Right Hand Technique for 4-string, 5-String and 6-String Bass
Right-hand or “picking/plucking hand” technique is huge for us bass players!
This video breaks down two of the most important elements of my right hand approach, and gives you a look into the endless technical and dynamic possibilities if you employ these ideas in your playing.
Get Bass Books Here: https://janekgwizdala.com/store
Join My Newsletter for more free stuff: https://janekgwizdala.substack.com/
#Hand #Technique #4string #5String #6String #Bass
Originally posted by UCd6Y__-1Yjb-89Euc0KAJCA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9z3K77dS2o
Hi Janek, someone might say that there could be a loss of speed when you move your thumb. Are you able to use this setup even when playing standing up? Thanks for everything
Thanks so much. I was pleased to find I was already doing this. But, the devil is in the details and there is always further refinement in order. Very clear articulation of your articulation ????
Having the bass on the left knee with the neck raised makes it harder for me to reach for the low notes.
Janek, could you make a video on how you balance the bass on your left leg? Do you use a foot stool to raise the left leg? I also studied classical guitar, but because a bass has a much thinner body it's harder to balance it than a classical guitar because there is no support of the belly. Especially if you don't want to a a strap. Would appreciate it if you could elaborate on that. Thanks, Barend
Idk if im a natural or what but i have my ring finger and pinky of plucking hand automatically muting different strings
And i just realized it when i try it just now
Janek, I can’t seem to figure out the palm muting thing. I have experimented with palm pressure, and placement, and no matter what I do, I barely get any sound out of the bass when playing. I don’t understand how to palm mute and still get such a full sound. If I try that, the bass is entirely muted. What am I doing wrong? ????
What kind of left foot stand do you use?
a few things i noticed:
you're one of these guys with a freakishly flexible thumb. look how much it is able to bend. mine looks straight no matter how hard i try to curve it. this means that i don't have as good of an anchor point. i still do anchor, but when i play the G string on a 5-string, my thumb is kind of more the floating variety with a light anchor point.
also, it was weird getting used to holding my thumb against the B string when switching from 4-string to 5-string. On a 4-string you can just anchor on the E and A strings and be good. On a 5-string you have to hold the top part of your thumb against the B string, which feels weird at first. This also forced me to pull my arm off of the top of the bass a lot of the time. To get used to this you have to build up your shoulder strength/stamina. I stretch my shoulder, especially if it starts barking at me when I'm playing and it helps a lot with not needing to rest it on the top of the bass. True floating thumb guys don't really rest on the bass at all from what I've seen and they don't really anchor. They just slide the entire thumb along the strings up and down.
I have my bass strap adjusted so that my bass stays at the same place on my body no matter if I'm sitting or standing. That gives me one less thing to worry about.
I struggle with this technique. I think because my thumb does not bend back at all. So I can never get comfortable placing it on the strings. I usually just keep my finger on the bottom string. Been trying to stretch myself by learning new techniques but this one is difficult.
Do you have thoughts for people with weird thumbs like me?
This was about the right hand, but just changing the bass to the left foot on an elevated surface removed my pain from my fretting hand. Thanks, it’s great to learn the right way as a noob. Will rewatch this several times.
I noticed that when you are talking about your thumb resting on the string below what you’re playing, when you are going through the chromatic thing at the beginning, your thumb actually floats when playing the E string instead of landing on the pickup. Is that something just subconscious that you do? I have tried to use the floating thumb more as kind of a dragging mute as I go up the strings instead of just the string below, just curious if that’s something you do as well
Hey Janek, nice video, any chances on getting a left hand technique video?
I’ve heard the technique called ‘floating anchor’ or ‘moveable anchor’
Thanks Janek. I've change my right hand technique because you. The results are unbelievable good!
Greatings from Poland.
Great advice and great demonstration of your proposed techniques. I'm a 73 year old male and learning the bass. The most difficult challenge is being able to produce a perfectly clean note. Your video has now made me re-think my playing posture and plucking technique. Thank you!
Such a great video. I know you dont typically play with a pick but how can we mute effectively when using a pick? I find I end up trying to do some weird palm mute thing
I used to play my 6 strings with my thumb floating over the strings. It's been a long time since I had a bass teacher, and I recently decided to take a few lessons to help me with a technique I was trying to learn. The teacher immediately noticed that I was not anchoring my thumb and resting my forearm on the body of the bass. I would never have thought about working on this if I had not met this teacher. It really helped me getting better with some things I struggled with.
I also noticed that it was easier to achor the thumb on my bass with a wider strings spacing. My main bass has a very narrow spacing (14mm), so I came back to my old bass (16,5mm) for the moment, until I really get this technique sorted out.
Please do a follow-up video explaining that with your RH technique is supinated and uses the right (outside) part of the fingers, and is basically opposite that of upright bass where your hand is pronated to use the left (inside) part of the fingers. Does that make sense?
…and what about the first 5-6 frets? You didn't touched them with the left leg position 🙂
The floating thumb is a really good technique ????????
