Plucking the bass on the neck

If it gets you the sound you want, it's ok. Laura Lee of Khruangbin also does this a lot.

 

I play within an inch of the fingerboard, and on it.

when I’m famous peeple can copy my style.

 

It's up to you, but you are missing out on a range of different tones and dynamics along the string. If you want the ramp effect, play over the pickup instead of the neck. Set the pickup height for it.

 

Many reggae bass players like to play up
There when they’re ‘rubbin’ it. Gets a huge soft bassy tone.

 

welcome to talkbass!

all the time (but not exclusively). i really don't know anyone who doesn't/wouldn't do that.

you'd probably be helping yourself out by discovering/practicing all kinds of playing positions = versatility! good luck with your playing!

 

You play on the area of the neck required to get the tone you want. When I play bass, I play anywhere from right over the bridge pickup to over the neck, although I favor near the bridge. When I played traditional country, I played near or over the neck a lot.

 

@ijuost, this is a closely related topic: I recently discovered that I like a pickup closer to the neck than P or J. It catches more fundamental and you might like it too.

 

Sure! Sometimes the best art comes from deliberately limiting your options. For example Picasso went through a 3-year period where he used only the color blue.

 

Sure I do that. When I want/need that super pillowy soft tone. Works every time.

 

Yup, the "dub" tone, essentially. Great for all sorts of styles, not just reggae and such.

 

Check out Laura Lee, middle section of Khruangbin's "August 10":

 

Most of the time I probably pluck in the middle between the bridge and neck, but my hand glides up over the neck pickup and even over the neck heel when the song calls for a warmer tone. I honestly don't think about it anymore though, it's more of a subconscious decision, which is why I said "probably" in my initial statement. When using a pick, I normally stay in the middle or even a bit closer to the bridge as I palm mute a lot then.
I never play right by the bridge fingerstyle... just don't like the tone there on any bass.

 

I do it quite a bit. I'll play on the pickup for fast, driving songs and on the neck for softer, slow songs.

 

I don't like the treble clack you get from playing there

 

This guy played on the neck most of the time. He seemed to do alright by it.

 

On a P bass I pluck directly over the pickup. On a J, I'm directly over the neck pickup.

 

I have thumbrests on all my basses, They go from the fretboard to the neck pickup. They stop at the neck pickup because I never play any closer to the bridge than that. A good deal of the time, my thumb rests on the side of the neck, with my fingers playing over the last few frets. It works for me, if it works for you too, nothing wrong with that.

 

With me, anywhere between the 7th fret and the bridge is useable territory. Why limit yourself to the norm?