I've been playing long enough that I don't much think about it, but I don't get any sympathetic vibration. I think I am probably muting with my left hand most of the time.
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Where to put my thumb on my StingRay?
- Thread starter ashtray
- Start date
I use the same technique regardless of how many strings I'm playing on, that way it's easy and consistent to move from one to the others. They always feel exactly the same to my right hand, only the number of strings under the hand changes; that is, only the distance of overall travel changes. But hand position, attack, etc. remains uniform for any bass I pick up. And this is true regardless of where on the bass, between the bridge and the neck, I am currently plucking. Also makes it easy for playing my Dingwalls, as the vertical position can be easily angled with the fan without disrupting the angle of attack my fingers see with respect to the strings. This is of course arguably the biggest advantage to the floating thumb, which is that the position of your fingers with respect to the string when plucking is the same for every string, regardless of where you are vertically (i.e. which string your playing) or horizontally (between bridge and neck).
It's hard (perhaps not impossible) to mute strings BELOW (in tone, not orientation) the one your playing on with the fretting hand unless you use the thumb of your fretting hand. BUT, it is way more complex. I mute open strings with my fretting hand above a string I've just moved to after plucking the open string. But that is tricky. Not sure how you do it moving in the other direction though.
I'm probably not explaining what I do very well. Basically, I am always muting with my left hand, probably occasionally palm mute the lower strings with my right, and when it comes to anchoring, I either throw the thumb on the E string, or just float.
I get what you're saying, but here's an example. If your fretting and playing notes on the D string of either a 4 or a 5, you can easily mute the G string with your fretting hand because your fingers drape over it to fret notes on the D. BUT, if you are only muting the E string with your plucking hand, the A will be unmuted and is no doubt sympathetically vibrating, even if the tone is not overwhelming the notes from the D. This gets worse if you play a 5, because you would presumably be muting the B, but not the E or A, and it could even be an E, A and G for a 6 string when playing the C string. In order to mute the E and A (and the G in case of a 6) with the fretting hand, you would probably have to use your thumb, which is awkward but could be done.
Palm muting does work, but is a different kind of attack and sound.
Of course, depending upon how fast the passages are that one is playing, unmuted strings will get played and released and for a live performance, may not be terribly distracting, but when recording, or playing on quiet gigs, that could be an issue.
Palm muting does work, but is a different kind of attack and sound.
Of course, depending upon how fast the passages are that one is playing, unmuted strings will get played and released and for a live performance, may not be terribly distracting, but when recording, or playing on quiet gigs, that could be an issue.
Playing a 4 string, you can anchor on the E, mute the G with the left hand, play the D string, then after you pluck the D, rest your plucking finger on the A string to mute it. I usually "2 finger walk", so one can always mute the other string if needed.
And I do float my thumb as I play, but when I get down (up?) to the low E string, my thumb needs a place to go. Again, for me the low E string is my "go to string" and my thumb needs a "home position". This is especially true between songs, or right before I start a song - with a natural home position by feel, I never have to look down at my right hand to see where exactly it is, and I won't miss my first note.
More advanced players may not require such a crutch.
And I do float my thumb as I play, but when I get down (up?) to the low E string, my thumb needs a place to go. Again, for me the low E string is my "go to string" and my thumb needs a "home position". This is especially true between songs, or right before I start a song - with a natural home position by feel, I never have to look down at my right hand to see where exactly it is, and I won't miss my first note.
More advanced players may not require such a crutch.
I rest on here.
Yup - just ordered mine yesterday. Thanks.
I'm pretty sure the wife "hooked me up" with a SBMM.Ray 24 for Christmas. I played a Sub Ray 4 in GC a few weeks ago and enjoyed the playability and tone. However, the pickup seemed too far back toward the bridge and made my plucking hand feel some strain (I have a hand/wrist issue with my plucking hand). I'm thinking that part of the awkward feeling was due to playing the Ray while in a sitting position. I never practice while sitting . So, I'm thinking that once I am using a strap and standing, that awkward feeling will be minimized.
Also, I am pretty good at acclimating to different situations, so I think this shouldn't be too much of an issue. I don't use floating thumb but I do use a "hybrid" floating anchor approach by resting my thumb on the E and A strings while plucking. When it's time to play the E string, perhaps I csn get used to floating my thumb or just resting the side of my thumb against the pickguard.
Also, I am pretty good at acclimating to different situations, so I think this shouldn't be too much of an issue. I don't use floating thumb but I do use a "hybrid" floating anchor approach by resting my thumb on the E and A strings while plucking. When it's time to play the E string, perhaps I csn get used to floating my thumb or just resting the side of my thumb against the pickguard.
I had this added to my '96 Sterling. It's a plexi 1/4" bar held with small screws. It allows me to play anywhere between the pickup and the neck and the character of the bass changes broadly based on position.
Your tonal options really open up.
Your tonal options really open up.
I picked up a stingray 4H about 15 years ago and didn't play it much for at least 10 of those years. I then became curious about it again and wanted to give it another go. I knew the problem was adjusting to the pickup being so close to the bridge, as I was changing from a bass with 2 pickup, so that I could anchor in more normal positions. I had been anchoring all my life, for about 10/15/20 years or so, in the exact same spot on my other bass. When I moved to the stingray, I wanted to learn the floating thumb technique so that I wouldn't be confined to the exact same spot all the time. While anchoring does help with consistency on the lowest string, it does destroy versatility. You become bound to the bass guitar where you anchor or similar bass guitars with the same pickup positions. Getting used to the floating thumb on a stingray 4 took about a year for me and now, I far prefer it, as I can pickup ANY bass and just play it. I can also get all different tones by playing closer to the bridge or closer to the neck with the right hand without having to find an anchor point. I find muting is a bit better because I can mute with my thumb and I can also get a better tone off the higher strings, because I can plant my thumb on the A string or even the D string if I want. Overall, the floating thumb has proven far more useful overall for me than the anchoring techniques I have used in the past. Plus, I didn't have to modify anything on my stingray. I refuse to modify a bass that was beautifully designed in the first place.
Put your thumb on the pick guard when playing the E string and on the E string when you play the others. Also learn to bring your thumb into the mix like a five string banjo player; banjo players don't need no thumb rests neither do you. Becoming dependent on thumb rests only restricts your advancement as a player.
Watch Geddys hand. Watch Entwistles hand. Etc etc. they have all their fingers in the game. Don't limit yourself by becoming tied to an anchor.
Watch Geddys hand. Watch Entwistles hand. Etc etc. they have all their fingers in the game. Don't limit yourself by becoming tied to an anchor.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
interestingly enough, I have had issues with my thumb jiving with the pickup on my L2000, but my Stingray hasn't really been an issue
Oof - gut punch. I sold this bass to a friend in 2019 and have been trying to buy it back ever since!
I ended up buying the thumb rest that screws on using the factory pickguard screw locations - so no new holes. It was black and blended in nicely too. Worked great.
I can use a floating thumb technique - but I find it more comfortable to anchor off the top of the "middle" pickup, when equipped. And it really helps as a no-look reset point for my hand. Grab something with my right hand - a piece of paper, volume knob, cable, drink, etc - then return to that same spot, locking in that position.
(I play guitar too, including classical and fingerpicking, so I'm very comfortable floating as well, but on bass I'm even more accurate when I anchor my thumb.)
+1 on the zero mod! I have one on each of my EBMM Stingrays and one on my SBMM shorty. They give you a nice range of thumb positions for different tones. A bit pricey but quality stuff and the dude that makes them is a pleasure to deal with.
