• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bad habits for bassists?

#61
MysticMichael said:
I suspect that you actually intended for this thread to go in the "Technique" forum, yes? Since it's not essentially about bass players, but about bass playing... :hmm:

That said, yes. Wrapping the thumb of one's fretting hand around the top edge of the fretboard or fingerboard is one of them. You'll see that many self-taught rock, pop & blues guitarists tend to employ this lazy, shortcut approach. It's bad enough when they do it. It's even worse when bassists do it. :scowl:

The thumb of the fretting hand should always be planted firmly on the back of the neck. Preferably in the middle of the neck. Always... :eyebrow:

MM
Click to expand...

+1000 - DEAD ON ADVICE
 
#62
MysticMichael said:
I suspect that you actually intended for this thread to go in the "Technique" forum, yes? Since it's not essentially about bass players, but about bass playing... :hmm:

That said, yes. Wrapping the thumb of one's fretting hand around the top edge of the fretboard or fingerboard is one of them. You'll see that many self-taught rock, pop & blues guitarists tend to employ this lazy, shortcut approach. It's bad enough when they do it. It's even worse when bassists do it. :scowl:

The thumb of the fretting hand should always be planted firmly on the back of the neck. Preferably in the middle of the neck. Always... :eyebrow:

MM
Click to expand...

Excuse my ignorance, but I am aware of this "error", and am at times guilty of it (though I correct it if I notice I'm doing it). But why is is that it's such bad technique? I mean, the best guitarist I know (as far as speed, soul, and sheer musical affinity are concerned) does it, and it hasn't hindered him one bit.
 
#63
Oh, and also, I play my bass like a classical guitar, between my legs, resting on my left knee, rather than the coventional right knee, when I play sitting down. It allows me to rest my hand on the bridge if I'm playing pickstyle, and keeps it flatter against my body, which helps with fingerstyle. I've never seen anyone else wh does this. Is it bad (especially resting my pick hand on the bridge)?
 
#66
Some of these are good suggestions about bad habits, some are just silly:) But if you really want to know, go and find a good instructor. They will point out the bad habits and help you to avoid them. The worst bad habit IMHO is one where you know its wrong, but you do it any way because its comfortable for you.
 
#68
Noodling I have seen (heard) so many bassist between songs or before shows on stage. If you need to warm up do it unplugged. And I am not talking about checking or changing tuning sometimes you have to get a quick harmonic tuning after a stage mishap. I am talking about playing a bunch of scales or slapping away. I do not mind if you are at less than show volume maybe you just came in and had no chance to warm up but, that through the FOH stuff is just a bad habit.
 
#69
mooreon131 said:
Excuse my ignorance, but I am aware of this "error", and am at times guilty of it (though I correct it if I notice I'm doing it). But why is is that it's such bad technique? I mean, the best guitarist I know (as far as speed, soul, and sheer musical affinity are concerned) does it, and it hasn't hindered him one bit.
Click to expand...


It's a "bad" technique (Wrapping the thumb of one's fretting hand around the top edge of the fretboard ) because it limits how far your fingers can stretch. You can cover more of the fretboard without having to shift position if your hand is behind the fretboard, allowing you to play faster and smoother.

A lot of people post that "so and so" does it and he is a killer player. Maybe you are a gifted genius that can break all of the rules and play brilliantly, but most of us (myself included) play better by using every advantage available to us.
 
#70
MysticMichael said:
I suspect that you actually intended for this thread to go in the "Technique" forum, yes? Since it's not essentially about bass players, but about bass playing... :hmm:

That said, yes. Wrapping the thumb of one's fretting hand around the top edge of the fretboard or fingerboard is one of them. You'll see that many self-taught rock, pop & blues guitarists tend to employ this lazy, shortcut approach. It's bad enough when they do it. It's even worse when bassists do it. :scowl:

The thumb of the fretting hand should always be planted firmly on the back of the neck. Preferably in the middle of the neck. Always... :eyebrow:

MM
Click to expand...

I beg to differ. It's a bad habit for a bass player, but it's a good habit for a guitarist, especially blues and rock guitarists who like to bend strings and play with a strong vibrato. I've played guitar like this for years, and it allows me to get the necessary leverage when bending strings. Look at pictures of all the greats of the past and present - Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Beck, etc - and they all wrap their thumbs over the edge of the neck. :)
 
#73
i think wrapping your thumb around the neck can be totally fine, but it depends on the context. if you're pedaling a low F for 32 bars, it's kinda silly to have the same hand posture as when you are blowing over changes... also, hand posture can affect the sound/phrasing...

it's only a bad habit if what you are playing at the given moment would be better served by another technique. maybe that is the definition of a 'bad bass habit'?

john
 
#75
MysticMichael said:
I suspect that you actually intended for this thread to go in the "Technique" forum, yes? Since it's not essentially about bass players, but about bass playing... :hmm:

That said, yes. Wrapping the thumb of one's fretting hand around the top edge of the fretboard or fingerboard is one of them. You'll see that many self-taught rock, pop & blues guitarists tend to employ this lazy, shortcut approach. It's bad enough when they do it. It's even worse when bassists do it. :scowl:

The thumb of the fretting hand should always be planted firmly on the back of the neck. Preferably in the middle of the neck. Always... :eyebrow:

MM
Click to expand...

well...no theres nothing wrong with using your thumb to fret notes, it's about what's most comfortable to the player, i do it sometimes and it helps alot. jimi hendrix did it for pretty much every note in the E string, and some on the A :eek:
 
#78
stratovani said:
Last night I happen to be watching my Rush Snakes and Arrows Live DVD, and I noticed that both Alex and Geddy wrap their thumbs around the neck something fierce! Hey, if it works for them..... ;)
Click to expand...

It works for them, so if you are as good as them it will work for you too! If by some chance you are NOT as good as them, you may want to try what works for the other 99% of us. :D
 
#79
lfmn16 said:
It works for them, so if you are as good as them it will work for you too! If by some chance you are NOT as good as them, you may want to try what works for the other 99% of us. :D
Click to expand...

Well, I do wrap my thumb around the neck of my guitar, but I've been playing since 1972, and I am damn good on guitar if I do say so myself. Bass, however, is another story. I feel much more comfortable with my thumb in back of the neck, since the neck is bigger than a guitar neck and the frets are spaced further apart. I need to reach further on bass than I do on guitar.

Actually, you don't have to be as good as Alex and Geddy to make it work for you. Whatever you find comfortable to do is how you do it. It's all good! ;)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back