![]() ![]() Some only thumb downstroke, which allows them to get a fatter sound (more meat on the string). See also: How hard should I pluck bass strings? Thumb playing technique on the bassĮxperienced bass players who play with their thumb utilize different techniques. In general, using only the thumb as your plucking technique on the bass can be limiting as it restricts the range of options you have for attacking the strings. Thumb-only technique works fine for certain music styles but intense patterns like funk grooves with syncopated 16th and octave notes will be much harder to pull off. While the thumb produces a fatter and meatier tone, 2-finger plucking will usually give you more control and expression and make it easier to play fast staccato. Playing with the thumb + one finger is also a faster option, but the first + middle finger technique lets you pluck from the same angle leading to a more consistent bass tone and volume. The thumb will need to develop calluses, until that point the tip of your thumb is likely to be raw. Using your thumb only can also lead to your getting a crippling blister sooner than when using 2 fingers, hindering your practice. SEE ALSO: Studybass Review: In-Depth Lessons For Bass Musicianship Using more than two fingers can even lead to higher play speeds. Using two fingers generally allows you to play faster than playing with a single finger such as the thumb, which can limit your speed – although some bassists are know to for playing very fast with a single finger. Cons of playing bass guitar with the thumb When really high speed is required, they can easily switch to fingerstyle in specific parts of a song. ![]() Thumb-only bass picking, however, sounds less aggressive and rough than regular fingerstyle, producing a softer and rounder tone.īass players who primarily play with a pick, when dropping the pick feel more comfortable using a combination of thumb, index, and middle finger vs the standard 2-finger approach.Īlthough plucking with the thumb is generally not as fast as two-finger plucking, some bassist get close to matching the speed. This helps produce the best tone, namely for latin and regage – a full, even, vintage-sounding tone resulting from the soft meat of the thumb.Ĭombining the thumb with the first finger is great for palm-muted songs and for double stops (multiple strings played together). on a Precision bass fitted with flatwounds and a sponge under the strings near the bridge for thuddier tones. Thumb playing on the down stroke can produce an old school, Motown-type sound, e.g. Thumb-style plucking is well-suited for slower songs as it encourages you to slow down and play fewer notes than you would with 2 fingers. the top of a pickup.įor regular bass players, switching between 2 fingers, thumb, and pick playing can reduce the stress on the right-hand and allow it to rest. 2-finger techniques require more practice, although they’re facilitated somewhat on bass guitars that offer a good thumb rest e.g. This is typically in combination with palm dampening as in root reggae music.īass learners sometimes find plucking with the thumb easier and more natural when getting started on the bass. ![]() Many bassists mix in thumb and other fingers for plucking – thumb for the low strings, fingers for the higher ones – to add different dynamics to a song. Early bass guitars actually had a finger rest (aka “tug bar” or “thumb tug”) below the strings on the pick guard for anchoring the fingers while plucking with the thumb. Thumb plucking was historically the original technique on the electric bass in the 50s and 60s. The thumb is also used as part of slapping and fingerstyle techniques, which add wealth to the range of sounds that can be achieved on a bass guitar. Using the thumb is the best way to get the fattest tone from your bass for certain music styles. The warm and thick tone results from using the fat and wide plucking surface of the thumb, in a mostly downward motion. Using your thumb for plucking the bass produces a different sound compared to 2-finger plucking – a fat, big, boomy, upright bass-like tone particularly well-suited for Folk, Country, Latin, and Reggae bass sounds. If you’re learning the bass, you may be wondering whether thumb-style technique is acceptable or if it’s a bad habit to avoid. Thumb plucking, however, has always been used as well. The standard right-hand technique for playing bass guitar nowadays is plucking the strings using the first and second fingers alternately.
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