"The Pinch"

[Axtman]

I am seeing bass players play bass with what I call "The Pinch". They rest their palm on the strings near the bridge and pluck down with their thumb while plucking up with their index finger. This is similar to classical guitar playing.

Does anyone here play that way or notice others playing like that?

 

[mmon77]

I've seen it, and I do it as well, when I feel like it is beneficial. Les Claypool is someone who I have also seen play this way.

My first experience playing a stringed instrument with fingers was a friend's classical guitar, so it is something that feels natural to me.

 

[Derek Kay]

Sting seems to do that rather a lot

He also uses his left thumb over-the-top as well

 

[cxcxcx]

This technique is more commonly called palm-muting. There are a few variations of it, some more recent, some have been done for decades with bare hands or pick in order to approximate the sound of upright bass or palm-muted guitar. Depending on the kind of music they’re involved in, it’s in most skilled player’s bag of tricks these days.

Anthony Jackson is the recognized master of this and there are endless recorded examples. He was a big influence on Pino Palladino who is seen here using palm-mute plucking with thumb and fingers:

 

[SteveCS]

I am seeing bass players play bass with what I call "The Pinch". They rest their palm on the strings near the bridge and pluck down with their thumb while plucking up with their index finger. This is similar to classical guitar playing.

Does anyone here play that way or notice others playing like that?

IME the 'Pinch' is the primary means of generating 'false' or artificial harmonics*, so has nothing to do with palm muting, or any kind of muting come to that. Stop a note with the left hand, rest the tip of the thumb on a harmonic node (which will not be in the same place as for open strings) then pluck behind the thumb (between thumb and bridge) with the right-hand finger of choice** whilst lifting the thumb away.

* No idea why they are called this, since they are no less real than natural open-string ones!
** Different fingers will impact the efficacy of the procedure depending on the note, the node and the position of the pluck relative to the thumb position

 

[Pings Bass]

I sometimes play like this when I'm doing mid tempo soul or any time I want some real thump

 

[Hawk256]

IME the 'Pinch' is the primary means of generating 'false' or artificial harmonics*, so has nothing to do with palm muting, or any kind of muting come to that. Stop a note with the left hand, rest the tip of the thumb on a harmonic node (which will not be in the same place as for open strings) then pluck behind the thumb (between thumb and bridge) with the right-hand finger of choice** whilst lifting the thumb away.

* No idea why they are called this, since they are no less real than natural open-string ones!
** Different fingers will impact the efficacy of the procedure depending on the note, the node and the position of the pluck relative to the thumb position

I thought that is what the OP was going to talk about as well. That is what I think of when I hear pinch. Billy Sheehan used this technique quite a bit.

 

[Rib 13]

I use/used two different variations of that technique for two totally opposite reasons:

1) used to create pinch harmonics

2) when used more subtle with emphasis on the thumbstrike and the finger as a mute, it is a muted note technique that can be used as Fake Upright ( an upright emulation that doesn't sound exactly like an upright but a good facsimile on songs in a set that may require that tone).....its a technique, along with fake fretless that many of us working players utilized back in da day. I'm going to be making a video about it for my YT channel sometime in the near future

 

[ELG60]

I remember back in the late 70's, when I started playing, listening to Heavy Weather, and I sussed out that Jaco was using that technique to create his false harmonics.

 

[Agent0]

I use/used two different variations of that technique for two totally opposite reasons:

1) used to create pinch harmonics

2) when used more subtle with emphasis on the thumbstrike and the finger as a mute, it is a muted note technique that can be used as Fake Upright ( an upright emulation that doesn't sound exactly like an upright but a good facsimile on songs in a set that may require that tone).....its a technique, along with fake fretless that many of us working players utilized back in da day. I'm going to be making a video about it for my YT channel sometime in the near future

Yep, re number (2)…As primarily a big band player where we do everything from old vocal standards to pop and rock arrangements, I use fake upright and fake fretless techniques (….and sometimes bring a real fretless). I also use a method where I let my right pinky drag over the strings as a mute.

 

[Discount Bassy]

As a guy who studied classical guitar in college years before touching a bass, I would liken the technique you describe as equally/more similar to the method of muting an electric guitar with a pick used to produce "chug". In classical position, the plucking wrist is rotated towards the neck. In palm muting on bass, towards the bridge. Both put the thumb in a position for potential use as a plucker.

Palm muting, floating thumb, movable anchor, foam tidbits, fretwraps, floppy fretting pinky...each has its benefits and limitations. There are surely more. It pays to focus on muting in general when playing bass, especially with sound support. A lot depends on how your hand is built, relative finger lengths and general mobility as to what method will work for you. All are worth exploring. The only one I avoid is the use of foam, as the other methods cover my needs without the need for an external tool other than my hands.

 

[Frosteeman]

If I'm understanding OP correctly, I do this to play octaves fingerstyle like in Mamma Mia or Pompeii. Not really any other time though.

 

[dustinymichaels]

I am seeing bass players play bass with what I call "The Pinch". They rest their palm on the strings near the bridge and pluck down with their thumb while plucking up with their index finger. This is similar to classical guitar playing.

Does anyone here play that way or notice others playing like that?

Sting

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Pinch?
Ive allways called it the "claw".
Its a little like the old banjo technique.
But I use thumb and middle finger while palm muting. Mostly on soul stuff.

 

[ardgedee]

Was just watching this video with Felix Pastorius yesterday where you can get a clear view of him frequently using the right hand technique OP describes. (I wouldn't call it "pinch" since I usually see that referring to pinched/false/artificial harmonic techniques.) Along with about a zillion others techniques -- he's pretty fluid.

 

[Killing Floor]

Never heard it called that but I do it and it’s really common guitar playing.

 

[mambo4]

This guy does it a lot.
Also does the awful thumb-over-the-top-of-the-neck with his left hand.
No way he's gonna make it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I am seeing bass players play bass with what I call "The Pinch". They rest their palm on the strings near the bridge and pluck down with their thumb while plucking up with their index finger. This is similar to classical guitar playing.

Does anyone here play that way or notice others playing like that?

Having played finger picking guitar I can do it as well, but for me it is not as dynamic as the ol’e two finger roll.

 

[jTrolt]

Good info in all the above.
I've adopted just a "pinch" of this style as a form of managing/muting strings with the right hand while playing 5 string. Finding myself dropping the thumb from a mute/anchor position off the B into an active downward pluck in a similar fashion, but more as a simple cheat to keep a smooth rolling line without having to pull index/mid fingers from a note 3 strings away. This seems to have naturally evolved after moving to instruments with 19mm string spacing and above. (NS WAV5 - talk about a big gap!)

 

[FunkHead]

I am seeing bass players play bass with what I call "The Pinch". They rest their palm on the strings near the bridge and pluck down with their thumb while plucking up with their index finger. This is similar to classical guitar playing.

Does anyone here play that way or notice others playing like that?