Where to put my Thumb when playing Bass
So I just started playing Bass one month ago and my Bass teacher says to me that I should rest my thumb on the pickup. The problem with that is that my thumb kinda slips off the pickup when i play. I find it way more relaxing to rest my thumb on the low b string ( I have a 5 string bass). Is that ok too or should I rest my thumb on the pickup.
Thanks for you answers
bass-guitar electric-bass-guitar
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So I just started playing Bass one month ago and my Bass teacher says to me that I should rest my thumb on the pickup. The problem with that is that my thumb kinda slips off the pickup when i play. I find it way more relaxing to rest my thumb on the low b string ( I have a 5 string bass). Is that ok too or should I rest my thumb on the pickup.
Thanks for you answers
bass-guitar electric-bass-guitar
asked 2 hours ago
Flogie
182
New contributor
Flogie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
So I just started playing Bass one month ago and my Bass teacher says to me that I should rest my thumb on the pickup. The problem with that is that my thumb kinda slips off the pickup when i play. I find it way more relaxing to rest my thumb on the low b string ( I have a 5 string bass). Is that ok too or should I rest my thumb on the pickup.
Thanks for you answers
bass-guitar electric-bass-guitar
asked 2 hours ago
Flogie
182
New contributor
Flogie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
So I just started playing Bass one month ago and my Bass teacher says to me that I should rest my thumb on the pickup. The problem with that is that my thumb kinda slips off the pickup when i play. I find it way more relaxing to rest my thumb on the low b string ( I have a 5 string bass). Is that ok too or should I rest my thumb on the pickup.
Thanks for you answers
bass-guitar electric-bass-guitar
bass-guitar electric-bass-guitar
asked 2 hours ago
Flogie
182
New contributor
Flogie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Flogie
182
New contributor
Flogie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Flogie
182
New contributor
Flogie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Flogie
182
asked 2 hours ago
Flogie
182
182
New contributor
Flogie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Flogie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Flogie is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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The most conventional sounding answer would be to rest it on the thumb rest...
Seen in the picture above! As leftroundabout points out in the comment, not many basses actually have thumb rests, although a variety of styles are available as aftermarket products.
It's often good to rest your thumb on the string below the one you're playing, when playing fingerstyle, because it helps with muting - so if you're playing the A string, you might often rest your thumb on the E; if you're playing the E string on a 5, the B string may indeed make an excellent thumbrest. Of course if you then want to play the B, you might want to use the edge of the pickup if you don't have a thumb rest (playing over the pickup also sounds quite good too.)
Of course there are almost no hard and fast rules, apart from 'don't hurt yourself'!
answered 2 hours ago
topo morto
22.8k23798
1
Strange use of the word “conventional”, seeing as a big majority of bassists is playing basses without thumb rest.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
How unconventional.
– ggcg
2 hours ago
@leftaroundabout indeed - I put in the picture as they are relatively rare! edited for clarity.
– topo morto
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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The most conventional sounding answer would be to rest it on the thumb rest...
Seen in the picture above! As leftroundabout points out in the comment, not many basses actually have thumb rests, although a variety of styles are available as aftermarket products.
It's often good to rest your thumb on the string below the one you're playing, when playing fingerstyle, because it helps with muting - so if you're playing the A string, you might often rest your thumb on the E; if you're playing the E string on a 5, the B string may indeed make an excellent thumbrest. Of course if you then want to play the B, you might want to use the edge of the pickup if you don't have a thumb rest (playing over the pickup also sounds quite good too.)
Of course there are almost no hard and fast rules, apart from 'don't hurt yourself'!
answered 2 hours ago
topo morto
22.8k23798
1
Strange use of the word “conventional”, seeing as a big majority of bassists is playing basses without thumb rest.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
How unconventional.
– ggcg
2 hours ago
@leftaroundabout indeed - I put in the picture as they are relatively rare! edited for clarity.
– topo morto
2 hours ago
add a comment |
The most conventional sounding answer would be to rest it on the thumb rest...
Seen in the picture above! As leftroundabout points out in the comment, not many basses actually have thumb rests, although a variety of styles are available as aftermarket products.
It's often good to rest your thumb on the string below the one you're playing, when playing fingerstyle, because it helps with muting - so if you're playing the A string, you might often rest your thumb on the E; if you're playing the E string on a 5, the B string may indeed make an excellent thumbrest. Of course if you then want to play the B, you might want to use the edge of the pickup if you don't have a thumb rest (playing over the pickup also sounds quite good too.)
Of course there are almost no hard and fast rules, apart from 'don't hurt yourself'!
answered 2 hours ago
topo morto
22.8k23798
1
Strange use of the word “conventional”, seeing as a big majority of bassists is playing basses without thumb rest.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
How unconventional.
– ggcg
2 hours ago
@leftaroundabout indeed - I put in the picture as they are relatively rare! edited for clarity.
– topo morto
2 hours ago
add a comment |
The most conventional sounding answer would be to rest it on the thumb rest...
Seen in the picture above! As leftroundabout points out in the comment, not many basses actually have thumb rests, although a variety of styles are available as aftermarket products.
It's often good to rest your thumb on the string below the one you're playing, when playing fingerstyle, because it helps with muting - so if you're playing the A string, you might often rest your thumb on the E; if you're playing the E string on a 5, the B string may indeed make an excellent thumbrest. Of course if you then want to play the B, you might want to use the edge of the pickup if you don't have a thumb rest (playing over the pickup also sounds quite good too.)
Of course there are almost no hard and fast rules, apart from 'don't hurt yourself'!
answered 2 hours ago
topo morto
22.8k23798
The most conventional sounding answer would be to rest it on the thumb rest...
Seen in the picture above! As leftroundabout points out in the comment, not many basses actually have thumb rests, although a variety of styles are available as aftermarket products.
It's often good to rest your thumb on the string below the one you're playing, when playing fingerstyle, because it helps with muting - so if you're playing the A string, you might often rest your thumb on the E; if you're playing the E string on a 5, the B string may indeed make an excellent thumbrest. Of course if you then want to play the B, you might want to use the edge of the pickup if you don't have a thumb rest (playing over the pickup also sounds quite good too.)
Of course there are almost no hard and fast rules, apart from 'don't hurt yourself'!
answered 2 hours ago
topo morto
22.8k23798
edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago
topo morto
22.8k23798
answered 2 hours ago
topo morto
22.8k23798
answered 2 hours ago
topo morto
22.8k23798
22.8k23798
1
Strange use of the word “conventional”, seeing as a big majority of bassists is playing basses without thumb rest.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
How unconventional.
– ggcg
2 hours ago
@leftaroundabout indeed - I put in the picture as they are relatively rare! edited for clarity.
– topo morto
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Strange use of the word “conventional”, seeing as a big majority of bassists is playing basses without thumb rest.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
How unconventional.
– ggcg
2 hours ago
@leftaroundabout indeed - I put in the picture as they are relatively rare! edited for clarity.
– topo morto
2 hours ago
1
1
Strange use of the word “conventional”, seeing as a big majority of bassists is playing basses without thumb rest.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
Strange use of the word “conventional”, seeing as a big majority of bassists is playing basses without thumb rest.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
How unconventional.
– ggcg
2 hours ago
How unconventional.
– ggcg
2 hours ago
@leftaroundabout indeed - I put in the picture as they are relatively rare! edited for clarity.
– topo morto
2 hours ago
@leftaroundabout indeed - I put in the picture as they are relatively rare! edited for clarity.
– topo morto
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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