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floating thumb techniqe

#441
It can be a very effective technique, though I'm certainly no expert.

I do find two problems. I guess it's just practice:

a) it's slightly slower moving from the pickup (when plucking the E string) to get your thumb up and over and not just anchoring on the A string.
b) I find that anchoring allows me to leverage the plucking fingers, a bit like the way the thumb is built to grab things. That's not to say I'm grabbing or digging in when I pluck, but that as an anchor it allows me to havesomething to "pull against". When floating, that isn't the case. It feels slightly less stable.
 
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#442
wishface said:
b) I find that anchoring allows me to leverage the plucking fingers, a bit like the way the thumb is built to grab things. That's not to say I'm grabbing or digging in when I pluck, but that as an anchor it allows me to havesomething to "pull against". When floating, that isn't the case. It feels slightly less stable.
Click to expand...
Personally I consider this a feature rather than a bug. One of the things I like about the FT is that it makes it easier to for me to play with a light tough; I prefer to turn up the amp and let it do the work. When I anchor on a pickup I find that that extra leverage encourages me to dig in harder than is necessary, and switching to FT helped me break that habit.
 
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#443
The only time I anchor my thumb is when I'm playing a 5-string bass, using it as a 4 -string. I anchor my thumb on the B string. On a 4-string bass, my thumb is in the air, unless I decide to use it to pluck. I was never comfortable using a thumb rest. I primarily play with 3 fingers with the occasional thumb, and sometimes my pinky - but I'm weird I guess. LOL!
 
#444
Glenn Johnson said:
The only time I anchor my thumb is when I'm playing a 5-string bass, using it as a 4 -string. I anchor my thumb on the B string. On a 4-string bass, my thumb is in the air, unless I decide to use it to pluck. I was never comfortable using a thumb rest. I primarily play with 3 fingers with the occasional thumb, and sometimes my pinky - but I'm weird I guess. LOL!
Click to expand...
thumb is in the air? That would seem physiologically...challenging! :O
 
#447
This technique just takes practice..like anything. I have a RSI in the based of my anchor thumb, I guess to much pressure or something. So it made sense to me to investigate this to alleviate the pain in the thumb lol. Well fast forward a few weeks, big difference. No pain after playing, more consistent dynamics, speed is easier, muting was not an issue for me, but its even better now.
 
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#449
Mr Cheese said:
I find the floating thumb technique quite difficult. I much prefer the moving anchor technique. Just check out Scott's Bass Lesson's Right Hand Muting, on youtube.
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That's cool. I personally find the moveable anchor more difficult and prefer the floating thumb. I think they're equally "valid," and both are better than simply anchoring on a pickup all the time.

Actually, I think of the moveable-anchor and floating-thumb as variants of the same idea, and I think I actually use both in different situations. For example, if I'm going to be playing on one string for a period of time, I tend to "anchor" my thumb in one position, but when I'm doing a lot of string crossing I tend to "float." It's all good.
 
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#450
Lobster11 said:
That's cool. I personally find the moveable anchor more difficult and prefer the floating thumb. I think they're equally "valid," and both are better than simply anchoring on a pickup all the time.

Actually, I think of the moveable-anchor and floating-thumb as variants of the same idea, and I think I actually use both in different situations. For example, if I'm going to be playing on one string for a period of time, I tend to "anchor" my thumb in one position, but when I'm doing a lot of string crossing I tend to "float." It's all good.
Click to expand...

Yes, for some people one just works better than the other. At first I tried the floating thumb, but it seemed a bit awkward. Good point on the fast string crossing though, I may give it another shot.
 
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#452
Hi,
In the song Spain by Chick Corea the bass starts with an open e and afterwards an open g. Right now when I try one string rings and It takes me a noticeable amount of time to mute with the floating thumb technique; it sounds like mud. How do I make it sound as seamless as my fretted notes sound?
 
#454
daniel29088 said:
Hi,
In the song Spain by Chick Corea the bass starts with an open e and afterwards an open g. Right now when I try one string rings and It takes me a noticeable amount of time to mute with the floating thumb technique; it sounds like mud. How do I make it sound as seamless as my fretted notes sound?
Click to expand...

Just place your thumb on the E string the moment you play the open G. Or play the G on the D string.
 
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#455
Les Fret said:
Just place your thumb on the E string the moment you play the open G. Or play the G on the D string.
Click to expand...
Sounds like I just need to practice more with this floating thumb thing. Is it normal to be slower?
Mr Cheese said:
Try anchoring your thumb on the E string immediately after plucking(or picking) it. This is the "Moving Anchor" technique.
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This is what I was doing, but after getting 5 strings it is getting harder to mute with that technique.
 
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#457
kaljultdgl said:
I used to anchor my thumb on the neck pickup propably because I could make my bass louder that way.

I forced myself into the floating thumb technique and playing with a lighter touch. Turning up the volume helped :roflmao: Now my right hand doesn't get tired anymore :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I agree! I've been doing the floating thumb thingy for some weeks now. It still feels a bit unnatural because I am used to anchoring my thumb. But I happen to found a couple of benefits too. Like you said it's easier on the right hand because of the lighter touch.

I also happen to found that I can use my thumb to mute strings that I don't use and that it's much easier to go to and from the G string. It made my playing a bit more dynamic.

Right now I am keeping my wrist as close to the bass as possible, that sort of makes up for the lack of stability I used to have when anchoring the thumb, I suppose.

I can't get off the compressor though haha, I don't get a consistant loudness when playing with a floating thumb.. (yet?) But I have tiny hands and now that I've tried this floating thumb technique, I start to see my own flaws when trying to reach the G and even the D string when I am 'anchoring'
 
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#458
Torvus said:
what is floating thumb techniqe & how can i do it?
Click to expand...

I just wanted to chime in on what floating thumb actually does to your bass over time. If you do in fact use the technique, you should attach a "thumb rail" in the area of the float. I'm constantly switching my right-hand position for different tonal variations and the thumbnail will start the new Grand Canyon on your bass body. I kind of like the beat-up look now.

In any event, I think floating is almost essential for getting nuance into how you're attacking the strings. I've found that getting a more singing tone in the upper register requires playing over the neck pickup and even over it or adjacent to it.
 

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#459
chilee said:
I just wanted to chime in on what floating thumb actually does to your bass over time. If you do in fact use the technique, you should attach a "thumb rail" in the area of the float. I'm constantly switching my right-hand position for different tonal variations and the thumbnail will start the new Grand Canyon on your bass body. I kind of like the beat-up look now.

In any event, I think floating is almost essential for getting nuance into how you're attacking the strings. I've found that getting a more singing tone in the upper register requires playing over the neck pickup and even over it or adjacent to it.
Click to expand...
That "thumb rail"would be the strings you're resting your thumb on.
20200111_064219.jpg
 
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