https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:31:49 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225507 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:54:43 +0000
Then I saw where you're supposed to hold it angled down so the front edge hits the string first. Took a while but I mastered it. BUT now I wish I'd kept the orginal technique since it was so natural. Been playing too many years this way so despite thinking about going back, I probably never will.]]> Bass Players Discussion DemoEtc https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225507 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225493 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:32:13 +0000
FT also seems very intuitive, because with the floating hand position, switching to different styles is very simple. Want to play slap? Just extend your thumb. Want to play fingerstyle? You don't have to take your thumb off of a string or pickup, or anything. Your hand is in the natural position common to most styles of play, even rasgueado.

It's frustrating, though. You've got to keep your elbow up (like he says in the video) and I often find myself dropping the arm out of laziness. I'm trying to overcome that, but it's a hard habit to break. I'm also having problems moving from the shoulder, instead of pulling my hand from the fingers when I move up a string. It's kind of a difficult technique to master, i suppose. But, upside, i have less ringing strings. With more practice, I'll have no extra resonance at all. I'm having problems switching strings, I guess that will also come with practice.

Hah...doesn't it suck when you have to relearn everything you know? I was doing so well, too... :P]]> Bass Players Discussion lunchmeat https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225493 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225379 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:58:10 +0000
I've also just read that there's 'floating thumb' and 'moveable anchor.' Some people seem to think they're the same, others think they're distinct; floating thumb being where the thumb doesn't touch anything until you want to mute a string, the other where the thumb anchors on different strings as you move up and down across the strings. The moveable anchor seems to be what I probably do - I don't think much of it while I'm playing - but you're right about the consensus; seems that it's more important for basses with more than 4-5 strings.

I'm not really into basses with more than 5 strings, but I can imagine playing an 11-string or something; I sure wouldn't be able to anchor on the pickup cover for very long.

EDIT: Oh, as far as my avatar, I only rarely play with a flatpick, but when I do, the thumb floats in a different way ;)]]> Bass Players Discussion DemoEtc https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225379 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225376 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:45:35 +0000
That said, I don't keep my thumb in one place like a thumbrest. I use it to mute the E string when I'm playing other strings, and I anchor it on the pickup when I play the E. But I don't really think about it - it just goes where it wants.]]> Bass Players Discussion slejhamer https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225376 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225374 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:33:42 +0000
Other places describe the floating thumb as anchoring on the lowest string and then moving back and off it when it's time to use it. Sometimes I do anchor on the low string and move off to play, but I don't use the technique that Todd uses where the whole hand is gliding up and down. It's sorta neat looking; I might try it. It's supposed to be especially good for ERB's like with 6+ strings. I mean for those, you almost have to do it because you can't really span that distance - from pickup edge to highest string - without really doing a good span or awkward wrist angle.]]> Bass Players Discussion DemoEtc https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225374 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225370 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:03:20 +0000
I have just been shown the greatness that is the floating thumb. Does anyone use this technique, and if so, any tips?

Thanks.]]> Bass Players Discussion lunchmeat https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/paged/2/#post-225370 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/#post-223164 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 06:01:23 +0000 One last question (sorry, guys!) - I just realized this, as I was playing today. When I try to mute the strings with my fret hand, it should work...but it doesn't. And I've realized why. I always get annoying harmonics wherever I try to mute, espcially near the nut. Most ANNOYING sound ever...how do I alleviate this? (Aside from turning down the gain/volume, or getting flatwounds :P ) Sorry, didn't see this last one.

For this - and I know what you mean, it's those natural string harmonics between the nut and the 5th fret or so - it would be a combination of muting with the fretting hand and playing rest-strokes with the picking hand. Also, turning the fretting hand slightly so the fingers are pointing more or less toward the headstock sometimes helps. It puts the fingers at a really weird angle to the strings and gives different points with which to mute. Sometimes you have to actually rehearse segments of the song where there's a problem and rehearse the muting - especially for important / troublesome notes.

Sometimes you can also minimize the ringing by picking a little further away from the bridge for those particular passages.]]> Bass Players Discussion DemoEtc https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/#post-223164 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/#post-221769 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 03:22:28 +0000
I alternate fingers and I'm getting a bit faster as well...I have learned to love the alternate/sweep method. Good stuff. I find it very difficult to use my ring finger on bass other than to mute the occasional string; I have to tilt my hand to engage the finger if I try to use it, and it's a lot weaker than the other fingers. In classical style it's fine, but trying to alternate with it is a chore. Triplets are really going to kick my ass.

I can't play that ocatve exercise quickly at all...there's no economy of motion when I don't alternate strings like that. I guess I'll just have to get used to it.

One last question (sorry, guys!) - I just realized this, as I was playing today. When I try to mute the strings with my fret hand, it should work...but it doesn't. And I've realized why. I always get annoying harmonics wherever I try to mute, espcially near the nut. Most ANNOYING sound ever...how do I alleviate this? (Aside from turning down the gain/volume, or getting flatwounds :P )]]> Bass Players Discussion lunchmeat https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/#post-221769 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/#post-221578 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:51:08 +0000
Lunchmeat, glad the finger problem's cleared up.....it looks as if it was just that your finger needed strengthening.....

:D :D :D

Vic]]> Bass Players Discussion Vic Lewis VL https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/#post-221578 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/#post-221564 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:32:20 +0000
I'm generally very good at fret-hand muting, but not for individual strings - while I've been trying to practice muting with my index finger on my left hand, it's difficult when I have to use it for something else, like fretting a note. Also, if I've got to span a number of frets, it makes it harder. I'd ilke to be able to access four frets in any position, at any time. I used to do left-hand eercises but I haven't in a while.

As for the octave, I suppose I'll try some different techniques. Habit makes me try to use my thumb, since I'm used to playing guitar with my fingers, but more often than not this ends up sounding very sloppy (not to mention the tone of the note changes, since I'm using the thumb). I suppose it may be necessary in some cases, though. I'll try the one-finger-per-string technique...but does that work well at high speeds?]]> Bass Players Discussion lunchmeat https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/bass-technique/#post-221564