How to avoid resting my thumb on pickups?

[GroovinUSA]

I'm used to resting my thumb on one of the pickups when I'm playing the lowest string, or alternating on lower strings. Otherwise I usually rest it on the string below where I'm playing. The problem is I recently got a bass with Bartolini Jazz pickups in it, and they make noise if I touch them. I'm not sure how loud it is when combined with a band but I hear it when practicing.

If I don't rest my thumb on the pickup, how and where should it sit? I feel like I need something to rest my thumb on to get consistent plucking with my fingers... I've tried putting it flat against the body but it doesn't feel the same. Any thoughts on how to train myself not to rest on the pickup, and what should I do instead?

 

[el murdoque]

There's always the good ol' thumbrest.
As an alternative, the 'Floating Thumb Technique'
might be something to pursue.

 

[DrMole]

New pickups?

Anchoring on the pickups is fairly standard technique for many players- as I have witnessed here and on many other forums and instructional videos.

Perhaps a thumb rest/tug bar-type contraption? (Tug would be on G-string side) $3.49 plus shipping on Ebay.

My first no-name Fender Clone had one of these, way back in 1984. It was probably a decade old when I took possession. I didn't understand ANYTHING about bass technique at the time (not drastically different than the present) However I seem to recall that I sort-of figured how it worked. ( Photos from random ebay listing)

 

[Watchootognbout]

floating thumb techniqe

 

[DrMole]

floating thumb techniqe

Or this- probably better advice...no definitely better advice than I can offer for bass

 

[Groove Doctor]

Get your thumb more active:
- pluck the strings with your thumb only,
- Pluck with thumb, index & middle.
- Palm mute with the base of your thumb.
- Mute the string you’ve just played with the tip of your thumb, or the side of the tip of your thumb.
- incorporate thumb slap & fingerstyle plucking together.

Also
- floating thumb technique (as above).
- learn to rest you thumb against the side of your first finger to keep it completely out of the way.
- focus on your forearm being the new ‘anchor’ against the bass’ body for reference/feedback. It keeps the body steady so you don’t need the thumb to ‘anchor’ against the PUs anymore.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I'm used to resting my thumb on one of the pickups when I'm playing the lowest string, or alternating on lower strings. Otherwise I usually rest it on the string below where I'm playing. The problem is I recently got a bass with Bartolini Jazz pickups in it, and they make noise if I touch them. I'm not sure how loud it is when combined with a band but I hear it when practicing.

If I don't rest my thumb on the pickup, how and where should it sit? I feel like I need something to rest my thumb on to get consistent plucking with my fingers... I've tried putting it flat against the body but it doesn't feel the same. Any thoughts on how to train myself not to rest on the pickup, and what should I do instead?

What kind of noise are they making? If it is an electrical noise, the pickups are probably not properly grounded.

 

[bassdude51]

I used to always rest my thumb on a/the pickup and then I bought a MIJ Fender '51 P Bass and it was not practical to rest on the round thin edge of the SCPB pickup.

So, little by little, I got into resting my thumb on the E string but would float off of it when I had to play on the E and then rest back unto to it when I was done and doing the A-D-G strings.

Now, I don't rest my thumb on any pickup on any bass. Whether if it is a Stingray, P or J. I do the E rest and float method.

It'll come to ya with time and practice.

Learning how to float allows us to pluck anywhere from the end of the neck down to the bridge.

 

[Lobster11]

Several folks have mentioned using the floating thumb method -- which I think is a great idea -- but it sounds like OP is already using either that or a "moveable anchor." Either way, it's a legit question as to what do do with the thumb when playing the lowest string. It is common in both of those techniques to anchor on the pickup when playing the lowest string, but OP says that isn't an option for him. In that case, I think the options are to (1) let the thumb float in the air, un-anchored, as per @bassdude51, or (2) rest the thumb against the bass body.

Personally, as someone who generally uses the floating thumb on a P-bass, I use both of these methods at different times, as well as sometimes anchoring on the pickup when it happens to be in the right place for where I'm plucking at the time. I'd be hard pressed to explain when I use which, but I think I tend to just float/un-anchor my thumb if I'm just playing a couple of notes on the E and then moving on, but anchor my thumb on the body (or top of the neck) if I'm planning to stay there for awhile. YMMV, of course.

 

[GroovinUSA]

What kind of noise are they making? If it is an electrical noise, the pickups are probably not properly grounded.

I don't think it's an electrical noise, although my apartment probably isn't well-grounded so it could be. If anything touches them (metal or not) they make a sort of mid to high pitch tapping sound.

 

[GroovinUSA]

Several folks have mentioned using the floating thumb method -- which I think is a great idea -- but it sounds like OP is already using either that or a "moveable anchor." Either way, it's a legit question as to what do do with the thumb when playing the lowest string. It is common in both of those techniques to anchor on the pickup when playing the lowest string, but OP says that isn't an option for him. In that case, I think the options are to (1) let the thumb float in the air, un-anchored, as per @bassdude51, or (2) rest the thumb against the bass body.

Personally, as someone who generally uses the floating thumb on a P-bass, I use both of these methods at different times, as well as sometimes anchoring on the pickup when it happens to be in the right place for where I'm plucking at the time. I'd be hard pressed to explain when I use which, but I think I tend to just float/un-anchor my thumb if I'm just playing a couple of notes on the E and then moving on, but anchor my thumb on the body (or top of the neck) if I'm planning to stay there for awhile. YMMV, of course.

