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Where to put my thumb on my StingRay?
- Thread starter ashtray
- Start date
Someone else already mentioned the Zero-Mod thumb rest, but I'll give it another plug. I have one on my P bass and like it a lot. If I ever get the Ray that's on my GAS list, it will get one too.
Floating thumb, no anchor - even better. Either way, you will never have to worry about where your thumb goes an a bass, or wearing spots in the finish ever again.
I anchor, or really just touch, the string above whatever string I'm playing. It's more about muting, of course, and touch is for reference. I used to anchor on the body when playing the E. Then I realized I was wearing an actual dent in my Warwick.
When I say floating, it is not floating in air unless you are playing the E on a 4 or the B on a 5. The thumb otherwise rests across all strings below the one being played. The problem with the floating anchor is that it can only mute two at a time. If your playing the G on a 5 or the G or C on a 6, you will not be muting all strings below those being played with an anchor. Also, it requires you to pick the thumb out of between the strings every time you move. Whereas, when the thumb simply floats on all strings, you are free to slide up or down the strings without having to extricate the thumb from between strings.
I realize that these are marginal benefits between the two, but they are not insignificant when playing fast.
I do that too, I lay my thumb back to mute all the strings. I think you are right, and that is really what I'm doing, floating while muting the strings. It is so internalized now I have to visualize my right hand to even begin to describe it.
This is the best way to play a single pick up bass.
The people that don't are the ones that call a Ray or P a one trick pony.
When I had my Sterling, if I needed to play further away from the bridge I would actually anchor on the neck/fretboard right where it attaches to the body! It actually worked quite well.
Over time I learned to mostly play over the pickup, and now that is my preferred placement.
The Zero Mod is a great solution though. Tim is a great guy, and his product is top notch, I used to have one for my Ric.
Over time I learned to mostly play over the pickup, and now that is my preferred placement.
The Zero Mod is a great solution though. Tim is a great guy, and his product is top notch, I used to have one for my Ric.
So my technique must be really wack because the way I finger pick I can't use floating thumb. I dig in kinda hard and need a solid anchor like a pickup to pull against. A string simply has too much give for that. As a drummer I've learned the value in efficiency of motion so I wonder if on bass I'm doing more work than necessary, especially when moving to higher strings. Any pointers to changing my touch to allow myself to switch to floating thumb?
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A light touch helps lots. This is true for both hands. At least for me. This requires medium low action and a good set up.
For really digging in you can anchor above the string you are playing to give some leverage, but if you play with a light touch and some high gain, you can dig in with much less force.
So my other thing is I like a staccato sound which is part of why I dig in - each pluck has a muting element to it and generally the music is too fast to utilize the fretted hand for that. I'm all for a lighter touch but I wonder if it's possible to have that same effect that way? Open to ideas. Thanks for the input.
I don't have a bass near me to check, but I THINK I would use the fret hand and/or mute the string I'm playing with the non-plucking finger. I also mute the strings with my forearm sometimes. I palm mute when I pluck with my fingers, Pino style. I don't know how fast you play so none of this may be practical.
Floating thumb is great technique. Use your thumb for muting. I find I use the floating thumb techique with 5 strings more than with a 4 banger.
Whut?
Whut?
Whoa, cursed phone auto correct. That translates to
On pretty much every bass, I anchor my thumb on the E string, until I need to play something on the E, then I just let it float
So where have you been keeping your thumb?
...
Never mind, maybe I don't really want to know.
...
Never mind, maybe I don't really want to know.
Using the floating thumb takes practice, but after some time, you can most definitely get plenty of dig in without need for an anchor against which to brace. I can dig in as hard, and get as great staccato as I ever could with an anchored thumb. BUT, you have to stick with it. Most people give up too soon, as they don't believe that the strength in your fingers can be developed. It can!
But that means you're only muting the E when playing the other strings, no? I mean, you can mute the strings above the one you are currently plucking with your fretting hand, , but not the ones below it except for the E. So if you're plucking the G, the A and D will be open to sympathetic vibration.
