Thumb Doesn't Rest Anywhere: Bad Habit On the Way?

[Konstantinos33]

Hey there!

So I am completely new to bass playing and I just cannot find some post or player mentioning this.

I come from years of playing classical guitar and I am comfortable playing with my thumb floating in the air. I have only once found it useful that I wanted to mute the 4th string and no other finger or the left hand would do in that scenario.

But is it generally something that will create an obstacle for me down the road? I feel a bit insecure as almost every player rests their thumb.

The floating thumb feels awkward too.

 

[SteveCS]

There is resting and there is resting. I have been using a lfoating thumb technique for over 30 years. I understand this is not the same as what you describe - the side of my thumb is generally in contact with the strings acting as a mute.

Muting is a major consideration with electric bass, far more perhaps than classical guitar where the natural sustain of the instrument is les significant. Both hands play crucial roles in creating clean and defined notes with no extraneous ringing or other noises. Often muting issues do not become apparent until you record and listen to playback - in the early efforts the experience can be quite humbling! Left hand aside, if you don't use your thumb to mute, what alternative muting strategies do you deploy?

 

[micguy]

If you want power, control, and good ergonomics, anchoring your thumb is a good idea. It's like throwing a baseball while standing on a swing - you can do it, but it's more effective, accurate, and powerful when you're pushing against something solid. You can use the side of the neck or a pickup to start; some folks anchor on the body. I use a "slightly floating" thumb technique - my thumb is on the side of a thumb rest when I'm playing the lowest string, on top of the thumb rest and against the lowest string when I'm not (which doubles as a mute, and I do sometimes pluck the B by just moving my thumb). My basses have thumb rests very close to the lowest string, so my hand doesn't have to move far to change positions. My right thumb positioning is completely automatic at this point - it just happens without thinking about it at all. As I never anchor south of the bridge pickup, that's all the farther my thumb rests go. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Lobster11]

The "floating thumb" technique that others have mentioned is summarized in this brief video, in case you're not familiar:



The general idea is that your thumb just lays across the lower (pitched) strings while you pluck a given string in order to mute them -- an important job on bass, as @SteveCS noted. This is a great technique and I also use it myself. However, with this technique the question remains as to what to do with the thumb when you're plucking your lowest string (typically E or B) and there are no lower strings to mute. Personally, I often truly just let it "float" in the air, as you (OP) suggested -- although others prefer to anchor it on a pickup or someplace.

 

[Watchootognbout]

If you get around to playing a five or even a six,you will need to use the floating thumb.

 

[Konstantinos33]

There is resting and there is resting. I have been using a lfoating thumb technique for over 30 years. I understand this is not the same as what you describe - the side of my thumb is generally in contact with the strings acting as a mute.

Muting is a major consideration with electric bass, far more perhaps than classical guitar where the natural sustain of the instrument is les significant. Both hands play crucial roles in creating clean and defined notes with no extraneous ringing or other noises. Often muting issues do not become apparent until you record and listen to playback - in the early efforts the experience can be quite humbling! Left hand aside, if you don't use your thumb to mute, what alternative muting strategies do you deploy?

Thanks for this answer. I haven't faced a scenario where I had to mute a string that was away from my fingers.

I basically always mute the string above the one I play because, well, my finger will rest on it during plucking. So, after watching a few videos I still can't grasp what the floating thumb can do for you when you want to stop a string vibrating below the one you pluck. For me, the left hand works well in that scenario.

I guess I still haven't understood that technique. I watched it on YouTube and it simply goes over my head.

EDIT: OK, I guess its for those strings too far away to mute when you pluck and they vibrate. I will start doing that because I am definitely going to need it down the road I now realize.

 

[Lobster11]

Thanks for this answer. I haven't faced a scenario where I had to mute a string that was away from my fingers.

I basically always mute the string above the one I play because, well, my finger will rest on it during plucking. So, after watching a few videos I still can't grasp what the floating thumb can do for you when you want to stop a string vibrating below the one you pluck. For me, the left hand works well in that scenario.

I guess I still haven't understood that technique. I watched it on YouTube and it simply goes over my head.

EDIT: OK, I guess its for those strings too far away to mute when you pluck and they vibrate. I will start doing that because I am definitely going to need it down the road I now realize.

I think you and @SteveCS are just using the words "above" and "below" in opposite ways. You both mean the same thing: The fretting hand mutes the higher-pitched strings and the thumb of the plucking hand mutes the lower-pitched strings.

And you're right, you only really need the thumb-muting on a 4-string when playing the highest-pitched strings (usually G and D), because with rest strokes your plucking motion mutes the adjacent string. Where the floating thumb (or alternative) really becomes essential is with a 5- or 6-string.

BTW, one reason I personally like the floating-thumb technique rather than alternatives is that I find it encourages me to pluck softly, so I can turn up the amp and let it do the work. Once my thumb is anchored on something it's too tempting to dig in more than necessary. (Of course, YMMV.)