Yeah, these seem like the main two options unless I install a thumb rest (which I probably won't do). I would describe my technique as the "moving anchor" as I tend to rest on the string below where I'm playing, or the pickup if I'm on the low E (or B on a 5). I'll try experimenting with the "floating thumb" technique more-- when I tried it in the past it just felt harder to pluck consistently, but I probably just need to get used to it.

 

[Nashrakh]

For a totally out of left field recommendation, consider a ramp.

 

[GroovinUSA]

Get your thumb more active:
- pluck the strings with your thumb only,
- Pluck with thumb, index & middle.
- Palm mute with the base of your thumb.
- Mute the string you’ve just played with the tip of your thumb, or the side of the tip of your thumb.
- incorporate thumb slap & fingerstyle plucking together.

Also
- floating thumb technique (as above).
- learn to rest you thumb against the side of your first finger to keep it completely out of the way.
- focus on your forearm being the new ‘anchor’ against the bass’ body for reference/feedback. It keeps the body steady so you don’t need the thumb to ‘anchor’ against the PUs anymore.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try working on these methods at home. Would you say that the forearm anchor combines with the other techniques by providing the anchoring to have a floating thumb, or is it a different technique?

 

[GroovinUSA]

New pickups?

Anchoring on the pickups is fairly standard technique for many players- as I have witnessed here and on many other forums and instructional videos.

Perhaps a thumb rest/tug bar-type contraption? (Tug would be on G-string side) $3.49 plus shipping on Ebay.

My first no-name Fender Clone had one of these, way back in 1984. It was probably a decade old when I took possession. I didn't understand ANYTHING about bass technique at the time (not drastically different than the present) However I seem to recall that I sort-of figured how it worked. ( Photos from random ebay listing)
View attachment 3582379

I like the way these sound and I'm not looking to put more money into the bass, so new pickups are probably out. I could do the thumb rest if this is an ongoing problem that I can't figure out, but hopefully practicing other techniques will make it work for me so I don't have to drill into the bass. It's not crazy valuable but it's a nice bubinga body so I don't want to put extra holes in it.

 

[GroovinUSA]

For a totally out of left field recommendation, consider a ramp.

Never heard of this-- is it like a thumb rest?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm used to resting my thumb on one of the pickups when I'm playing the lowest string, or alternating on lower strings. Otherwise I usually rest it on the string below where I'm playing. The problem is I recently got a bass with Bartolini Jazz pickups in it, and they make noise if I touch them. I'm not sure how loud it is when combined with a band but I hear it when practicing.

If I don't rest my thumb on the pickup, how and where should it sit? I feel like I need something to rest my thumb on to get consistent plucking with my fingers... I've tried putting it flat against the body but it doesn't feel the same. Any thoughts on how to train myself not to rest on the pickup, and what should I do instead?

On the string above the one you're plucking. That's how you mute your strings. It floats along with you as you play.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Would you say that the forearm anchor combines with the other techniques by providing the anchoring to have a floating thumb, or is it a different technique?

It replaces the anchored thumb approach. The forearm simply rests on the body, & should be able to slide as it isn’t pressed in hard. The skin on the forearm is sensitive & (with practice) provides an accurate reference point to tell you where your hand is.

Drop the anchor mindset (no pun intended). Think of it as a sliding forearm technique.

 

[Rabidhamster]

I'm used to resting my thumb on one of the pickups when I'm playing the lowest string, or alternating on lower strings. Otherwise I usually rest it on the string below where I'm playing. The problem is I recently got a bass with Bartolini Jazz pickups in it, and they make noise if I touch them. I'm not sure how loud it is when combined with a band but I hear it when practicing.

If I don't rest my thumb on the pickup, how and where should it sit? I feel like I need something to rest my thumb on to get consistent plucking with my fingers... I've tried putting it flat against the body but it doesn't feel the same. Any thoughts on how to train myself not to rest on the pickup, and what should I do instead?

But seriously perhaps the pickups aren’t anchored enough and are moving. You could put stiffer foam underneath for your given pickup height preference, or if you have springs instead of foam get rid of the springs and get some weather stripping foam from the home store. There’s probably a correctable issue, my Bart’s don’t make noise when I anchor on them, otherwise probably the pickups are defective if there is no correctable issue.

Otherwise anchor your fingers on the strings, except when you’re playing the E you can anchor at the neck or bridge. If you have a pick guard there may be an area to anchor there at one point also.

 

[Lobster11]

Yeah, these seem like the main two options unless I install a thumb rest (which I probably won't do). I would describe my technique as the "moving anchor" as I tend to rest on the string below where I'm playing, or the pickup if I'm on the low E (or B on a 5). I'll try experimenting with the "floating thumb" technique more-- when I tried it in the past it just felt harder to pluck consistently, but I probably just need to get used to it.

I went back and forth on the floating-thumb vs. moveable-anchor for a while, and eventually decided that I (personally) prefer the floating thumb. As far as the problem you brought up in your OP is concerned, the floating thumb might work better for you since with that method you are not generally "anchoring" your thumb anywhere: You're just laying it across the strings. This might make it easier to simply float the thumb in the air when you're playing on your low E or B. In contrast, the "moveable anchor" means that you always have an "anchor," which might make it harder to do that.

BTW, I discovered (inadvertently) that using the floating thumb made it much easier for me to adopt the strategy of plucking softly and letting the amp do the work. I find myself "digging in" whenever my thumb is anchored -- whether on a pickup or a lower string -- but it's much harder to "dig in" when using the floating thumb.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Never heard of this-- is it like a thumb rest?

Pardon my ignorance....