Floating thumb question

[ryco]

Experimenting with this technique and my question is, on a four string, what does one do when playing notes on the E string?
Usually my plucking hand thumb is lightly anchored on a pick up cover or the top of the pickguard, or lightly anchored on the body sans pickguard.
Feels weird having it up in mid-air = feels like one loses the power to dig in a little without the thumb to push off of.
Is this just something one gets used to?

 

[Faith Nicole]

mid-air? nope. Always resting on something

 

[DrBnz]

It finds its own spot. Once I learned the floating thumb I don't really think about it anymore. It just happens. Since the objective is muting, I suppose it doesn't really matter much. But I know my thumb often finds the pickup cover or the fretboard.

 

[SteveCS]

Feels weird having it up in mid-air = feels like one loses the power to dig in a little without the thumb to push off of.
Is this just something one gets used to?

Yes it is. My forearm is usually resting 'somewhere' on the body of the bass. Not 'clamping' or 'pressing', just resting. It is sufficiently free to move the hand from bridge to fingerboard and back as necessary. Regarding the thumb, when playing the E string it just hangs about 1/8" - 1/4" 'out' from the strings, ready to fall into place when needed, either to kill the E if playing on A, or to control note ends on the E string. Sometimes it might even play a note!!

 

[Lobster11]

It finds its own spot. Once I learned the floating thumb I don't really think about it anymore. It just happens. Since the objective is muting, I suppose it doesn't really matter much. But I know my thumb often finds the pickup cover or the fretboard.

One of many advantages of the FF is that you can pluck anywhere between the bridge and neck and it's always the same; you don't need to choose a plucking spot based on where a pickup will be available as a thumb rest. I might use the pickup or end of the fretboard if that's where I happen to be, but often I'll let it float in the air if I'm only playing a note or two on the E string, or touch it against the bass body (pickguard, actually) if I plan to stay there awhile. As you said, it doesn't matter since there is no muting to be done, so whatever is most comfortable and/or feels most natural.

 

[Yonni]

I remember going through this and feeling the same. At first my hand was just anchored by my arm on the edge of the bass. The plucking felt weaker on the E string until I adapted to it. I couldn’t even tell you what my thumb does now. I think I probably use the pick cover but I’m honestly not conscious of it anymore. It’ll come. Give it time.

 

[bassdude51]

I know that we are all different and play the bass in different ways.

Over the years, I've changed my plucking. I used to anchor my thumb on the P pickup or the J pickup. For low beefy sounds, I also used to anchor on the edge of the neck around the 20th fret.

But, back in the mid 90s, I bought an SCPB Fender Bass. The single coil P Bass. And, there was no practical place to anchor my thumb because the edge of the single coil P pickup is thin and round. Uncomfortable.

Kind of without thinking, I started anchoring my thumb on the E string for playing A-D-G and for notes on the E strings, I'd float. At first, it felt odd and strange but little by little, I got used to it. Now, it's natural for me.

Plus, the E string, at least for my playing, is not used as much as the other strings so a "float" off of E works.

Now, I float for notes on the E and use it for a thumb rest for the other strings. This is how I play all basses, Ps Js, whatever.

TEHO (to each his/her own)

 

[ajkula66]

Feels weird having it up in mid-air = feels like one loses the power to dig in a little without the thumb to push off of.
Is this just something one gets used to?

I wouldn't have been able to answer this question yesterday since I was genuinely clueless about what my thumb does while I'm playing on the E string...so I purposely decided to pay attention during today's practice...

Well, it does float in the air.

Do bear in mind that I play with a *very* light touch and low action using heavy gauge strings. I'm also not doing any Steve Harris gallops nowadays so my usage scenario is likely different from yours, since there's very little "digging in" required in the music that I play.

The solution will come to you, just keep on playing until FT becomes your second nature.

Good luck.

 

[ryco]

Thanks for all of the responses. Came across this technique in the Gary Willis book "101 Tips for Bass".
I'll keep on working on it. I'm sure, like everything else, it'll come in due time!
Thumb is a little raw in the nail cuticle, but am sure it'll callus up pretty quick.

 

[SteveCS]

Thumb is a little raw in the nail cuticle, but am sure it'll callus up pretty quick.

There should be no more pressure on the side of the thumb than that needed to damp the strings, which is next to nothing, and an infinitesimal fraction of that needed to create a callous.

 

[Ritter667]

Yes, it floats in the air.

And you don't need power to pluck the strings!

A light touch sounds way better, and gives you way more control over dynamics.