 

[SteveCS]

...
I basically always mute the string above the one I play because, well, my finger will rest on it during plucking.
...

As a classical guitarist you will know the difference between apoyando and tirando. The same basic strokes are also part of the bass guitar language, so there is no guarantee that the plucking finger will rest anywhere.

 

[Konstantinos33]

As a classical guitarist you will know the difference between apoyando and tirando. The same basic strokes are also part of the bass guitar language, so there is no guarantee that the plucking finger will rest anywhere.

I see. I assumed that it's always apoyando unless you use the slapping technique? But yeah, that also answers my question. lol

 

[Konstantinos33]

I think you and @SteveCS are just using the words "above" and "below" in opposite ways. You both mean the same thing: The fretting hand mutes the higher-pitched strings and the thumb of the plucking hand mutes the lower-pitched strings.

And you're right, you only really need the thumb-muting on a 4-string when playing the highest-pitched strings (usually G and D), because with rest strokes your plucking motion mutes the adjacent string. Where the floating thumb (or alternative) really becomes essential is with a 5- or 6-string.

BTW, one reason I personally like the floating-thumb technique rather than alternatives is that I find it encourages me to pluck softly, so I can turn up the amp and let it do the work. Once my thumb is anchored on something it's too tempting to dig in more than necessary. (Of course, YMMV.)

Yeah, I used the words to refer to the physical position relative to the plucking finger.

And OMG! You accidentally made me realize that though I don't rest my thumb anywhere I pluck really hard for some reason. I am going to turn the volume up when I go home and take it easier. lol

 

[BarfanyShart]

I actually changed my technique recently to be more like a classical guitar technique. I pluck with my thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, and am generally not "anchoring" my thumb to a spot. This is a totally usable technique on bass, so long as you are dealing with the muting of the lower strings. Amplified bass guitar is just the noisiest and most annoying instrument, those lower strings just vibrate constantly if they aren't actively being muted, and the weird sub-noise the fills the air makes people literally sick to their stomachs. By default I am muting the lower strings with the meat of my hand at the base of my thumb, but when that is (often) not good enough, I actively mute the string with the thumb or another finger of the right hand.

Learning a bit of "floating thumb" bass guitar technique is a good thing, because it does get you in the habit of actively muting all the time while playing. With bass, the 3 strings (or 4, or 5) that you are muting are as important as the one string you are playing. I saw an interview with Jaco where he talked about basically conceiving and writing most of the "Donna Lee" solo in an afternoon, but then it taking another year and half to work out all of the muting and other details necessary to polish it up for performance and recording.

 

[Joebone]

Floating thumb - don't leave home without it!

 

[Bill Murray]

I don’t think floating thumb will be an issue unless you get in to playing 5 or 6 strings. I find that it feels natural on a 6 but awkward on a 4. Tons of players use it but there are more than enough who don’t. Whatever is comfortable for you is the way to go.

 

[Gustopher]

I wish I could make myself learn floating thumb...I almost always am anchored on the pickup or the E string. Doesn't really hurt anything I guess, but I think I could pluck a little quicker and more efficiently if I wasn't putting that extra tension on my hand.

 

[fearceol]

I don’t think floating thumb will be an issue unless you get in to playing 5 or 6 strings. I find that it feels natural on a 6 but awkward on a 4. Tons of players use it but there are more than enough who don’t. Whatever is comfortable for you is the way to go.

What people forget about the FT is that quite apart from muting, it renders the wrist straight which minimises potential injury problems later on. This on its own would make it worth while learning...regardless of the number of strings. Whatever is "comfortable" now, could cause injury over time.

 

[akukulich]

I think there are a lot of advantage to the floating thumb technique, and if I were starting today, I would likely use it. If you do end up using something like an anchored thumb, I'd suggest you to put too much pressure on your thumb as that will cause you problems. The less tension and stress in your hand, the better off you'll be. You want your hand, wrist and forearm and shoulder to be as relaxed as possible.

 

[Hawk256]

There are different techniques and you have to use which one you are most comfortable with. With that being said, my first teacher would have never allowed a floating thumb technique. Not saying he was right but anchoring to something was that important (at least to him). YMMV.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Another floating thumber, keeps the wrist and hand loose.

 

[BlueTalon]

I usually, but not always, anchor my thumb on a pickup, or sometimes the E string. But that's not the only way to anchor one's plucking/picking hand. I almost never use a pick, but I often find myself anchoring my right hand not with my thumb, but with the heel of my palm. I just rest it on the body of the bass above the strings, and it allows me to play with my fingers without needing my thumb. I wish I could tell you the circumstances in which I do this, or explain why/when I use one technique vs. the other, but I can't. It seems to be determined by the moment.

Nevertheless, it is an alternate anchoring technique, and you might find it useful.

 

[Bass Momma]

I just switched to a more jazz-focussed bass teacher. I was anchoring my thumb on the neck pickup. He wants me to be able to play right up by the end of the fretboard for a deeper tone. Floating thumb time. Oooh it does feel odd.....