Just started Bass practice this week

LiveeviL2000 said:
Thats an anchor point for your fingers when you play with your thumb.
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Aaaahhhh... NOW I get it! Though that makes me seriously question the wisdom of Fender (yes, again... so sue me...) because I've yet to come across any mainstream (and not-so-mainstream) bass player that I would know fingerpicks with their thumb. And we're leaving thumb-slapping completely out of this discussion, yeh?
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
I get what you are saying. But for that I'd just rest it on the pickup. My issue (issue might be a strong word) is when I keep my anchor at the top of the pickup, it feels like I'm stretching all the way down from the B to the G. But when I rest my thumb on the B it feels good. My thing is when I move my anchor point off the B string when going from the E string to the B string, there is a delay, almost a disruption in my rhythm.

Going back to my original post (is that taboo to do?) Does anyone have any experience, tips or tricks to keep me from feeling that "pause" in my strumming?
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Maybe something like this would be comfortable enough
5-String Bass Thumbrest.jpg

Looks solid and with enough room to let you play all the strings without having thatpause when moving your anchor from the B string.
 
SIx String Chef said:
And on that note, here's a full derail: what's the dealio with the thumbrest/anchor being at the bottom instead of above the strings on a P-Bass?? Just stirring the :poo: , hehehe....
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That is called a Tug Bar.

And as for resting thumb on 4th string or pickup etc, The 2 places work just fine and can be a flux situation. On the pickup if plucking e and a string or on e string when playing d or g string. Or anywhere in between to mute strings you don't want to ring out as other notes on strings are played.
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
1) This HAS GOT TO BE a new derailment record, gonna be hard to beat, even for @eSGEe <-- he's gonna be so proud of me!:)
2) Starting a thread and derailing it yourself ... Maybe a TTR first?
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no Ive derailed my own thread IN THE OPENING POST...................... once in the title!

I am a FLOATING thumb kinda bass player (I use it to mute a lot-- because I "F" up alot!!! BUWAHAHAHA)
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
I inherited my son's 5 string and today will be day 3 of practice. I havent played bass since the late 80s. I found that my strumming fingers are weak and lack endurance and I know that will come with time. Also, this is the first time I am playing on a 5 string. When I played a 4 string I would rest my thumb on the pickup. Now with the extra string I am resting it on that massive B string. I feel like I shouldn't be doing that. When I walk up and down the strings I feel there is a pause when I go from the E string to the B string because I shift my anchoring position.

Anyone have some tips or tricks, or will it just come to me with practice?
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Congrats. I hope it goes goes well for you.

When my son was learning bass, he took lessons locally and it was a big help.
 
Your speed and endurance will come with practice -- then you wills switch back to six strings and go -- WTF?!?!?! these things are TINY I can bend this G right off the fret board!!!! lol

Bass (as you know if you played in the 80's) is more about timing ....like comedy -- or ..... (like knowing when to get the singers old lady drunk and take ........uhm .... wait... er NEVER MIND)
 
eSGEe said:
Your speed and endurance will come with practice -- then you wills switch back to six strings and go -- WTF?!?!?! these things are TINY I can bend this G right off the fret board!!!! lol

Bass (as you know if you played in the 80's) is more about timing ....like comedy -- or ..... (like knowing when to get the singers old lady drunk and take ........uhm .... wait... er NEVER MIND)
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This is going to be the second time you have brought up getting somebody’s old lady drunk.
Did something happen that you would like to share with the group. They say opening up is the first step to healing.
 
jtcnj said:
I started some weeks back.
I am moving my plucking hand thumb to rest on the string next to the one I am playing, and on the pickup for the E.
I see most tutorials dont do that.
Is that wrong?
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No, it actually the best way to do so. Reason: by doing so You use Your thumb to dampen the lower unplayed strings keeping the sound clean. Useful of course mostly with a two or three finger technique.

If You're playing with the thumb (like for example Sting does) of course other damping techniques are needed, e.g. palm muting.

Independent from that there is no "wrong" way for thumb placement as long as it works and the sound is right. Which is of course easier with techniques like the "moving thumb".
 
I play finger style -- 2...sometimes 3 -- (sometimes I even use the THUMB to thump or pluck and the pinky to mute!!) --depending on tempo and song and ---well stuff--- I can play with a pick -- but --- its sorta like masturbating with my left hand... I mean I can DO IT -- but --- it just feels weird !!!!!!!!!!!!

OH COME ON -- SOMONE HAD TO SAY IT-- you KNOW half of you THOUGHT IT -- BUWAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
 
eSGEe said:
I play finger style -- 2...sometimes 3 -- (sometimes I even use the THUMB to thump or pluck and the pinky to mute!!) --depending on tempo and song and ---well stuff--- I can play with a pick -- but --- its sorta like masturbating with my left hand... I mean I can DO IT -- but --- it just feels weird !!!!!!!!!!!!

OH COME ON -- SOMONE HAD TO SAY IT-- you KNOW half of you THOUGHT IT -- BUWAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
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Yeah, but do it right and it feels like it’s someone else.
… and don’t start thinking I have first hand experience, well … I guess that would be considered off hand experience.
 
eSGEe said:
play finger style -- 2...sometimes 3 -- (sometimes I even use the THUMB to thump or pluck and the pinky to mute!!) --depending on tempo and song and ---well stuff--- I can play with a pick -- but --- its sorta like masturbating with my left hand... I mean I can DO IT -- but --- it just feels weird !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well, as You said, it all depends on the music: normal bass playing in some electric band: 2 fingers, sometimes 3. Sting stuff, and other styles where i need to imitate a double bass: mostly thumb with palm muting, but quite often also imitating double bass pizzicato technique with the pointer, especially when i'm on the ABG in the Klezmer band (with 2 Zappa tunes in its repertoire), and sometimes with a pick.

And on the bass VI the pick is usually my preferred technique, mainly because i usually combine bass and guitar playing on it.
 
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