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Does anyone else play thumb-over?

#21
vvvmmm said:
On the fretting hand, I mean, of course.

I do about 98% of the time, I reckon because I started out on guitar ...

I do not have large hands, what I am told makes it even stranger, but I find it's how I learned/taught me, and it's baked-in.

Anyone else do this?

Anyone used to and change, and if so, why?

I mean, I play a good few hours a week, sometimes a day, for a few years now, and I've had no physical problems yet ...
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I find that over the years, without trying, I've developed a smoother technique (even if nowhere near fantastic yet, much room for improvement no doubt). When I started out my fingers flapped about a lot... while now they stay close to the board and move little. Similarly, thumb-over is something I no longer do, because it hinders smooth playing. I didn't consciously change, I just found one day that I wasn't doing it. I imagine it depends on what you play. If it works... it works! But if you find that you're not agile enough for what you want, that would be one thing to work on a little.
 
#22
This is one of those things where I think, 'nope, center your thumb behind the neck, how ya gonna play fives or sixes like that, etc.' , then invariably here comes a vid of somebody just killing it, doing it the 'wrong' way. Nothing's written in stone if you can make it work for you.
 
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#23
I thumb over on simple boring songs, sometimes I'll play em with my whole fretting hand coming over the top. Just my lame way of looking slightly flashy when I'm playing boring simple bass lines. I also enjoy playing some songs on open strings with no fretting hand at all. There's a couple of the many songs I sing that work perfect for using my fret hand for singing dramatics while still holding down the low end. Not the entire song mind you, but for a few lines on each verse.
 
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#25
In simple songs/parts that happen entirely on the E string, it's actually more relaxing/easy for me sometimes, especially if I am also plucking with my thumb on the right hand. I position the fretting hand so that it's not even trying to wrap around like normal, and I often angle the neck slightly downward when using this technique. It's quite comfortable, and the thumb being used to fret creates certain attack and decay characteristics that are a little different than with typical techniques.
 
#26
vvvmmm said:
Anyone else do this? Anyone used to and change, and if so, why?
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no, never did that. but i'm not offended by people who do. :D i can see (with some folks) that the 'technique' is limiting for the music they're trying to play...others, not so much. if you're happy and you know it........;)

good luck accepting your thumbs! :thumbsup:
 
#30
Thumb over is good for 4 and 5 string muting (a 5 with tighter spacing) when thumping. I use a floating thumb, but can't do that thumping. I use the thumb and plucking forearm.

Thumb over is also good for one position vamps. It can conserve energy.

I used to play with a Jaco/Robert Fripp/Segovia classical guitar style. Four per fret; otherwise known as open hand. This is tiring. There is no need for it. I am wiser know and play closed hand and thumb over when I can. My body thanks me. My tendonitis is dissappointed.
EDIT: There is no need for 4-fingers-per-fret all the time. I did not mean I dont use that technique. I use open hand 60% of the time.
Mushroo said:
You mean like Darryl Jones is doing in the photo below? It's the standard rock bass technique; no worries. :)

479258592-jpg.754897
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That ia a cool bass.
 
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#31
vvvmmm said:
On the fretting hand, I mean, of course.

I do about 98% of the time, I reckon because I started out on guitar ...

I do not have large hands, what I am told makes it even stranger, but I find it's how I learned/taught me, and it's baked-in.

Anyone else do this?

Anyone used to and change, and if so, why?

I mean, I play a good few hours a week, sometimes a day, for a few years now, and I've had no physical problems yet ...
Click to expand...
If it works for you, don't worry about it. I personally put a lot of emphasis on technique and have spent many hours developing mine, and yet still I have a couple habits that some might frown on.
 
#32
As long as you're not in any pain it's probably fine. Me personally, I find playing with the fretting hand thumb over like that to be extremely limiting. I see Will Lee playing that way. I honestly don't understand how he does it.
 
#33
I tend to do it more when I am playing my bass lower on a strap and am working the lower notes of the register. I don't find there to be a particular problem with it. Keeping you thumb on the back of the neck doesn't work particularly well when the bass is at waist/ hip "rocker" height. When I play bass higher up around abdomen level it is easier to keep my thumb on the back of the neck, but then quick access to the 1 and 2 get a little weird.
I wouldn't worry about it much. If there is something I've learned over the years it is that there are many superb bass players with lousy technique and many boring AF players with perfect technique. Worry more about writing something people want to hear and that means something.
 
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#34
vvvmmm said:
On the fretting hand, I mean, of course.

I do about 98% of the time, I reckon because I started out on guitar ...

I do not have large hands, what I am told makes it even stranger, but I find it's how I learned/taught me, and it's baked-in.

Anyone else do this?

Anyone used to and change, and if so, why?

I mean, I play a good few hours a week, sometimes a day, for a few years now, and I've had no physical problems yet ...
Click to expand...
I use my fretting hand thumb here and there. Mainly for muting the low b when
I’m slapping the e string on a 5 string bass though, not for fretting notes. When I play fingerstyle I use my other thumb to mute the low b string so it’s really only when I’m slapping. It’s not something I consciously do at this point. In fact I totally forgot I was doing it until I played a 6 string exclusively for a year and tried to dissect why I had so much more trouble slapping cleanly on the 6.
 
#40
Playing with "proper" technique never enters my mind. I generally play with thumb over and the only time I consider anything technique related is when I have to figure out a smoother way to transition to the next phrase. I just do what works for what I'm playing at the time. Of course, over the years, I've learned and practiced a few different things so I can use them when I need them. I also started on guitar and most of what I do as far as hand positions comes from those practice days.
 
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