Right Hand Technique for Playing Bass

[Fatstrat622]

I am relatively new to playing bass (played guitar for years and finally bought a base and absolutely love it. Did not know what I was missing!) I digress... I was wondering if there is a general consensus on how to pluck the strings (thumb, fingers, pick) and if you use a thumb rest if using fingers to pluck the strings. I have a Sterling MusicMan Stingray4 which also only has one humbucker by the bridge, so there is nothing to rest on up closer to the neck. Lastly, is it common to palm mute to keep other strings from ringing out?
Thanks

 

[Malcolm35]

If you use a pick palm mute is what you do.
I sound the string with my thumb and use flats and foam rubber and a tittle palm mute, if needed. My point flats and foam do most of what I need. Do a Google....

 

[FatStringer52]

As far as picking the strings, do what is comfortable for you in the beginning. Eventually you'll want to employ all three techniques -- thumb, fingers and pick. As far as anchoring your thumb, floating thumb technque is probably the most versatile. But you can anchor your thumb on the pickup and the strings. The E string makes a great thumb rest when you're not playing it. You can vary your tone quite a bit by where you pluck the strings -- anywhere from over the end of the fingerboard all the way brack to just in front of the bridge. Experiment with that. Muting is done with you palm, your plucking hand fingers and your fretting hands fingers. Experience is the best teacher for this. You'll figure it out along the way. There are quite a few YT videos on plucking hand and fretting hand technique. Watch a lot of them.

 

[fearceol]

floating thumb technque is probably the most versatile.

....and it is also the safest.

OP : While a lot of both pros and amateur players anchor their thumb on the pick up, it is generally regarded to be unsafe. Why ? Because the wrist is at a severe angle with this technique. This can result in injury problems at a later time. Ideally, both wrists should be as straight as possible. With the FT technique the thumb does what it says on the tin..it floats...i.e. it does not rest on anything. This technique is also ideal for muting unwanted string harmonics.

Here it is demonstrated :

 

[two fingers]

Welcome to TalkBass!!!!

I do all three (and then some) depending on the sound I'm going for. Don't forget about your guitar picks. You'll need them on occasion.

I usually prop my thumb on the pickup nearest the bridge. If there's no bridge pickup, I get a thumb rest.

Get up with these guys at ZeroMod. They make these fantastic thumb tests that use pick guard screws to hold them in place so you don't have to drill holes in your new bass. They might make something for your Ray. They are fantastic to work with.

Zero - Mod MODELS

(Not affiliated with the company in any way other than a happy customer.)

Also, we are big gear dorks around here and love pics.... just sayin'

Edit to add: Just found some pics on their site of some Ray thumb rests.

Hope that helps!

 

[Joe Nerve]

If you use a pick palm mute is what you do.

+1
Link Removed

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, but I play lots with a pick, and my palm rarely (if ever) touches the strings - unless I'm going for that palm muted effect. You CAN palm mute when using a pic, but I don't know why anyone would tell a newbie - palm mute is what you do. I have no clear vids of myself using a pic, but you can watch this guy's right hand here. It never touches the strings. It would be challenging to play that song using the right hand to mute.



As fer fingerstyle and the Stingray there are no rules. I have a Stingray too, and usually use the pickup as a thumb rest.

A good rule of thumg with thumb rests (dumb pun intended) is to not get too accustomed to anything. Basses sound MUCH different when played on different areas of the string, and it adds to one's versatility when comfortable playing anywhere. There's nothing 'wrong' with getting comfortable in any one position (most people are), but its a good idea to stay open about it.

The only other thing I think is important is to get into the habit early on of playing softly. You just need to kind lightly slide the tips of your fingers off the string - not pluck it. When you learn to play softly you have a lot more room for dynamics later on. Digging in and playing hard usually comes naturally for people while playing soft is a bit a challenge. Adrenaline when ya hit a stage adds to that, too.

 

[CallMeAl]

As far as anchoring your thumb, floating thumb technque is probably the most versatile. But you can anchor your thumb on the pickup and the strings.

Yeah, I highly encourage you to look into floating thumb. Pickup anchor is something I got into early on, and it’s a hard habit to break.

Now I use only the lightest touch, it’s basically a guidepost, and can float for short periods; but always revert to anchor for long sessions.

Good luck, and welcome!

 

[mambo4]

If there is a consensus, it's that you avoid bending your wrist too much.
Whether you use pick, or thumb, or fingers. keeping your right (and left) wrists in a neutral postilion is probably the only thing I would insist is "correct" technique
There's a whole thread on straight wrists in the technique forum.

While a lot of both pros and amateur players anchor their thumb on the pick up, it is generally regarded to be unsafe. Why ? Because the wrist is at a severe angle with this technique

It's the wrist bend, not the thumb rest that is unsafe. I can rest my thumb safely on the pickup without a wrist bend, by adjusting my bass strap to sit at a comfortable height (waist) and angle ( bridge down, nut up) and standing when I play. A lot of unsafe technique can be alleviated by positioning the bass more comfortably

I share this video all the time, because it's some of the best right hand advice you can find.



Yes you can find images and videos of Famous Guy playing with bent wrists. But as Adam Neely points out in his video, these guys have already figured out a way to play without so much tension.

 

[chaosMK]

I seem to rest my thumb on the lowest string relative to wherever I am playing.

A few details of RH finger style can depend on how you are expressing. If you play super gentle and smooth you can relax the hand a bit. If you like to strike aggressively (like percussive, using fretboard impacts, also tight finger muting) you might need to poise your wrist a little differently.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

I play with fingers and thumb, so it all depends on what I'm playing. Some times thumb anchors on Pup, sometimes on top string or 2nd string. But always seems to be moving. So depends on the string and the note being played.

