E String fretting

[redfish]

Hi everyone


I'm new to bass, (I've been learning for about a month) and I've been finding it very useful here reading all the information that you guys have been sharing. So thank you!

Another thing I've been doing is watching Youtube videos, and I saw something interesting:
I've been fretting on the E String with my fingers as I've been taught, but I watched someone using his thumb. Is this a standard technique? Have I been doing it wrongly? It seems quite an efficient way of doing it, and I'd be interested in hearing what you think.

 

[Mushroo]

Hi Redfish,
No, using the thumb like that is not generally considered "good technique." But then again, Jimi Hendrix did it Do whatever works best for you...

 

[mambo4]

Yeah, you can fret with your thumb, but it pulls, back the rest of your fingers and limits their motion, which can interfere with fast and complicated fingering.

 

[redfish]

Aha! Interesting... thanks guys, I'll leave the thumb behind the board then.

 

[deathbyjune]

in that video, the guy is using his thumb to mute the previously hit open E. not the best technique but it would be even worse to actually fret with your thumb.

 

[redfish]

in that video, the guy is using his thumb to mute the previously hit open E. .

Oh really? Ah ok, that makes sense. When I was practising earlier it was a struggle to mute other ringing strings, but I'm working on that.

Thanks deathbyjune.

 

[Mushroo]

Oh really? Ah ok, that makes sense. When I was practising earlier it was a struggle to mute other ringing strings, but I'm working on that.

Thanks deathbyjune.

Try using one of your left hand fingers (kind of lay it flat across the fretboard) and/or your right hand thumb to mute the strings you aren't playing. More efficient (less hand/wrist motion) than wrapping the left thumb over.

 

[John Wentzien]

Use that thumb! Use all of your appendages!
especially useful on slap... check out some Louis Johnson stuff.
Good for double stops also..(root on the E-string & 3rd on the G-string "major or minor)
experiment!

 

[deathbyjune]

yes yes you are welcome redfish. good advice mushroo.

 

[tswd]

in that video, the guy is using his thumb to mute the previously hit open E. not the best technique but it would be even worse to actually fret with your thumb.

I'm not sure that's right. If you watch closely, when he wraps his left thumb over the fretboard his right thumb is resting on the E string. So, the E string is being muted by his right hand.

It almost looks like he's rotating his hand when he frets the G string and his thumb is folding over the fretboard out of habit or something. I don't think he's actually using it.

 

[redfish]

Try using one of your left hand fingers (kind of lay it flat across the fretboard) and/or your right hand thumb to mute the strings you aren't playing. More efficient (less hand/wrist motion) than wrapping the left thumb over.

That's what I tried yesterday during practice, it's tricky to get used to but I could notice the difference.
Thanks Mushroo

 

[redfish]

Use that thumb! Use all of your appendages!
especially useful on slap... check out some Louis Johnson stuff.
Good for double stops also..(root on the E-string & 3rd on the G-string "major or minor)
experiment!

That's a bit advanced for me, I'm working on the complete basics right now, but I'll def bear it mind when I've got this bit nailed. Thanks!

 

[crazyguy832]

While it may not be "technically correct," I use my thumb all the time. It makes stuff like this... well... manageable:

G| - - 8 - 9 - 11- - - 12- 11- 9 -|
D| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -|
A| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -|
E| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -|
B| 9 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 10~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|

While it's possible to do that with just your regular four fingers, it's a whole lot easier if you use your thumb for the low notes.

 

[onlyclave]

I'm not sure that's right. If you watch closely, when he wraps his left thumb over the fretboard his right thumb is resting on the E string. So, the E string is being muted by his right hand.

It almost looks like he's rotating his hand when he frets the G string and his thumb is folding over the fretboard out of habit or something. I don't think he's actually using it.

If you listen to the pitch when he has his thumb wrapped over the top of the neck he's just muting the E string.

That is really crappy left hand technique. "Do whatever works for you" is not the answer to everything.

 

[millbrook]

If you listen to the pitch when he has his thumb wrapped over the top of the neck he's just muting the E string.

That is really crappy left hand technique. "Do whatever works for you" is not the answer to everything.

Here is Paul McCartney giving a bass-playing lesson on YouTube in which he wraps his thumb around the fretboard.

It appears he is muting the E string with it, what do you all think?