Maintaining forearm contact when using floating thumb

[AzzaTheBassist]

Hello,

I've been working on floating thumb for a few months now, and it's been going well. Today, I was searching for information on it on the web and noticed that Todd Johnson says that your forearm should be in contact with the body of the bass at all times. Now, I've been playing with no part of my arm touching the bass at all, with my forearm at an almost 90 degree angle to my upper arm. Is the whole constant contact thing a necessity? It seems to cause me to bend my wrist, not by much, but isn't the whole point of floating thumb to eliminate bends in the wrist?

Cheers,

AzzaTheBassist

 

[sg101]

Floating thumb was how I played ever since I started bass. I learned on my own, and one of the key parts to the floating thumb for me is keeping my forearm on the body of the bass. It's supposed to give you better accuracy hitting the strings, better accuracy when transitioning your thumb to another string, and better accuracy while playing runs across the width of the neck.

If whatever works for you is fine and doesn't cause complications, then stick with it. If you find it hinders you, put your forearm on the body of the bass.

 

[lowfreq33]

I'd file that under opinion, not fact.

 

[INTP]

I cannot play with floating thumb the way that Todd Johnson describes because it causes me to bend my wrist slightly backward and causes cramps in my forearm. I do something that is closer to what Adam Nitti describes as floating anchor, but its kind of a hybrid. My thumb moves between strings but it's a very, very lightweight touch rather than a firm anchor.

Everyone's physiology is different. My advice is to take what works and keep playing. It shouldn't hurt, put you in uncomfortable position, or be tense.