The Floating Thumb Technique

[Crescent Seven]

I read about this in another thread, watched the YouTube that was posted about it, and decided to give it a try.

 

I like it. It makes playing with my ring finger on my right hand almost effortless, and it feels much more natural. I am not as fast with this technique yet, but I think I can build my speed up much faster than it is when I mount my thumb on the pickup.

 

It also gives me more flexibility to switch from slap style to fingerstyle.

 

So whoever posted that vid, thanks.

 

Here's what I'm talking aboot:

[YOUTUBE]PPVMBPmrblU[/YOUTUBE]

[basste]

i discovered it with Adam Nitti in his bass musician chronicles. I tried it and could'nt get back now. And speed took 3 weeks practice to come back at the same level.

[Bassius]

i do this too...i blame gary willis tho

[Crescent Seven]

What I'm discovering is that I'm having a hard time adjusting to it when I play familiar basslines, because I have all of my dynamics tied up in my right hand technique, especially on the bass lines that I wrote.

 

It will take some time, but I think it will be a good technique to stick with.

C7

[82Daion]

I watched that vid a long time ago and ended up adapting a somewhat half-assed version of it.

 

It's a lifesaver on the 6-string, for sure.

[Goofball Jones]

I switch between strings to quickly for this to have any use. I don't just play one string, then move my whole hand up to play one note, then move my whole hand back down to the string to play a few more, then move my entire hand/arm back up to play another. Too cumbersome and I mute strings just fine as I always anchor my thumb on the strings anyway...usually on the E.

 

Don't see how this can work for someone that plays fast switching between all 4 strings.

[King Kashue]

Don't see how this can work for someone that plays fast switching between all 4 strings.

 

Considering that Todd Johnson plays Jazz solos on a Zon 6-string, I would think it works just fine...

[Zebra]

My technique just naturally adopted the "floating thumb technique" as I learned. I never really thought about it and I didn't know there was a name for it until later on. Seems like the most natural way to play for me, I can't really imagine playing with my thumb stuck on the pickup.

[ToeJamFootball]

I just gave it a go shortly, I found it really difficult. I will try it more though as it seems interesting.

[NeonVomit]

I kind of do that, I don't keep my thumb anchored on the pickup but shift from string to string to keep them muted. A well-known London session player (originally from Philadelphia) gave me that tip, and it's probably the single one pointer that's made the biggest difference to my technique.

[ToeJamFootball]

I kind of do that, I don't keep my thumb anchored on the pickup but shift from string to string to keep them muted. A well-known London session player (originally from Philadelphia) gave me that tip, and it's probably the single one pointer that's made the biggest difference to my technique.

Yeah my thumbs moves up the strings.

[Goofball Jones]

I kind of do that, I don't keep my thumb anchored on the pickup but shift from string to string to keep them muted. A well-known London session player (originally from Philadelphia) gave me that tip, and it's probably the single one pointer that's made the biggest difference to my technique.

 

This is what I do mainly. I need my thumb anchored...just the way I developed and I do it without thinking. To change now would be like a baseball player that's played for 10 years all of a sudden switching to left-handed throwing and batting.

[jasper383]

 

My technique just naturally adopted the "floating thumb technique" as I learned. I never really thought about it and I didn't know there was a name for it until later on. Seems like the most natural way to play for me, I can't really imagine playing with my thumb stuck on the pickup.

 

 

+1

 

When I started playing, I began dropping the thumb down to the A string when playing the D or the G string, because the E string would ring out if I anchored the thumb on the pickup like I had seen in books and magazines. The right hand thumb seems, to me, to be the best way to mute the big strings.

 

How do you keep the E and A strings from ringing if you have the thumb on the pickup?

[J the D]

I've been using the floating thumb method for over thirty five years without knowing I was on the leading edge of bass technique.

 

Lucky me.

[collinwho]

 

My technique just naturally adopted the "floating thumb technique" as I learned. I never really thought about it and I didn't know there was a name for it until later on. Seems like the most natural way to play for me, I can't really imagine playing with my thumb stuck on the pickup.

 

 

I'm pretty much the same way. My floating thumb isn't exactly the same technique from the video (I think, I'm watching it without sound since I'm dialed in to a conference call right now), but I've always felt a lot more natural letting my thumb roam free.

[t3ch]

I've tried it a few times but just can't wrap my brain around it. I'm really not much of a finger style player anyways though, which is probably part of the problem.

[SA Rios]

On a 4 string I keep my thumb anchored on the pickup for the E and A strings and anchored on the E string when playing on the D and G strings. So its kind of a half ass version of the floating thumb.

[bluedogaudio]

Ha! I went to school with Todd. He's probably one of the best six string bassists I've ever seen. Anyway, I know where he got that technique...

 

[YOUTUBE]w_oBJlE5qNc[/YOUTUBE]

[T. Alan Smith]

 

I kind of do that, I don't keep my thumb anchored on the pickup but shift from string to string to keep them muted. A well-known London session player (originally from Philadelphia) gave me that tip, and it's probably the single one pointer that's made the biggest difference to my technique.

 

 

This is what I've fallen into as well...due to playing 6 string.

[Tolka]

Another bonus with the FT that has not been mentioned yet is the physical benefit. With this technique the wrist is straight, thus avoiding the possibility of developing carpel tunnel syndrome at a later time.

[Super_Donut_Man]

Balls... now I got to learn that too, especially for the carpal tunnel thinggy

[Tolka]

 

Balls... now I got to learn that too, especially for the carpal tunnel thinggy

 

 

LOL

 

It's more a matter of just getting used to the new technique than actually learning it. Well worth the effort IMO.

[Bryan316]

I disagree with Gary's assessment of rolling the wrist when anchoring the thumb. I don't roll my wrist when I reach to the G string, I flex my thumb back. When I'm on the E and low B string, My thumb closes into my palm and comes to my index finger. But my wrist stays straight the whole time. It's like keeping my palm closed to scoop sand, and then opening it up to fan out. My wrist just angles backwards at the elbow, but the thumb just stretches back.

[BottomHeavyKate]

Hey cool! I'm going to have to give that a try tonight....

[Bassius]

 

 

 

like i said....

 

 

btw lessons with him tomorrow

 

WOOT!