How important is the floating thumb technique?

[Matthew Bryson]

Well, it's not really floating thumb to rest on the top string. Everyone does that, eh?

Well, no - not everyone does that. I started playing bass by strumming with my thumb. Then somebody taught me to play fingerstyle, and recomended a good book which I bought. The book said that most players anchor their thumb to the top of the pick up which I began doing. I played for a few years before I ever tried resting my thumb on the E string. So, in short - not everyone does that, eh.

 

[SuperDuck]

I'm curious to see if we're all talking about the same thing here.

Floating thumb, as I've learned it, means that your thumb is resting on the string above the one you are playing. That is, if you are playing a note on the D string, your thumb is resting on the A string as opposed to camping out on a thumb rest or the pickup. If you're playing on the G string, your thumb is on the D string. Of course, you don't move your thumb every note you play, but it's a general repositioning of your thumb from string to string based on what you are playing. Therefore, it is a big help with muting.

The way some of you are describing, it's as if you're saying floating thumb means you're not achoring your thumb on anything at all. Thoughts?

 

[westland]

I'm relatively new to the bass, but started with floating thumb, so it's more natural to me than resting on the pup (which in fact I can't do at all on my Rob Allen which has only a piezo). The big advantage is you get automatic string muting built into your technique. If you use another technique, then you have to figure out how to mute the string above the one you are playing ... this is not a big thing, and I believe many players just figure out another way to do this.

Another advantage is the the shape of your right hand stays the same across strings. On the downside, you need a bit more wrist motion to reposition the hand. It was natural for me to think in this way because I am mainly a piano player, where your motion comes mainly from the wrists and arms.

 

[cb56]

....
Floating thumb, as I've learned it, means that your thumb is resting on the string above the one you are playing. That is, if you are playing a note on the D string, your thumb is resting on the A string as opposed to camping out on a thumb rest or the pickup. If you're playing on the G string, your thumb is on the D string. Of course, you don't move your thumb every note you play, but it's a general repositioning of your thumb from string to string based on what you are playing. Therefore, it is a big help with muting....

I think what you described is exactly what floating thumb technique is.
When I played 4 string I never did that. I just anchored on the pickup or E string. When I started on 5 string I found out real quick that I needed to do something about sympathetic vibrations on the B string. That's when I taught myself the technique not really knowing if it was the right way or not. BTW about 10-15 minutes of practice was about all it took to get the technique down. I did those open string, string, skipping excercises like the ones at the beggining of the Rufus Reid book. Damping the strings higher than the one I was plucking with my left hand, and damping the strings lower than the one I was plucking with my right thumb.

 

[bass349]

well.. i mute using the patitucci method of using the ring, pinky and thumb from the right hand.. and this really works well for me.

having said that.. most of my students really struggle with the intitial coordination of muting with the fingers. I have found that most (especially the ones that aren't real "beginners", and are used to anchoring their left hand thumb) find the floating thumb technique to be the easiest to adjust to.

i'd say, try both, and use the one that works for you.

 

[tZer]

Ok... even the Wikipedia has confilicting info or the specific definition of the 'floating thumb' technique. In one interpertation the Wiki says, "...Also, bassists may simply anchor their thumbs on the lowest string (and move it off to play on the low string). This technique is known as the "floating thumb", and was previously popular mainly with bassists who played 5 or more string basses, but is now common for all bassists..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_guitar

But in the Wiki about Extended Range Basses is says, "Because of the sympathetic vibration of the bass, a plucked note will cause that same note (and its octaves) to sound on all strings if left unmuted. Extended-range bassists often turn to hairbands or advancing muting techniques, including the "floating thumb" technique (allowing the thumb of the plucking hand to mute lower strings), to achieve a good sound." -- Still a little vague, but sounds more like 'no anchor, yes mute'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended-range_bass

I even found some archived Talk Bass postings that goes in both directions.

However our resident bass guru, Todd Johnson seems to be agreeing that the definition of "Floating Thumb Technique" means... [drum-roll please....] No anchoring at all. Your thumb acts as a mute and not a stabilization device.

First of all I wouldn't ANCHOR at all.

I would HIGHLY recommend learning the floating thumb technique.

When you ancor your thumb on the E string......every time you play your G string, then your A string will begin to "ring" sympathetically.

