Double Thumb Bass Lesson - Online Bass Lessons

[@Gichanasa]

This is the best lesson to date I have seen on this technique. Coming from the classical guitar with decent tremolo proficiency, I still found this technique quite difficult to even approach, but with this lesson, I made notable progress in just a few days. Two breakthroughs for me were seeing the contact region on the thumbnail, which guided me on how deep the thumb should sink in after the first note, and then making sure to line up the index finger right behind the string after the upplucking of the thumb to follow through. Keep up the nice work!

[@LowEndUniversity]

WOW! Much appreciated! Keep at it! 😃

[@MichalRobertPiatek]

finally someone who could explain this in a way that I could understand

[@honkytonkinson9787]

Same here. I thought people were up picking with the top of their thumb, and I was wondering how they get the top of their thumb so tough, while getting a consistent sound. I basically figured out what he is doing on my own, except that I was only using one finger in addition to my thumb. I’ll have to work on integrating two more fingers

[@ivanbecerril4227]

This is the best explanation on how to thump that I've ever watched, kudos

[@CrevanEmbrust]

This is my thumb. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My thumb is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Fantastic explanation and set of exercises. This is going to keep me hurting for a good while. Thanks.

[@xisotopex]

this is my rifle this is my thumb one is for fighting one is for fun

[@xisotopex]

slappers creed

[@ncbasspraise]

You just did an excellent job breaking down this technique. The most defined one out there. THANK YOU!

[@ThePurestMayhem]

thank you so much mark. i could never understand it fully until i watched this video. this just made my day as well as improved my bass skills

[@Double_0_7_Strings]

Mark, thank you so much! Now I know exactly how to fix what I've been doing wrong. I play guitar, and all the guitar lessons on this technique don't help as much as this one has. Now I just need to see the next part on plucking!

[@MrKrampyHands]

Josh Mitchneck yeah this ones awesome wish I had seen this one when I started seeing way to late but at least I know I’m doing it right I learned to do this when learning classical thump. By VW

[@MrKrampyHands]

It took me a while to get good at this but now I’m a beast at it it took some blister making to do it and depending on what I’m doing I do it at the neck and bridge even palm muted so fun .at first was highly frustrating thank you victor wooten and Evan brewer for inspiring me to learn this

[@ether2434]

How much it took you to get it right bud?

[@madmaxx5612]

Me too

[@a.asiloc2084]

Merci, c'est de loin la meilleure explication que j'ai vu sur le sujet.

[@michaelroberts5801]

Awesome explanation! Been playing for a yr and just started to learn slap and pop. Thanks for sharing.

[@LowEndUniversity]

Michael Roberts thanks Michael!! Glad the video helped!!

[@ethanmiska6975]

Way to really break it down step by step. Thanks!

[@kellymorales6997]

I finally figured this out last night! The key for me was relaxing and not hitting the strings hard at all. The motion of the double thump pluck pluck doesn't feel like slap at all at first. Learned on a 5 string, the low B sounds awesome with this technique.

[@LowEndUniversity]

Exactly!!! That's play-by-play how it was for me: try NOT to make it feel like slap and more like light plucks. Once you learn the muscle memory and control, THEN start intensifying the technique to where it sounds more like a traditional thump tone. Great work!

[@benmathys3026]

Thank you for this video. I know everybody learns differently but this is the video that really made it click for me. I am not saying that i have mastered the technique, but it was this video that made me feel confident in my practice.

[@LowEndUniversity]

Awesome! Glad it could help you out!

[@schmaler68]

Thanks for the idea of doing the double thumb on the fingerboard or pickups. I've been trying for days and always get stuck with my huge thumb between the strings, I think now it runs better soon

[@RasherQuivers]

Finally a great starting point. I was just about to give up on this technique until I saw this video. Thank you.

[@markjones5490]

Hey brother I enjoy your teaching approach to this technique....that's exactly how I feel at attempting this style...I'm gonna follow thru. Till I master it ...cuz of this video... gracias 😎

[@granaff]

Great lesson. Subscribed

[@dantreview4698]

The distance from the rubber to the plate is 60 feet, 6 inches. ;-)

[@gorgardmw222]

Thank you so muchfor these videos mark. I really want to join low end university. Hopefully I'll pay membership this week. Really inspiring and most importantly helpful material.

[@carnevale94]

Great video! It's great to be able to know where to hit the string on the nail

[@maxponsetis1948]

big up from France thanks for the tips with a capital T bless

[@punkrockmom71]

I just finished watching this video, but part 2 is not in your queue. Is it gone? This sounds sick!

