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Thumb rest positioning

L

lucathakid

Apr 2, 2012
119
0
#1
Ok so I have been resting my thumb on the pickup since I've started playing. As of lately I noticed I'm getting movement on the pick up, I think pushing and leaning It has loosened the screws or something. Anyway not a big deal, it's not that much movement. But I'd like to stop the bleeding so.. I ordered a cheap thumb rest on eBay. So here's my dilemma. If I stack the rest right above the pickup where I usually rest my thumb I'm going to have a farther reach then I'm use to an comfortable with. I imagined the rest being closer to the bridge before the pickups, the strings are much tighter then I like to pluck, I tried imagining the rest was after the pickups closer to the neck pocket, way to loose. I'm sure I sound ******** but any suggestions or advice about how I can maintain my comfort zone with this slight mod will be appreciated present from my gf
 
#2
Adjusting to the "Floating Thumb" technique would IMO solve all your problems, both from an injury aspect and not having to worry about a thumb rest. With this technique, the thumb rests on nothing, but does what it says on the tin......floats.

Here it is demonstrated :

 
#3
fearceol said:
Adjusting to the "Floating Thumb" technique would IMO solve all your problems, both from an injury aspect and not having to worry about a thumb rest. With this technique, the thumb rests on nothing, but does what it says on the tin......floats.

Here it is demonstrated :

Click to expand...


This is a skill worth learning.
I had the same problem when I first started (pushing in the pickups) but then I purchased a Stingray style bass which prevented me from resting my thumb anywhere (single pickup close to bridge) and this forced me to rethink how I played. Now I never rest my thumb on anything but the E string mostly just to mute it when I'm playing other strings. It's tough to get used to but if you practice consistently it shouldn't take too long to move away from needing a place to rest your thumb at all.
 
#4
Here is where I place my custom thumb rest:
 

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#5
Floating Thumb is where it's at.
For three fundamental reasons
1) it's a natural way to mute the strings
2) the range of motion for each and every string becomes identical because your hand now moves to strike strings as apposed to fingers reaching to strike.
3) it allows you to explore the different tonal possibilities of striking at various points relative to your pick up configuration. I.E. close to bridge or close to neck pick up etc...
 
#7
citizenchris099 said:
Floating Thumb is where it's at.
For three fundamental reasons
1) it's a natural way to mute the strings
2) the range of motion for each and every string becomes identical because your hand now moves to strike strings as apposed to fingers reaching to strike.
3) it allows you to explore the different tonal possibilities of striking at various points relative to your pick up configuration. I.E. close to bridge or close to neck pick up etc...
Click to expand...

Amen brother. I always keep my thumb a full string away from where I'm plucking, (so on a 5 string when I'm on the B i'm on the pickup, E I'm on the pickup, A I'm on the B, D I'm on the E and G I'm on the A). This really evens out your attack and makes playing a lot smoother and faster. It may take some getting used to, but I'd recommend it 100%
 
#8
citizenchris099 said:
Floating Thumb is where it's at.
For three fundamental reasons
1) it's a natural way to mute the strings
2) the range of motion for each and every string becomes identical because your hand now moves to strike strings as apposed to fingers reaching to strike.
3) it allows you to explore the different tonal possibilities of striking at various points relative to your pick up configuration. I.E. close to bridge or close to neck pick up etc...
Click to expand...

......4) The wrist is straight, so the chances of suffering from carpel tunnel syndrome or similar type problems are dramatically minimised. ;)
 
#10
lucathakid said:
So the best way to rest your thumb is not to rest your thumb aye? I dunno am I being a pussy when I say that my hand gets heavy when I don't lean my thumb on that pickup
Click to expand...

All new techniques are going to feel strange and will take a bit of time to master. IMO, the health related benefits alone of the FT are worth the effort and time involved to master it. :)
 
#11
From what you describe, the pickup is loose because the pad or spring that is under the pickup has worn. You might want to fix that first. I had that happen to one of my basses, and a new piece of foam helped hold it in place.

I agree that floating thumb requires work and patience, but is worth the effort.
 
#12
Cool, great concept, more input on this would be awesome. I've been using it on and off in the two years I've been playing, but the thumb is still resting, albeit on it's side, but when playing on the E-string then it's truly floating, but feels odd to me. Do you guys find yourself then using a pickup to rest on, or lower it against the body of the guitar, or have you just gotten used to it floating out in space?
 

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