Hi All, I am a newbie to bass (my main instrument is piano). I am a little confused on proper thumb position of the left hand (I am a right hander, reference is to the fretting hand). For example, is the thumb always at a 90 degree angle to the length of the fretboard? Another case: I find it physically impossible to keep the broad, flat part of my thumb pressed up again the middle of the neck (as I understand one is supposed to do) when I am playing high up, e.g. around the 12th fret on the E or A string. Any inputs or good sources, e.g. video on line, would be most helpful. If it makes a difference, my principal style interest is jazz, I am playing on a standard 4 string Fender MIM Jazz Bass. Thanks in advance for any good inputs. Tim
if u cant keep ur thumb in place around the 12th fret, them im guessing ur wearing ur bass around ur crotch
I can keep my thumb in place around 12th and I wear my bass at my crotch, maybe a tad higher... I have recently adjusted my fret hand thumb placement. I used to play with my thumb going along the length of the neck, but this was causing wrist problems for me, and just simply felt wrong. Now I play with my thumb pointing up, towards the sky, and sometimes it hooks over the top of the neck. Do a search, you will get more threads than you can read about this topic. And, for Christ sake, someone make a fret hand thumb position sticky, please.
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