I alway find the dinosaur hand very painfull to look at, so as flat as possible for me.
Hi Janek, I've been playing a four-string bass for a long time and never felt the need to move my thumb down to the D string while playing the G string, as my thumb made enough contact to mute the E string. Additionally, I had developed a method of muting the D string with my little finger. Recently, I bought a 5-string bass and have been frustrated for a couple of months because the low B would occasionally ring while I was playing the higher strings. I assumed it was due to my hands being too small to make full contact with the E string, so I purchased a fret wrap to try and fix it. This video has fixed everything! Changing the angle of my thumb and wrist has allowed me to fully mute my 5-string with ease. Thanks for your generosity and great free content, and keep up the good work!
More technic video please janek
❤
Classic bass playing position works best for people primary using the "CASH REGISTERS" like Justin Raines, but it is a bit hard to play solo on high note registers
I play five string primarily. I use my pinky to mute up and down and set my thumb on b or pickup . But i will give this a try for sure.. truly enjoy the content.. thank you Janek..
Janek, why do we see your beautiful F-bass so rarely… ????
Thanks for the great video, haven't been playing for long but have been using more of a "hanging wrist" technique. Going to work towards a technique more akin to your suggestion as I am noticing so discomfort in my hand and wrist when I play. It's probably a sign to adjust before it becomes something serious.
What are your thoughts on fret wraps for muting ?
Back in music college I did suffer from strin in my right and left hand. However I found your videos and changed my right hand technique. It took a good month or so to get used to, but boy was it worth it.
Excellent!!!! This is exactly what I need to GRADUALLY incorporate into my practice routine!!! Thank you sooooo much for posting this video!!!
Man that six string is sexy
I got my first multi scale bass and oh boy I did not think about my muting technique needing an overhaul for it ????
I have been super curious about your over-left-knee technique because I have right forearm pain. I have tried it with a couple basses but I find that the basses want to tip away from or toward my torso. one way or the other. How do you keep the bass vertically stable? Is it uncomfortable for your left hand to play by the nut for an extended period of time?
Very grateful that you are addressing this topic because I have a hard time playing pain-free.
I went from a 4 string to a 6 and had to change my rh technique to the floating thumb in front of the index and middle plucking fingers to effectively mute the low b and the e string. It was a bit awkward at first but it's a technique that I've found myself using on the 4 string without thinking about it now too. Its a better way to improve speed when crossing strings for sure.
I've had a go using your rh style, Janek, with the thumb and plucking fingers kind of pinching togethe over the stings. You make the muting and articulation sound and look effortless. I struggle with not having hitchhiker thumb-ish and watching your rh you do make some use of that, so it doesn't translate so well for me. Having said that, I did use examples of your playing on other videos as a reference to changing from a 4 to a 6 string bass. As you say, I looked at how you play and took from it what felt right to me.
I do think being able to palm mute with the rh and pluck with fingers and thumb is something I ought to learn how to be more comfortable with as it lends itself better to more dynamic playing. Ha! You make it look easy ????
Great video on this, showing the varied ways of string muting, even the methods you don't use your self ????
What about mostly pick players?
In fact as a righty like you I’m both knees: for anything jazz I use the left knee with a foot stool too, but for soul funk with slap, it’s more convenient for me to switch to the regular right knee posture. Anyways, it’s ALWAYS flat wrist with floating thumb most of the time, I ended up with a cramp in my right arm in a 2 sets/3 hours blues gig, yep… only blues. So I worked hard for 6 months or so to get the flat wrist floating thumb technique spot on and natural. Worth the effort, everything got better, my stamina, my technique, my sound, my precision when having to speed up my solo on bop gigs.
Anchored or floating thumb, I use both, anchored for octaves (disco funk blues), I think that mixing muting techniques while keeping a flat wrist at the same time is valuable.
This video (and the other last week "Sight reading for Bass") couldn't be coming out at a better time as I'm rekindling with the instrument after a long hiatus. Clear, concise, well produced video presenting your picking hand approach, all clearly explained with the associated rationale and benefits. Can't ask for more… I will certainly give those a slow and patient try out!
How do you handle muting on descending runs, fretting hand taking care of business? For fast octave lines between two non-adjacent strings (à la funk or disco), what would be your approach with your thumb anchoring? Thanks for putting out such great content!
Great lesson and technique focus. Does your bass sit at the same place with and without a strap? When you have the strap on and sit, does your bass rest on your knee? Seems like I've seen videos of you sitting using a strap, maybe that's when you don't have a foot rest? Thanks.
Double Reverse P. Incredibly underrated setup. ❤
Just tried the elevated left knee with my 6 string and doing some hymn runs for tomorrow and right away both my wrists were looser and it gives me an easier reach across all strings. Not using it for tomorrow because my muscle memory was all thrown off, but something I will be incorporated into daily practice. Thanks for this!
Even though your right wrist is straight, your lower frets end up being quite far and your left wrist seem to bend quite a lot when playing on the lower registry of the instrument.
Спасибо Яник, было очень интересно!