[@LowEndUniversity]

It’s on the channel! Just search for it or check the video description.

[@SynthesizersForPeace]

wow, awesome technique!

[@thinktank7883]

Thank you for this video, I'll have the technique down one of there days.

[@MichaelWilliams-lo3ix]

Brilliant

[@chickenman7801]

If you already slap well you'll pick this up quick. It's also real easy to blister your thumb because double thumb is more frictional than typical thumping. Callous that thumb!

[@mjmason75]

I've been playing bass for over 30 years. I've played professionally, recorded and toured nationally. I have lots of experience, and I'm pretty good overall, but CAN'T DO THIS. Haha!! I have my own techniques and I've tried to learn this a few times, but never stuck with it. I'm sure I could if I really wanted to work on it, but either way, my point is that it's definitely difficult for me, even at my level.

[@mjmason75]

@III Yeah, it’s difficult to change my technique after so many years. Even though I can play most things that imitate the double thump technique, I feel like learning it would still improve my playing overall. However it’s difficult to take a step back to learn it in order to reap the reward of taking a step forward from where I’m at current. Haha. Isn’t that how it goes in general for most things in life though. 😁

[@lordtak00]

Quick question, on other videos I have seen of this technique like the one Evan Brewer and Josh Fossgreen did (even Tosin Abasi but thats guitar) they say the motion should come from the wrist and not from the thumb or finger itself. Does that mean yours is a different technique? or just a alternate way of doing it? Thanks, these videos are truly educative :D

[@lordtak00]

Great tip! Basically learning how smaller components of a large mechanism operate in order to better understand it as a whole :o

[@raycyst-k9v]

Takumi Inamoto the comment got deleted. What was the reason reply?

[@fireemblemistrash75]

Something that helps is you don’t have to play on the neck (have your thumb land near the neck on downstrokes), do it in between the neck pickup and neck itself.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I’ve noticed that you are correct until I go to my g string. Then I almost have to hit the neck to get consistent dynamics. Maybe my bass is wrong; I’ve been fooling with my pickup height, but the problem might be that I have a cheap bass. I’m not ready to concede that it’s not my fault that I struggle with slapping and tapping lol. I also don’t need a reason to submit to my GAS and talk myself into buying a better bass

[@kodibassInsideoutboards]

Fantastic lesson ! thanks kodi

[@sjean4870]

Looking for part two of this lesson

[@LowEndUniversity]

S Jean it’s available at www.LowEndUniversity.com!

[@MrGig-uh9wv]

Hi Mark, I have a question. What kind of strings do you use for your 6 strings bass?

[@lred1383]

i feel like there's two different techniques labeled as double thumb - this, and the one that uses just the thumb and the motion comes from the elbow and wrist. This one seems a bit more versatile and less painful, although there's a lot more power in the other one

[@melaniecordova2287]

Finally someone who does the ''complete'' technique, with the double plucks. I can double thumb without problems, indeed, sometimes i learn some easy punk songs and i double thumb all, it's a good practice. My problem are the double plucks, i can do them slowly alternating with traditional slap, but when i try the double thumb with the double pluck i just can't. When i do the four strokes on a string i have some control but i lose the attack and it's sound like a messy, weak and quick fingerstyle. Any advice? Btw, great video!

[@melaniecordova2287]

+Mark Michell Glad to read that , sometimes i seriously think it's impossible hahaha. I thought that i developed in bad way the technique or something, but if at the beginning you went through the same then i suppose i'm not going so bad, i'll just keep practicing till' i'll get it! A thousand thanks Mark, really helped a lot! Sorry for the bad english btw

[@therandomsocietyrecordings4025]

Nice stuff mate.. -TRS-Records

[@RobertWadlow292]

Good lesson. Thanks. Can you tell me if you need a low action to achieve this? My strings are set up higher from the fretboard which makes slapping sound bad due to the string height so I'm wondering if I will be wasting my time trying to learn this double thumb technique without the proper bass setup

[@LowEndUniversity]

Not really, I've got mine mid-to-high on most of my basses. Just think of your thumb as a guitar pick - the action shouldn't really matter if you're doing it correctly. Keep at it!

[@RobertWadlow292]

@@LowEndUniversity Hard technique to get down

[@RobertWadlow292]

4 months later update: I'm getting a lot better at this technique. It's sounding a lot more smooth. It's still difficult and takes a while to get good with it, but it's getting there. I haven't even been practicing the technique consistently either and only recently started becoming more determined to improve it. I predict I can continue to make progress

[@zombieallen]

Was there ever a part 2 to this? Can't seem to find it.

