Does anyone else play thumb-over?

[vvvmmm]

When I do play with my thumb, Im usually playing the octave and third (above the octave) with my other fingers.

I'm usually the octave or some other second note (hammer octave from 7th, or play 3rd, 4th, 5th). Small hands = 2 notes atta time.

I started playing bass inna funk context, so I do lotsa, lotsa octaves. And on the ONE!

 

[Aloe]

The thumb is stronger than the bar, so the Eddie Lang G and D chords can't be emulated on an archtop with a bar, the bar will sound weak, especially if you are backing a 22 piece jazz band. PS - many of us never use bar chords on a flattop or archtop on purpose.

I googled for Eddie Lang and saw a photo of him holding a bar chord, come on. I actually have an electric archtop set up with low action. It's set with 11-52s and very easy to play, bar doesn't sound weak at all. I know that there're reasons to prefer non-bar 4-note chords to the bar equivalent, e.g. Joe Pass advocated this, but it was definitely not a reasoning like 'bar chords sound weak'. YMMV of course, but if my bar chord 'sounded weak', I'd suspect the set-up in first place.

 

[Koshchei]

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 ...

I’m not against the technique if you really need it, but haven’t come across a use-case for bass yet. On guitar, there are a few Hendrix and Yngwie songs where it doesn’t sound right if you don’t use your thumb.

 

[vvvmmm]

It's not a "need it use-case", as I don't do a lot of covers and then I derrange 'em to suit.

I s'pose it's my style.

And not yours.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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 ...

For the most part I’m a thumb under guy, I will play some first position notes, like a low F, or B thumb over to keep from severely arching my wrist, but anything up the fret board, always thumb under

 

[Koshchei]

It's not a "need it use-case", as I don't do a lot of covers and then I derrange 'em to suit.

I s'pose it's my style.

And not yours.

For me, all technique comes down to "use-case". Whatever best serves the song/narrative/way I feel at the time. I don't play a lot of covers either, but sometimes the song needs to be played the same way that the original artist did it or it doesn't sound "right". Other times, I'll busy it up/rearrange it to suit my own musical preferences.

I'm not criticizing you at all here. Just talking about how I approach things musically. If I come across something that needs my thumb over the top, you can be sure that my thumb will be fretting that note.

 

[vvvmmm]

Cool.

Sometimes, and I'm serious, I'll even play with my hand on top, kinda like Levin, altho' it's mostly to show off, or when I'm crackin' a beer while mostly open-string action is happening.

Just spent three daze mixing 10 songs - I'm looking forward to thumbin'-over!

 

[Bander]

I googled for Eddie Lang and saw a photo of him holding a bar chord, come on. I actually have an electric archtop set up with low action. It's set with 11-52s and very easy to play, bar doesn't sound weak at all. I know that there're reasons to prefer non-bar 4-note chords to the bar equivalent, e.g. Joe Pass advocated this, but it was definitely not a reasoning like 'bar chords sound weak'. YMMV of course, but if my bar chord 'sounded weak', I'd suspect the set-up in first place.

I mean physically weak, not weak as in undesirable, lol. If you are playing aggressively, like early Lang or Reinhardt, you need the extra force down on the strings to accommodate the aggressive strum. BTW, Lang may have used bar chords, he wouldn't be one to limit himself to anything, but you can clearly hear his five finger chords thru out. Lonnie Johnson, Frank Hutchinson and some others from that era too. Another example where finger choice matters, is violin, cello or even bass. You will get a heavier plant, more volume, and accommodate more bow with the larger fingers, versus the 4th finger. The same is true on guitars and plectrum instruments. Just offering observation for consideration.

 

[Stempelloos]

Another interesting question might be "who's pulling strings on a fretless".

The people that that taught me said that someone that does so is either a guitarist or a fretted bass player.
Because pulling strings is going past the whole concept of playing fretless, it's only really functional on a fretted instrument.

 

[Koshchei]

Another interesting question might be "who's pulling strings on a fretless".

The people that that taught me said that someone that does so is either a guitarist or a fretted bass player.
Because pulling strings is going past the whole concept of playing fretless, it's only really functional on a fretted instrument.

I've never played a fretless. What does this mean? Does it refer to vibrato?

 

[Mushroo]

The people that that taught me said that someone that does so is either a guitarist or a fretted bass player.

Is that supposed to be some kind of insult? LOL

 

[Koshchei]

Is that supposed to be some kind of insult? LOL

If he's referring to vibrato, on a guitar it's way more dramatic and wide if you go side-to-side. I prefer length-wise on a fretted bass though -- less grindy, and the strings seem to respond better. But that's just my preference.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

You can do up/down vibrato on a fretless, but it kills the note pretty quick.

 

[Stempelloos]

Pulling strings is used to raise a played note in a portamento way.
Some also use it as a form of vibrato. Or glissandro, vibrato, tremolo.
On a fretless one can slide higher and lower without pulling.
So pulling is considered unnecessary, or as a guitarist automatism by fretless players.

 

[vvvmmm]

So if you are wunna them loathsome 6-string might-as-well-be-a-banjo players, y'know, that's called, "bending", no? And then repeated it's, "finger vibrato"?

 

[Stempelloos]

You can call it bending if you're into bent notes.

I don't think strings are bent when you're actually pulling or pushing a string.
Raising a note and calling it bending sounds weird to me, probably because no-one calls it bending in Dutch.
People will say you're pulling your strings (snarentrekker), but it doesn't also mean that you use your influence to get something done.

 

[vvvmmm]

 

[Watchootognbout]

I've never played a fretless. What does this mean? Does it refer to vibrato?

A sideways vibrato.

 

[Flying B]

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.


That ia a cool bass.

4 fingers per fret? That doesn't sound very comfortable, or practical...

 

[vvvmmm]

Yeah, but he bends like a mo-fo!