'Hit a wall' with my technique

[lweastdad]

For me it depends on the shape I'm playing and what strings I'm playing.

For example, If I am playing a shape that goes from the E to the G string, i use the floating thumb method. If I am playing a shape that is on the D/G strings, I anchor the thumb on the E string. if I am playing a shape on the E/A strings, I anchor on the neck pickup.

Guess it is just what I'm comfortable with - find out what you are comfortable with and use it.

 

[gai113]

honestly it dont really matter; i like moveable anchor cause the angle is always consistent.. but i do both

 

[bohemond]

My old instructor tried to get me to commit to anchoring my thumb on the pickup and not moving it as I went down the strings,.Didnt work and was a waste of time trying to get me to change, I have always floated my thumb .Pickup for E and string above all the way down. More consistant attack on the string. I could never get the knack for muting the strings any other way. I get a nice clean sound and it doesnt limit what I can play at all/

 

[aus_bass]

I'm Playing a bass with two 'J' style p'ups.

So do I. I anchor my thumb on the mid pickup and pluck between the 2 pickups. This is comfortable and works for me.

Plenty on here will tell you to use the "floating thumb" method. Either way you need to experiment and find out what works for you.

 

[Russell L]

honestly it dont really matter; i like moveable anchor cause the angle is always consistent.. but i do both

Agreed.

If I anchor on a pickup, my fingers are long enough that I can still play comfortably on the G-string. When I want a different tone my thumb takes flight to wherever.

 

[makkE]

I went from stationary anchoring on the pickup to moveable anchoring a while ago.
Stationary anchor is IME a waste of the muting ability your thumb has, putting all the muting duties on your left hand - you often hear players with this technique who have a lot of strings ringing out, muddying up the tone.

Took a while to work it out, but I found it to be much better.. more consistent, less muting worries.

Now I am gradually changing to floating thumb (along with a lighter touch), still working on finding a comfortable way to either switch from anchoring to floating or total float for e-string playing. If I only hit the E-string once or twice, it's fine to totally float, but once I play more on the E, I seem to need an anchor.

I'd just say give each method a try for a while to find out what works best for you.
I'd recommend you just try

 

[PastorofMuppets]

different tones can be acheived depending on where you anchor your plucking hand.
Closer to the bridge has more treble bite to it especially when you dig in. In contrast moving to the neck warms up the tone. Its important to be flexible in where you position and not depend on a pickup. I generally put my thumb on the E string or B if im playing 5. if I wan to play those strings I just have developed a natural lift. It just takes time. Every 100 times you practice something correctly you will notch up just a bit in skill level.

 

[Russell L]

Interestingly, I don't always consciously think of how I'm muting strings. Same thing on piano. I taught myself to play piano, and I just use the dampening pedal as if it were by involuntary muscles. If I try to write out when I'm dampening, I couldn't do it. But, if I just play, I do it perfectly at the right times. Same on bass, for the most part. There are times, though, when I have thought about it.

What this tells me is that you will most likely come up with a way to do something by just using good old common sense along the way. maybe some thought goes into it at first, but eventually it will become second nature. Whether I anchor my thumb or not, I have no muting problems either way...

Heh, far as I can tell... lemme think about it a second, LOL.

 

[ILIA]

Put simply I'm in a rut. I need to know where to anchor my thumb, whether the movable or stationary anchor is better. I'm not bothered about what's comfortable for me, I want a technique that works, and doesn't limit my speed. I just want to get my technique right before I start getting serious with my playing. Can any of you guys help me?

Cheers.

How do you know that the problem lies with how/where/if the thumb is anchored? This question assumes that your technique will improve when you figure out which of these thumb anchoring options will work. I wish it were that easy. The choice of placement and/or movement of the thumb anchor and its impact on technique is negligible relative to other variables that impact the development of technique. I think you "hit the wall" for other reasons. The solution to better technique lies in the development of fine control of motor skills (working in tandem with the ears and the brain hearing harmonic/intervallic/rhythmic relationships and the eyes and brain quickly and accurately processing and implementing musical data (aural and visual), then using that awareness to guide the motor skills executing the required musical bass line appropriate to the style and with good feel); not posture/finger-hand-arm placement.