Palm muting, plucking with thumb?

It is definitely a thing. It just isn’t a common thing. I use a leather pick and palm muting to get a more percussive, clear effect than when using just my thumb. Not to mention the inherent flexibility of a pick added in.

Really, it’s simple, if you’re doing it then it’s a thing…if only to you. Do what works.

 

I think it's "a thing" -- it's a plucking technique that I actively use and encourage students to use. I do it when walking medium tempo jazz tunes. It does take a while to build up a little strength and endurance in the thumb.

But as the Sweet Sue said - do it if it works for you, if it's a sound you fine useful, it it's a sound that works with the music you are playing.

 

Ditto what has already been said. The thumb came over from rhythm guitar and the palm mute is kinda easy when using the thumb or a pick.

Been doing this for years, no bad affects here.

 

"Right Hand Path, Developing your Sound through Technique by Pablo Elorza.
PABLOELORZA.COM

 

I love the sound of paml muting using the side of the thumb. There are a couple of other variants I find effective.

1) It takes a while to get it smooth, but try doing down AND up strokes with your thumb. It's ridiculously even sounding once you get it down. And speed is no longer an issue.


2) For an "in between" sound (between thumb plucking and standard index/middle plucking) Try using your plucking hand pinky to mute when plucking with your index and middle fingers. Just extend your pinky straight down and use it to mute the strings. It had a little more bite and punch (clarity) than thumb plucking. But muting by the bridge still chops off some highs to leave more fundamental.

Both take a little practice. But I have always enjoyed just diming the tone knob on a passive bass and coaxing a dozen different tones out of it using different techniques.

 

I do it to emulate the dull, thuddy sound of an Ampeg Baby Bass.

 

If your thumb is getting tired, I wonder if your amp is set to too low a volume…

 

I sometimes do the palm mute and pluck with the thumb. If it’s a faster part I’ll add my first finger to the mix. Down with the thumb, up with my index finger. Almost like a picking action but with my fingers. I’ll make a short video if you think it would help you.

 

Legit never knew leather picks were a thing. Got a specific one you recommend?

 

The bass community isn’t too familiar with them. Usually I get ridicule and disbelief that I’m not joking. Anyway, they’ve been used for ukes and mandolins for a long time.

I’m not sure what brand mine is. Timber Tones’ “Leather Tones” look decent. My pick has been used on and off for four years now. The longevity is insane.

 

I typically palm mute with my fretting hand. Not great for busy parts.
For busier parts I will use my right palm to mute. If I have a pick I’ll use that. If I don’t have a pick I will pretend I have a pick but strike with my fingers instead mostly using fingernail.

 

I've been doing it lately. I used that technique a lot on Saturday for a gig where we had some reggae tunes.

I don't have a problem doing it, but I can't do it super fast (I can't double-thumb, yet) and on my six-string it's a little more difficult to do it on the higher strings due to the location of the knobs - my hand bumps into them, because I've got to mute down near the bridge to get the right sound and not just a dead pluck).

I think it's a worthwhile technique to use. Practice with the technique to strengthen your thumb a bit. I actually posted something on here recently about thumb pain when using this method, and it's not a problem anymore for what I've been playing. I'm going to continue working on the technique, as it's a good one to have in the repertoire.