One thing I do have, is a way to avoid my wrist from sticking to the bass when playing. I use a couple of rubber "O" Rings as a wrist bracelet. They can roll some on the face of the bass, and stop a sweaty wrist from trying to adhere to the bass. May not be a problem for anyone else, but it helps me. But I have noticed a few pro-players with a soft wrist bracelet on while playing (even guitarists like Clapton). I've been doing it for a couple of decades or more. And rubber doesn't mar the finish.

 

[eriky4003]

I recently purchased a Sterling by MusicMan StingRay 25 and, after fighting with the bass for about a week, got the Zero-mod thumb-rest. My two main issues were 1) didn't like the sound of the bass while plucking over the pickup while using the pickup as a thumb-rest and 2) didn't feel like changing my style to suit the floating thumb technique and not play the bass at rehearsal while I got up to speed. I received the Zero-mod about a week after ordering it (I'm even in Canada!).

 

[Mr Cheese]

I am relatively new to playing bass (played guitar for years and finally bought a base and absolutely love it. Did not know what I was missing!) I digress... I was wondering if there is a general consensus on how to pluck the strings (thumb, fingers, pick) and if you use a thumb rest if using fingers to pluck the strings. I have a Sterling MusicMan Stingray4 which also only has one humbucker by the bridge, so there is nothing to rest on up closer to the neck. Lastly, is it common to palm mute to keep other strings from ringing out?
Thanks

As I've said in another thread, I find the Moving Anchor to be the best for me. The technique is that you "anchor" your thumb on the string below the one your playing on. For instance, say your plucking away on the A string, your thumb is resting on the E string. You move to the D string, now your thumb is on the A string. This technique is still safe, because the angle of your hand stays the same no matter what string you play on. Bottom line is: test them all out, and find what's best for you.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Playing the bass is not like playing a classical musical instrument. You develop what works for you.

I use floating thumb and cannot play with my thumb anchored. It was not a conscious decision; it just happened.

 

[Max Bogosity]

A good rule of thumg with thumb rests (dumb pun intended) is to not get too accustomed to anything. Basses sound MUCH different when played on different areas of the string, and it adds to one's versatility when comfortable playing anywhere.

This is worth repeating. There’s a world of different tones available by playing at different locations along the string length, and they’re not available if you’re anchored to one spot. This is especially important with a single pickup instrument.

 

[mrcbass]

All picking methods are valid and you'd be smart to get comfortable with all of them. My primary method is finger plucking (one or two fingers). I use a somewhat anchored method, but have unconsciously developed a way to not be anchored when I need to not be. +100 on exploring all the tones available by plucking in different locations between the bridge and the 12th fret - yes over the fingerboard.

I can't do much with a pick (I came from guitar as well and found the string spacing difference to be hard to adjust to) or my thumb, but do spend a tiny amount of my practice time working on the pick and slap. I would like to be able incorporate these methods some day, but right now they are still useless.

 

[Fender_Bender]

I’ll add to the advice given here already. When you are playing fingerstyle, you want to pluck through the string and land on the string above it. So, when playing on the G for example you pluck through the string and the pad of your finger lands on the D string. When playing on the E my fingers hit through against my thumb.
Personally, I rest my thumb on the E string and move up to the pickup when playing the E. This is not very convenient with the Musicman because of the pickup placement.
Many former guitarists find muting to be their biggest challenge. Any bass string that is not muted in some fashion will create audible problems. You eventually use a combination of both hands to accomplish this.

 

[Fatstrat622]

Thanks to all you folks for the ideas. Lots to think about and try. I guess if I did put a thumb rest on I could still float too or would it be in the w ay? Here is a picture of a bass I saw while in LA recently at the Hollywood GC. It is a Stingray with what looks like a rosewood thumb rest added. Really appreciate your help!

 

[GreyMark]

I am relatively new to playing bass (played guitar for years and finally bought a base and absolutely love it. Did not know what I was missing!) I digress... I was wondering if there is a general consensus on how to pluck the strings (thumb, fingers, pick) and if you use a thumb rest if using fingers to pluck the strings. I have a Sterling MusicMan Stingray4 which also only has one humbucker by the bridge, so there is nothing to rest on up closer to the neck. Lastly, is it common to palm mute to keep other strings from ringing out?
Thanks

There is not a general consensus on how to pluck the strings.

It is common to use the palm of the hand to mute strings that you don't wish to sound.

 

[whero]

When I started playing bass over 40 years ago I used a pick all the time but gradually, over the next five or so years I developed more of a finger style, and rarely use a pick these days. I think it's a good skill to be able to do both though.

My finger style naturally developed not resting my thumb on the pickup or a thumb rest, I thought maybe this was a result of coming from a pick playing style where you obviously don't rest your thumb anywhere (otherwise you'd drop the pick !). I always thought of it more of a "floating hand" rather than just a "floating thumb", but whatever.

It's good to keep a light touch with finger style. I think it allows for a better tone and enables a faster technique. Sometimes the song will suit really digging in, but this shouldn't be your go-to.

 

[MVE]

If I were starting over tomorrow knowing everything I know today, I would recommend to myself floating thumb with alternating index and middle.

In real life, I didn’t learn floating thumb until I had already been playing 20 years and started working on fretless. I didn’t learn to always alternate index and middle until even later when I wanted to learn to play faster.