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Where to anchor your thumb?
- Thread starter Myrriad
- Start date
Same here. Love floating thumb. Now I can play so much more aggressively on the higher strings than I used to be able to.
I've been trying to do the Wooten "hand hang" as I call it. I've been looking into taking classical guitar to try and straighten out my dexterity issues: I clamp my left hand on the neck sometimes when I'm playing a fast lick and I'm pretty sure I have carpal tunnel in both of my hands. nowadays it doesn't start hurting until the end of the night, so that is good.
Who's style do you use? Can you recommend anyone or link a video? I looked at one or two on YouTube, just wondering who details the best method....
Thanks for any help! I'm a bit of a beginner and so far have just been anchoring on my single pickup.
Firstly, I think you do need to anchor your thumb somewhere for a couple of reasons. If you are on a big stage & running around, if your not anchored, who knows what notes you will hit. Secondly, it helps your fingers know where they are. Also, depending on where you anchor, it will help mute unused strings.
I used to only anchor on the neck pick up and do the big reach if laying on the G string. But as I got to understand the bass & sort my own style out this changed.
Now, I always anchor, either on a pickup, string, neck or what ever, depending on what I am doing and the sound I am wanting. As obviously, where you play on the string will affect the sound you get. I have started the floating thumb technique which I find really helpful to mute unused strings. I will anchor on the pickup if I am playing simple stuff on the low B or E & can mute with left hand. I will anchor on neck if going for a different sound or single note tapping with right hand.
Do what works best for you in comfort, muting and play-a-bility. But I would recommend you anchor to something.
I used to only anchor on the neck pick up and do the big reach if laying on the G string. But as I got to understand the bass & sort my own style out this changed.
Now, I always anchor, either on a pickup, string, neck or what ever, depending on what I am doing and the sound I am wanting. As obviously, where you play on the string will affect the sound you get. I have started the floating thumb technique which I find really helpful to mute unused strings. I will anchor on the pickup if I am playing simple stuff on the low B or E & can mute with left hand. I will anchor on neck if going for a different sound or single note tapping with right hand.
Do what works best for you in comfort, muting and play-a-bility. But I would recommend you anchor to something.
Have a look at this guy on Youtube. He explains the floating thumb really well. Just type Adam Nitti floating thumb, ya can't miss it.
There was another one I used too but i can't find it. Doesn't really matter cause the one I posted is the main one I used.
Nice to hear! I'm glad I'm finding out about this now before I locked in too tight to any potentially bad habits.
There are a couple things to consider: How much dexterity do you need, and how much attack do you want? For repetive or riff based rock, I'll anchor my thumb on the pickup and dig in. For more complicated lines where you're all over the strings, that anchor point can hold you back. If you have to get from the E string to the G string in a hurry? It's much easier to float your thumb.
The thumbrest position can help deliver a great, driving attack when that sound is called for. Ususally, complicated lines do not require that sound. For me, it's not so much about one being better than the other, it's more about which one delivers the desired effect.
The thumbrest position can help deliver a great, driving attack when that sound is called for. Ususally, complicated lines do not require that sound. For me, it's not so much about one being better than the other, it's more about which one delivers the desired effect.
I had a tech drill a hole like one for a bowling ball right above my B string. That thumb ain't going anywhere.
It is really ideal to develop the floating thumb technique. It keeps your hand in the same position for all strings instead of stretching for the D and G, and the thumb helps mute the other strings. It also makes it much easier to go between 4 and 5 strings.
I like to work with both, anchored and non.
But if I am anchoring, it's usually because I want to stay over
one particular area, close to one pickup or the other, so I use that
pickup as an anchor, and generally stay on it the whole time.
But if I am anchoring, it's usually because I want to stay over
one particular area, close to one pickup or the other, so I use that
pickup as an anchor, and generally stay on it the whole time.
I took off the thumb rest on my 75 J, got in my way, I use bridge pu, neck pu, sometimes on the neck, or just float somewhere in between, thus, no thumb rest
all depends on what I'm looking to do
all depends on what I'm looking to do
Groove Master
Commercial User
- Apr 22, 2011
- 1,808
- 1,291
- Disclosures
- Author of Groove 101, Slap 101 and Technique 101
I like the anchor technic. I feel my hand is solid and stable that allows me to really dig in to get a good attack and tone. I don't feel I can achieve the same sound with the floating thumb personally.
All my main basses have a custom thumb rest between the 2 pickups for the ultimate sweet spot for string tension and tone for me. I make sure the thumb rest is closed to the lower string (either E or B) for a easy switch on it when going on the higher strings. I sometimes go on the A string when I play a 6 strings once in a while.
All my main basses have a custom thumb rest between the 2 pickups for the ultimate sweet spot for string tension and tone for me. I make sure the thumb rest is closed to the lower string (either E or B) for a easy switch on it when going on the higher strings. I sometimes go on the A string when I play a 6 strings once in a while.
I am learning to use the floating thumb technique, which I like and feels natural. But I forget while I'm playing and my thumb winds up all over the place.