The secret to the floating thumb is to drop your right forearm across the strings and pull it up with your right hand relaxed. Your fingers should be curved and your thumb should lay across the strings and will serve as your "perfectly desinged muting system". The trick now is to move the "mechanism". Make sense.

Plus, when you "anchor" you wind up having a different "range of motion" for every string you play. With the floating thumb, you just "move the Mechanism" so to speak....so you have a consistent range of motion for the string combinations you'll play. This means you'll have a lot less "muscle memory" to learn. Plus you'll eliminate your ringing string problem!!!

BTW, I cover all of this extensively on my new "Technique Builders" DVD....It'll be available from my website www.toddjohnsonmusic.com February 1st.

I hope this helps answer your question....even though it probably raised several more!!

Happy to help.
__________________
Todd Johnson

A picture is worth, well at least a dozen words...

So the confusion seems to be between 'Floating Thumb' and 'Movable Anchor' techniques. I float.

 

[SherpaKahn]

THANK YOU, Tzer. That is exactly what I thought the floating thumb was, and that picture is indeed worth a dozen words, many of which are probably four letters. Man, his fingers in that picture look sooooo comfortable. I could imagine a baby sleeping with its hands in that position. Personally, I use a mixture of moving anchor and floating, and am trying to push all the way over to floating. That picture, however, leaves little doubt as to what floating thumb looks like. Thanks!

-Stephen

 

[leffe luffer]

It seems that floating thumb and movable anchor are mistaken for the same tecnique. I don´t know wich is the right but movable anchor seems the best way to describe the tecnique in this thread.

I´m guessing that the author of this thread was referring to the movable anchor. That is when you rest your thumb on the string below the one you are playing. If playing on the D string you rest on the A and so on.

I find that this method works very well fo me. I personally can´t even play with a fixed anchoringpoint, I simply can´t get any control of my fingers and every string seems to be vibrating.

The reasons I like the movable anchor or floating thumb or whatever you call it is:

1. My hand si in a more closed and natural position wich allows more power and control of my fingers.

2. Muting strings that I´m not playing.

 

[Juneau]

Well I use it like the guy in the picture. My thumb doesnt anchor on any string, it sits against whatever string is above the ones Im playing. Note that may be more than one string. For example I use most of my thumb playing the G string, where my thumb is laying across all the other strings, but my thumb never anchors, just lays across the strings not being played. As I move, my thumb moves with the rest of my hand, so its always laying across the lower strings not being played. I do still revert back to anchoring on old songs I learned that way, but I do my best to stop that whenever possible. Old habbits are hard to break. But I got a 6'er in the works, and it will become even more necessary for me to utilize.

Another benifit not discussed so far is that changing between techniques is much faster and more fluid. Going from fingerstyle, to slap, to multi-finger plucking, to flamenco type strumming, your hand is in the right position for all of those techniques already, so you dont have to change hand position to change technique. A slight twist of the wrist is really all thats needed to move between them.

 

[tZer]

I think the biggest thing discovered here is that the term 'floating thumb' has a 'floating definition'!

For the sake of clarity, when I talk about the FT technique from now on, I will be referring to the 'no anchor/thumb as a muting tool' technique.

Since many other web sites (this one included) define the phrase 'floating thumb' as either;
1) anchoring the thumb on the E-string and lifting (floating) it to play the E-string;
2) anchoring the thumb on the string immediately above the string being played so that the thumb floats from one string anchor to another;
3) the thumb does not anchor on anything, rather it 'floats' with your hand and rests on the strings to act as a mute;
It is highly likely that there are many players out there who refer to that technique using any one of these three definitions and all would be correct.

So if you are going to have a discussion about a 'floating thumb' technique, it is important to know that there are three viable definitions, all of which can be called correct at this time. You may want to clarify right off the bat which definition you are choosing.

--tz

 

[Rick Brienzo]

I started with anchored thumb on the pickup, moved to thumb on the E string, and then moved to floating thumb. I think by being able to, and using all of the above techniques I am more proficient in my fingering and have greater control over my bass. This didn’t happen until I learned the floating thumb technique, It gives me the freedom to move my plucking hand to any position I need for any given tone or run I need to pull off. And I only play 4 string. It has helped my greatly. ROCK ON!!!!

 

[flatwoundfender]

I think the biggest thing discovered here is that the term 'floating thumb' has a 'floating definition'!

