Are you using your fretting hand thumb at all?

[micguy]

I have ginormous hands, and play 5'ers. When I play a note on the A string, and then decide I want to add the octave below on the B string, my thumb works just fine for that. If i'm playing the lower note first, or if I plan ahead, I often (but not always) go without the thumb. If you have normal or smaller hands, it may not be that good of an idea, but for those of us who can use the thumb and stay in a good, ergonomic position, anyone who preaches it's "not good technique" is just making up rules that are not based in reality. Bass guitar is an instrument that's not very old, if you wrote "rules" when the thing was invented, we'd all be plucking with our thumbs, and a lot of things done today (like slapping or tapping) would not be included in the "good technique" book.

 

[Durham52]

I was wondering how many people wrap their fretting hand thumb sort of around the neck. Whether you do that just to have a better grip, or maybe even to fret a note, I was simply wondering how many people do something like that regularly.

I am mostly self taught and have never taken advice from any instructors on how to properly hold the instrument, or how to fret a note correctly. I have however looked at different ways some of my favorite players are using their fretting hand to play their songs and have adopted some of those techniques, without actively trying to incorporate them into my own playing.

I've heard people say that you should never really hold the bass neck like a baseball bat, but I often do something like that and whenever I need to play something more challenging, I'll just adjust my technique accordingly. I'm sort of doing whatever fits the best to comfortably play what I want to play.

This topic always receives plenty of "it is writ in the bass book of law, that thou shalt not move thy thumb from the back of the neck under any circumstances" type replies. I've always felt there are times when changing your hand position may be beneficial and if it works for you, then go for it.

Even many of the "greats" do it from time to time.

 

[KenD]

To each their own I guess. There are some players with lousy technique who have done very well for themselves.
I saw this somewhere years ago and it made sense to me: "Good technique won't make you a good player but bad technique will hold you back from being the best player you can be."

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I was wondering how many people wrap their fretting hand thumb sort of around the neck. Whether you do that just to have a better grip, or maybe even to fret a note, I was simply wondering how many people do something like that regularly.

I am mostly self taught and have never taken advice from any instructors on how to properly hold the instrument, or how to fret a note correctly. I have however looked at different ways some of my favorite players are using their fretting hand to play their songs and have adopted some of those techniques, without actively trying to incorporate them into my own playing.

I've heard people say that you should never really hold the bass neck like a baseball bat, but I often do something like that and whenever I need to play something more challenging, I'll just adjust my technique accordingly. I'm sort of doing whatever fits the best to comfortably play what I want to play.

My thumb is often behind the neck, but also often sneaks around the top to mute strings.

 

[Durham52]

To each their own I guess. There are some players with lousy technique who have done very well for themselves.
I saw this somewhere years ago and it made sense to me: "Good technique won't make you a good player but bad technique will hold you back from being the best player you can be."

But is it bad technique to move your thumb under certain circumstances, but to keep it at the back of the neck most of the time? It doesn't have to be all one way or the other. I recon that micguy said it pretty well in post #21.

 

[KenD]

But is it bad technique to move your thumb under certain circumstances, but to keep it at the back of the neck most of the time? It doesn't have to be all one way or the other. I recon that micguy said it pretty well in post #21.

I'll just say that the bassists whose playing I admire, technique and otherwise, all keep the thumb behind the neck; muting done with the plucking hand.

 

[Durham52]

I'll just say that the bassists whose playing I admire, technique and otherwise, all keep the thumb behind the neck; muting done with the plucking hand.

Fair enough.

The wonderful thing about music, is that allows for people to express themselves and indeed music itself, in different ways and music, instruments, and techniques will continue to develop as they always have.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I'll just say that the bassists whose playing I admire, technique and otherwise, all keep the thumb behind the neck; muting done with the plucking hand.

So, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, etc. are not admirable bass players with good technique?

 

[johnnynitro]

I am self taught too. I have always used my thumb as part of my fretting. Allows me to play on the D or G while still on the E or A. Or ???? Some Say "HillBilly". Strange for Shure . But have been doing it this way for more then Fifty Years. Some people really geek out over this when they see me playing. LOL !!!!!

 

[grimjim]

Usually on the back on fours and fives. On both I will sometimes do the baseball grip if it's more comfortable. If I'm doing something fast on a four string and I need to go for example from F# on the first string to say A on the fourth string, I will fret the F# with my thumb. It all depends on comfort or necessity.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Oh and Larry Graham too:



And Marcus:

 

[landry.bass]

I sometimes use my thumb to mute the e string when I'm playing with a pick, but never fret a note with it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Personally, I don't understand the baseball-bat grip at all. I can't even do it when I try. My thumb is always behind the neck -- usually pointing more or less toward the headstock.

'I do it for the first couple of frets, but if I'm up the Fret board, my thumb is under the neck like a good boy, but my thumb is pointed at my face, not the headstock.

 

[KenD]

So, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, etc. are not admirable bass players with good technique?

I will respond just this once - to say your logic technique is very, very bad.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I will respond just this once - to say your logic technique is very, very bad.

LOL you are the one saying you can't admire a bass player who actually uses his thumb. So . . . ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[KenD]

LOL you are the one saying you can't admire a bass player who actually uses his thumb. So . . . ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That is NOT what I said. Good bye.

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[smogg]

I use my thumb as a mute on the low B string when doing aggressive picking in the lower positions. Just another wrench in the tool box for me.

 

[mikewalker]

My fretting-hand thumb floats in midair 'somewhere behind or off to the side' a lot of the time...

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Since i have a damaged fretting thumb i have to be very careful....i play shorties and need as little of tension as possible for my 63 year old mitts....short scale and the right spacing and neck size are important so i apply little to no pressure with my thumb if possible.....i came from guitar where i did use my thumb to fret...those days are passed!