ZeroDown Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Hey guys, just looking for some advice. I've been playing around 9 years but have never bothered using my fingers on my right hand (I've always played in punk bands). I'm just starting to try it out now, as I'm fed up with being lost when I drop my pick! I've been looking around for advice on technique and found this video [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4S_TiEBEI8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4S_TiEBEI8[/url] this guy is saying I shouldn't anchor my thumb, however loads of other stuff I've read says you should. What do you guys do? Thanks Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major-Minor Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Hi Sam - I have spent most of my 40 year bass career using the anchored thumb method (either on the back pickup or the E string) but have recently changed to the floating thumb method. This is so much better for muting the strings you are not playing on (I currently play mostly on my 5 string which is why I changed to this method). I would highly recommend this style. The Major Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 It's probably only me, but being ex-Navy and such probably helps. To 'anchor or not to anchor' shortly after a thread asking 'to port or not to port' kinda tickled me no end. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=57799&hl="]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=57799&hl=[/url] Think of the morale, port every time Seriously though, I'd say anchor and float down the strings, a good technique to learn early on methinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 While floating the thumb takes a bit more work at first, it allows the hand to stay much more relaxed IME so that gets my vote. As the Major observed, it's also good if you want to move on to more strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 (edited) Anchor on the back pick up with thumb here.. [5 string] Pluck with two fingers, And dampen with my pinkie finger.[right hand] [which also makes it easier to palm mute for me- just drop the wrist] Have done for about 35 years. Garry Edited August 18, 2009 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I would say you shouldn't [b]anchor[/b] your thumb but feel free to rest it on either pickup or the lower strings. Anchor implies too fixed a position and too much potential tension/stress in the plucking hand. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroDown Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 some useful advice there - thanks guys methinks I'll try both ways and see what works best for me Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 [quote name='ZeroDown' post='572760' date='Aug 18 2009, 12:00 PM']methinks I'll try both ways and see what works best for me Sam[/quote] Always the best route. Everybody has different hand sizes,touch etc... Do you like playing hard or soft... Do you attack the note, or stroke it... String spacing.... It all comes into play. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I have used the E string as a resting place for my thumb for 25 years but changed to a floating thumb when I got my first 5 string and have not looked back, for me it's more comfortable and string bampening is better. I would say try both methods and see which one suits you best. R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kets Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I too have spent my 18 years of playing bass using the anchor technique of resting on a pickup or on an adjacent string, probably because it was easiest and because it's what I saw everyone else do! As others have pointed out though, this doesn't translate well onto a 5 string though as I found out when I bought one. Had real problems with the b string sounding out. Bugger... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I'm a floater too, switched from anchor about 12 months ago, as mentioned above, it's really helpful with muting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kets Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 [quote name='steve' post='577243' date='Aug 22 2009, 12:13 AM']I'm a floater too, switched from anchor about 12 months ago, as mentioned above, it's really helpful with muting[/quote] Tried "floating" after reading this topic last night, and it's made a big difference to my five string playing already. I'm not getting the B string sounding out like before. Cheers Guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 IME rooting your thumb somewhere is still fine for playing fivers (although I have a slightly odd right-hand technique so maybe that's why it works for me but not others) but definitely once you get to six strings you need to move your hand when playing the treble strings. It's too much of a stretch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich44 Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 When i first started, the self-teachign books I bought all said to use the "travelling thumb" technique, which i did for the first three months. But I was having real problems with accuracy and noise when crossing strings, I switched to anchored and I can now pluck alot more fluidly. Don't think I'll go back to non-anchored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Personally (I seem to play mostly 5 string these days). I don't anchor my thumb on a pickup at all - I anchor on the B, E or A string depending what string I'm playing. For playing the B I just back of a little with my thumb. Is this what they call the floating thumb technique? You just need to get the trick of jumping strings without plucking with your thumb - other than that easy and instant muting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Floating thumb normally has less anchorage, so when you play the A string your thumb floats over the E string, it doesn't rest on it to the same extent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 been using a mix of anchored and moving (not floating) so my thumb sometimes moves onto the E, then A but not further really, but its mainly anchored. did try the floating technique but it made my arm ache way too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 You can do either with a 4 string bass, but I found that "floating" was bettter for 5 string basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 When we say 'floating' do we really mean floating? I still stand by my belief in the benefits of resting (not anchoring!) AND shifting. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 That's what I meant, also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest johnzgerman Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 [quote name='ZeroDown' post='571049' date='Aug 16 2009, 09:06 PM']Hey guys, just looking for some advice. I've been playing around 9 years but have never bothered using my fingers on my right hand (I've always played in punk bands). I'm just starting to try it out now, as I'm fed up with being lost when I drop my pick! I've been looking around for advice on technique and found this video [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4S_TiEBEI8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4S_TiEBEI8[/url] this guy is saying I shouldn't anchor my thumb, however loads of other stuff I've read says you should. What do you guys do? Thanks Sam[/quote] i find a bit of both works for me depending on the situation, floating definately works for a 5 string though, at the end of the day its what your comfortable with that matters so long as it sounds good who cares? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nottswarwick Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I use and teach floating. For all the reasons above. The one exception would be "disco octaves" - I find these easier to do if I anchor on the pickup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest johnzgerman Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 [quote name='nottswarwick' post='588094' date='Sep 2 2009, 10:21 PM']I use and teach floating. For all the reasons above. The one exception would be "disco octaves" - I find these easier to do if I anchor on the pickup.[/quote] yes indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golchen Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 [quote name='alexclaber' post='572701' date='Aug 18 2009, 10:47 AM'].... feel free to rest it on either pickup or the lower strings. Alex[/quote] That's pretty much what I do. You get a different sound and feel anchoring over the two pups, and I like that variation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirky Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 An aside - what was the logic of Fender and other manufacturers putting thumb rests [i]beneath[/i] the strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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