For the sake of clarity, when I talk about the FT technique from now on, I will be referring to the 'no anchor/thumb as a muting tool' technique.

Since many other web sites (this one included) define the phrase 'floating thumb' as either;
1) anchoring the thumb on the E-string and lifting (floating) it to play the E-string;
2) anchoring the thumb on the string immediately above the string being played so that the thumb floats from one string anchor to another;
3) the thumb does not anchor on anything, rather it 'floats' with your hand and rests on the strings to act as a mute;
It is highly likely that there are many players out there who refer to that technique using any one of these three definitions and all would be correct.

So if you are going to have a discussion about a 'floating thumb' technique, it is important to know that there are three viable definitions, all of which can be called correct at this time. You may want to clarify right off the bat which definition you are choosing.

--tz

What about the one where you point both your thumbs in at each other parallel to your eyes and you see a floating thumb?

 

[steveb98]

I would say "floating thumb" is not that important, but using your thumb to mute is. I use the moving thumb technique, never heard an official term for it. i rest my thumb on the string above the string I'm fingering, so as I got to higher strings the thumb moves too.

I tried floating thumb and it was okay, but results weren't any better so didn't bother to try to switch. Also I do a lot of right hand muting ala Gary Willis. So combined with the thumb I think I have muting covered on that end of the bass. Okay, okay I do palm muting when I need the Jamerson type sound. I think that covers that end of the bass muting wise.

 

[tZer]

What about the one where you point both your thumbs in at each other parallel to your eyes and you see a floating thumb?

Oh yeah... forgot about that one...

 

[IanStephenson]

Well, it's not really floating thumb to rest on the top string. Everyone does that, eh?

Thats my point - a lot of people don't do that. A lot of people rest their thumb on a pickup or even a thumb-rest. I was suggusting that resting on the bottom string has a lot of advantages over resting on a pickup - I woudnt call it "floating" but for those resting their finger on a pickup, its a big step in the right direction.

Ian

 

[Wilbyman]

I don't think it's very important. I'm not the best bassist on TB by any stretch, but I feel like floating thumb puts your fingers in a curled position that is not necessarily conducive to playing fast and clean. It also forces me to use a fleshier part of my finger too (good and bad).

Whatever Gary Willis does, he has it dialed in like a mofo...he is as fast and clean as anyone. That said, tons of players who are nearly as quick anchor their thumb (Tony Grey).

 

[Dragonlord]

I used to anchor my thumb on the pickup until I tried a different approach, described in a post in TB five or six years ago (by Gard). I now anchor my thumb not on the string above the one I play, but on the one above that. That is, I anchor on B when I play on A, on E when I play on D etc. I find extremely natural and easy once you get used to it a bit. Maybe I should note here that I have big hands and play a narrow-spacing Warwick, so maybe that's why the string above isn't very comfortable to me.

 

[Fathand]

I've divided my technique into to segments:

4-strings: Anchoring (mainly)
6-strings: Fully Floating (mainly, credits to Todd Johnson for introducing the technique to me )

Sometimes I'll float with the four stringer too, when fiddling with any other string than E (or D in my case), and sometimes I'll anchor with the sixer. And sometimes I don't anchor at all!

I tried to find a good "all-around" technique, but came to the conclusion (at this point) that trying to perfect both will do me more good as both feel natural at their areas.

And I always anchor while playing live, as the gigs are quite physical and the movement makes accurate playing a bit harder. The anchor gives some balance.

 

[jmal]

Hello,

One benefit of the floating thumb that has not been mentioned is that it keeps the right wrist much straighter than an anchored thumb. This may not mean much to those who have not had any problems with tendinitis, CTS, etc., but it is well known that repetitive fine movements, over time, can result in carpal tunnel compression and so on. FWIW.

 

[Blunt]

I will have to check what I do again with my right hand. It all becomes intuitive after a while. I spent some time a few years back consciously doing some floating thumb exercises because I was having some problems with the low B on my 5 string Fender Jazz.

As a bass teacher however the thing you do notice about new students is that they are unaware of the importance of muting. Their playing becomes very noisy with overtones whenever extended string crossing is involved.

3 of my new students had been getting lessons from a guitar player for several months and their technique is well basically flawed. Both R/H and left hand and also slap where the palm mute is so important as well as left hand mutes.