Brian Wilson using the tugbar

[EssentialTension]

[Clarky]

I still find the whole tug bar concept strange as, if you hit the strings with the meat of your thumb that way, they are very loose and it makes anything other than 4-4 quite difficult. Its not as if it even replicates the way you play a double bass

[Cat Burrito]

I'm not sure where I've been hiding but I haven't heard that technique called the tugbar before. I have used it myself & occasionally it works really well. Great clip too btw

[ThomBassmonkey]

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='858462' date='Jun 5 2010, 09:13 PM']I'm not sure where I've been hiding but I haven't heard that technique called the tugbar before. I have used it myself & occasionally it works really well. Great clip too btw[/quote]

The tug bar isn't the technique, it's the "thumb rest" that's under the strings instead of above them.

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='858470' date='Jun 5 2010, 09:21 PM']The tug bar isn't the technique, it's the "thumb rest" that's under the strings instead of above them.[/quote]

D'oh! I did know that - must be having a slow day!!!

[EssentialTension]

... and here's another one ...

[Jerry_B]

I think it's actually a rather pleasing way to play. It also works well with fretless playing. Different parts of the thumb can be used to change the sound also.

[EssentialTension]

... and Leo shows how it's done ...

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='Clarky' post='858449' date='Jun 5 2010, 08:37 PM']I still find the whole tug bar concept strange as, if you hit the strings with the meat of your thumb that way, they are very loose and it makes anything other than 4-4 quite difficult. Its not as if it even replicates the way you play a double bass[/quote]

It's a lot easier to use a thumb rest down there than to anchor a finger or two under the front pickup, trust me...

I think it's more about getting that sound than it is replicating double bass technique.

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='858528' date='Jun 5 2010, 10:55 PM']... and Leo shows how it's done ...

[/quote]

Great photo

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='858431' date='Jun 5 2010, 07:55 PM'][/quote]

Forget the tug-bar ... I had no idea they made jeans that tight in the early 60's.

[discreet]

Last time I went to a tug bar I got totally ripped off. Never again.

[The inglourious bass turd]

[quote name='discreet' post='858600' date='Jun 6 2010, 01:15 AM']Last time I went to a tug bar I got totally ripped off. Never again.[/quote]

[mart]

My son (who's just learning bass) was asking what the tugbar was for on my Squier CV P-bass. I was struggling to answer but my wife suggested that maybe Fender thought people would play bass with their thumbs because finger-picking guitarists play bass notes with their thumbs. It seems as good an explanation as any!