vesterberg.se

I like to experiment, try new approaches and improve things. I have written before about the floating thumb technique. Click on the tag “floating thumb” below to read more. After having used the floating thumb technique for a while now, let’s evaluate.

I had to gradually work my way up to speed on the fast songs. Since the angle of the fingers are different, muscle memory has to be retrained. That was no problem. I can actually play faster now, because I find the position of the fingers are more natural.

The most difficult thing with changing technique was playing on the lowest string (E-string on a 4-string bass or B-string on a 5-string bass). The “normal” fingerstyle technique is resting your thumb on the pickup or on the two lowest strings. When you pick with your finger, you land on the next lower string or on the thumb. That way playing on the lowest string “feels” like playing on the other strings. Your finger is stopped by a string or thumb. When you use the floating thumb technique and you play on the lowest string your fingers have to stop in the air by themselves. The feeling is different and I have found it difficult to play relaxed when playing fast.

The advantages the floating thumb technique are many. The angles of the fingers are more consistent whether you play on G-string or E-string, which helps muscle memory. I find it easier now to change from picking with my fingertips to picking with my finger pads in order to change the tone. It is easy to move the hand from playing close to the bridge to playing close to the neck seamlessly, because you are not dependent on having your thumb resting on the pickups. I find the angle of my wrist is more comfortable now. You can easily switch to slapping technique, because your hand is almost in the correct position already. When you play on G-string you are able to mute several of the lower strings (not only 2) with your thumb. I guess that floating thumb is the only way, when you play 6-string, though I have not tested that yet.

It is important to make sure the thumb is resting lightly on the strings. We do not want tension to build in the thumb. Just a light touch is enough to mute them.