and I still anchor on pickups on all of them.