Right hand anchor point for playing over neck

[yajna74]

I'm transitioning to jazz and found that for that I like the sound a lot better when I play just below the base of the neck. I'm used to anchoring my thumb on a pickup. At the base of the neck there's nothing to anchor by, except the neck itself, which puts my hand too high up. I can force my hand over the neck but as I play it tends to drift down to the old pickup-anchored spot.

Anyone have tricks for retraining my right hand to stay over the neck?

 

[Groove Doctor]

Use double-sided tape and attach something to the bass to be a thumb rest.

 

[devnulljp]

My 70s Jazz has a thumbrest right below the neck. Put thumbrest on yours?

 

[yajna74]

Thumb rest looks like it will work. I'm going to have a heart attack drilling into my $3000 bass though. I'm going to tell myself "it's for science."

 

[Malcolm35]

Sticky tape?

 

[devnulljp]

Thumb rest looks like it will work. I'm going to have a heart attack drilling into my $3000 bass though. I'm going to tell myself "it's for science."

How bout zero mod?
https://www.zero-mod.com/fender-jazz.html

 

[yajna74]

No my bass is an Ibanez SR-5000, no pickguard, just beautiful naked wenge on top. She got a date with a drill real soon but I'll test fit with tape first.

 

[GreyBeard]

Now is the perfect time to change over to floating thumb.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

You should be aware that dust from wenge is not something you want to breathe and splinters will go septic. It shouldn't be a huge concern when only drilling a hole or two but it's definitely something to be aware of.

Any standard thumb rest should do but you will of course need to find the sweetspot for your style of playing. Maybe try with some double-sided tape first until you find the optimal position?

Another option would of course be to play without a thumb rest/anchor point. After all, lots of players do. It's really just a matter of getting used to it. Of course I understand if this isn't something you want to do but personally I find any kind of ramps/thump rests in that area to get in the way of my playing (and I nearly always play up there).

 

[lowphatbass]

Give yourself some time. Seek the tone and eventually all you’ll need is a solid, flat surface…aka anywhere on the bass that sounds good.

 

[Nashrakh]

I use a ramp with double sided tape (on my P bass, between the neck heel and the pickup -- I have an ashtray installed, so no anchoring on the pickup itself).

 

[JonathanPDX]

There are a LOT of technique approaches you can take before drilling holes in your bass!

I, as many players do, anchor on the lowest string (in my case, E) and my thumb follows about 2 strings behind where I'm plucking, resting on the A or even D string as needed to keep my right-hand position consistent. When I need to pluck the lowest string I either rest the thumb lightly against the body, the top corner of the fretboard, or simply float it without an anchor point.

Personally I would spend a while working on my technique before doing potentially catastrophic or at the very least irreparable damage to my #1 bass.

 

[brianrost]

Now is the perfect time to change over to floating thumb.

+1,000,000

BTW, DB players have been anchoring their thumbs on the edge of the fingerboard forever. Works fine on BG, too.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm transitioning to jazz and found that for that I like the sound a lot better when I play just below the base of the neck. I'm used to anchoring my thumb on a pickup. At the base of the neck there's nothing to anchor by, except the neck itself, which puts my hand too high up. I can force my hand over the neck but as I play it tends to drift down to the old pickup-anchored spot.

Anyone have tricks for retraining my right hand to stay over the neck?

Strings, body.

 

[fhm555]

I play mostly standard J basses and play up on the neck a lot. I just rest my thumb on the edge of the neck when I’m up there. Never been a problem.

 

[Koog]

I play at the base of the neck and over the fingerboard most frequently. I like the tones I can develop there, as OP has noted.

I find the fingerboard edge provides a sufficient anchor for me when I need it. For me, the anchor is more a point of reference than a point from which to dig in, if that makes sense.

As has been stated, this also provides a good opportunity for you to explore the floating thumb technique. I find myself unconsciously not anchoring much of the time these days.

It's just a matter of practice and getting used to it. Focus on this technique and it won't be long before training and muscle memory take over and allow you to be comfortable throughout the area of possibilities for your plucking hand.

You may experience different results, but this works for me.

Good luck

Koog

 

[Cutter8]

Now is the perfect time to change over to floating thumb.

Ding, ding, ding… — We have a winner!

 

[brianrost]

BTW, anchoring at the neck was pretty common in the 60s

Pete Quaife of the Kinks

JPJ

The Ox

 

[BassChuck]

Super glue that thumb rest. If it turns out not to be your thing, the worst would be to replace the pick guard.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I'm transitioning to jazz and found that for that I like the sound a lot better when I play just below the base of the neck. I'm used to anchoring my thumb on a pickup. At the base of the neck there's nothing to anchor by, except the neck itself, which puts my hand too high up. I can force my hand over the neck but as I play it tends to drift down to the old pickup-anchored spot.

Anyone have tricks for retraining my right hand to stay over the neck?

Well, resting the thumb against the neck as an anchor point worked pretty well for Jamerson..

It's like anything else, the more you keep your thumb there, the more natural it will become. Keep working on it. when you notice your thumb has moved to the pickup, move it back. Eventually your thumb will get the message.