Currently i only play with my thumb chillin out on my neck pup, and it doesn't move regardless of which string im plucking. Ive heard that its a good idea to let your thumb drop to other strings so that the angle your fingers are at doesn't change. Is it really worth it to learn this right-hand technique??
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"Dropping Anchor??" is it worth it?
- Thread starter gimmethelowend
- Start date
There's probably a number of threads on this but yes I think it is, if for no other reason than it makes it easier to reach the higher strings if you play a 5 or more string bass.
I also play classical guitar and moving the thumb to an unused string, usually one that you're going to pluck with with thumb, is normal. In that world the technique is also used to maintain a consistent finger to string angle because tone is completely dependent it and small variations in how you pluck a string have large tonal impacts.
I'm not sure it'd make that much difference on an electric instrument.
there is nothing wrong with having your thumb on the pickup without ever moving. if you are happy with the tone, then go for it. if you want variety, try moving around.
aside from "do a search," you will find (if you havent already), that "do what feels right" will be the common response.
aside from "do a search," you will find (if you havent already), that "do what feels right" will be the common response.
I just switched to this method and i find that YES its much easier to play and more consistent cause the angle is the same..
and i find it helps me MUTE the strings much easier!! I have big muting problems when i just rest my thumb on pickups for some reason.. especially when skipping strings
So i just switched and i love this new technique
and i find it helps me MUTE the strings much easier!! I have big muting problems when i just rest my thumb on pickups for some reason.. especially when skipping strings
So i just switched and i love this new technique
+1
Also, if you take a look at bassists around the world you'll see that there is no "right" way. I personally rest my thumb on the pick-up and never move it. I had problems muting until I learned how to left hand mute which made everything easier.
I think you should learn all of the ways to hold your thumb. It will allow you to get different kinds of sounds via different kinds of attacks you get. I my self use the floating thumb except when I'm on the lowest string I lay my thumb on my neck pickup and play just before the bridge pickup where the string tension is at a 'sweet spot'. Just remember to keep your wrist straight! I'm only 17 and played for only 2.5 years and I have had CTS from playing too much videogames... seriously I don't want it to interfere with my bass playing.
yes. left hand muting is way more important for my playing than right hand muting (and i normally rest my thumb in the neck [not a neck pickup]).
if youre just figuring out your "style" so to speak, just consider that sometimes you will want notes to ring through, and sometimes you will not. if you want the e string to ring out and then hit the a string to also have it ring out, then your finger will rest on the e, muting it after you hit the a. for this you wont be able to anchor and rake from the pickup.
if i want to outline chords, i do a classical guitar type thing, and anchor with the pinky below the g on the pick guard. for this, you will often need to use one finger to both fret on the a, and have just a little bit of finger pushing into the e to mute it.
basically, if you want to do a variety of techniques, you need to learn both, but i feel like i was taught right hand muting first, so if you need to learn both, theres the start point.
I feel like i'm pretty happy with the tone I already get, but I am playing through more of a starter bass, so i guess if i get a nicer bass (which hopefully will happen in the near future) ill start to hear the differences.
For the longest time, I believed it wasn't necessary. But, if I'm mostly on the E and A strings, I'll anchor on the E string instead of the pick up. When mostly on D and G strings, I anchor on the A (and move it down for occassional notes). For more than a couple of notes, it's really helps. For example, playing For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica. Intro riff is way up high on the D and G strings, with a low E played after. In that case, I anchor it on the E, play the riff on the D and G, and hit the low E with my thumb. I had a huge problem constantly hitting the D string when my thumb was anchored on the pickup.
On the other hand, my hands are really tiny, so it helps me a lot. Maybe not so much for others.
On the other hand, my hands are really tiny, so it helps me a lot. Maybe not so much for others.
Don't pin yourself to one technique out of habit. There is a lot of tonal variety you can get from moving your right hand around, esp closer or farther from the bridge. The less tied to a single RH position you are the more exploring and expressing you have at your disposal.
New positions do take an adjustment period,however, so give each technique some time before passing any judgement. Ultimately you want the desired tone to drive your choice, not habit.
New positions do take an adjustment period,however, so give each technique some time before passing any judgement. Ultimately you want the desired tone to drive your choice, not habit.
While I 100% agree with you. Im thinking back to when I first found a teacher, and I learned the standard style first. I eventually moved to the neck, where im more comfortable. If the op doesn't have an instructor, it would behoove him to learn the basics.
Learn the "rules" and then spend the rest of your life trying to creatively break them.
Learn the "rules" and then spend the rest of your life trying to creatively break them.
Played over 10 years without moving anywhere with my thumb. Started playing 6 string basses and right now, I can't live without it. But, do what feels right for you, of course as long as it works (proper muting and so on). 
I rest my thumb on the pickups, too, but not always. There are just too many good reasons to move around. More than often my thumb floats along the E-string, unless I'm playing that string. I think it's important to be able to get all the sounds I can from changing my picking hand placement. For instance, when I want a more upright classic sound I'll move right up to the end of the fingerboard. If I want growl I'll move toward the bridge.
I recently moved to floating thumb since I picked up a 5 string. It lets me articulate all the notes better by always coming across at the same angle and hitting the pickup before starting the next note. The attack sounds much better and less muddy when playing in a mix or when playing really fast riffs.
Yeah, I think its worth it to learn the floating thumb flying tortoise style. Sometimes it makes it real easy to mute the E or lower strings if you play that.
To get a big sound on a bass, you need to dig-in in the string and the only way to get that is a solid anchor on the PU or the lowest string.
I teach at university and I always have new students using the moving anchor and I make them switch and after a while, they thank me because they finally got the SOUND.
I teach at university and I always have new students using the moving anchor and I make them switch and after a while, they thank me because they finally got the SOUND.
The problem I hear with that technique is that the hand is never stable meaning unability to sound even and chances that the timing of the rythm might be affected as well. And I guess there is several degrees of diggin' in. I mean really diggin' into the strings to get the sound, the clarity and definition of all your notes.
If you wan to be a succesful recording bass player (live or studio) I believe the stable anchor is favor by most of us.
But again if it works for your needs, it is fine.