[@LowEndUniversity]

It's at www.LowEndUniversity.com - hope you can check it out!

[@Joetime90]

How low is your action?

[@cartaarepublica573]

Muito bom mesmo.

[@인경석-j1o]

you are great

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

2019 The only similarity I have with this guy is that we have the same brand of bass guitar. : ( Bass is so hard.

[@LowEndUniversity]

The time you spent writing this comment could've been spent practicing ; ) --- kidding, but keep at it and don't worry about "being good". Have fun and always feel musically fulfilled. End of story!

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

@@LowEndUniversity Thank you! By the way, do post bass tabs ON SCREEN for FREE? That would really be helpful. Anyway thank you again! Keep sharing your talent.

[@bassismath9118]

Where is the part 2...i couldn't find it

[@LowEndUniversity]

bass is math It’s at www.LowEndUniversity.com

[@ryanmccoy3311]

no pain no gain!

[@jonathanbagotlo9333]

I cant find the part 2 of this video. Can you give me the link please. Thanks.

[@LowEndUniversity]

jonathan bagotlo it’s available on www.LowEndUniversity.com along with 300 other lessons. Sign up and check it out!

[@Luis-yr6fj]

where can i watch the second part? :(

[@xxXthekevXxx]

I think you have to subscribe to his Low End University. This is lesson 12, so I assume it's posted in L.E.U. as lesson 13 or something.

[@floridaboy6931]

Oddly enough I only use double thumb. No plucks. No pick. When I started playing It felt natural. Been trying to find other bass players who primarily use it. Not had any luck.

[@enjoybassmusic]

Look for evan brewer, he uses this technique as you do!

[@brycekelb102]

cough........ tosin abasi

[@francescoakajoker]

How do u get the upstroke to sound the same as the downstroke? When I upstroke, I touch the strings with my nail and it barely makes a sound

[@LowEndUniversity]

Think of your thumb as a guitar pick. You want to get upstrokes and downstrokes to sound and feel the same. I know the thumb is different, but this is the way you have to approach it. If you're thumping the E string, you go "through" the E string on the downstroke. However, I can't remember if I said it in this video, but you have to actually place your focus on the string BELOW it, in this case the A string. Think of the A string as a trampoline that your thumb bounces off of and goes back up through the E string. Just use your thumb joint and a little wrist turn to pop your thumb back up for the upstroke. You'll get it - just takes time!

[@francescoakajoker]

@@LowEndUniversity thanks! When u say thumb joint, u mean the one attached to your hand or the other joint in the middle?

[@marco271185]

Hi Mark! What kind of Streamer is that one? Is it a custom shop?

[@marco271185]

+Mark Michell Thank you brother. Your skills are amazing, thanks for sharing them.

[@IxSMELLxICECREAM]

Play double thumb over the fretboard, between the last fret. stops your thumb from going through the strings.

[@ScuffyTheDog]

Where's part two? I can't find it even searching the channel.

[@LowEndUniversity]

It's available on our website!

[@gregpruitt1647]

It seems that you have to have the volume kind of high in order to get that up stroke to ring through. Would that be true?

[@LowEndUniversity]

Not at all. It's all in the hands!

[@bassismath9118]

hey mark I want a fair ans.....it takes a lot of time to adjust to this playing in six string bass.......cog I wanted to c u gvn this lesson in ur six string...........

[@wasithebassrider2245]

me also facing same problem

[@papapowpow7735]

Well said

[@markmanbeck5210]

when is part two??

[@LowEndUniversity]

Mark Manbeck it’s available on www.LowEndUniversity.com - sign up and check it out with 300 other lessons!

[@PeteMel1875]

Hi, where is part two?

[@LowEndUniversity]

www.LowEndUniversity.com

[@PeteMel1875]

@@LowEndUniversityHi, I still can't see lesson two can you send the link to it? Thanks

[@hauntingthegrave]

How tf do you make the thumb make noise on the way up? It always ends up being a shit muted note

[@kevmac1230]

Will my thumb stop feeling sore after a while?

[@LowEndUniversity]

Kev Mac Absolutrly! Keep at it. No pain, no gain!

[@kevmac1230]

@@LowEndUniversity I sure will, thanks for the lessons.

[@mohammadkheirmand2258]

What about index and middle finger??

[@LowEndUniversity]

I cover this in another lesson over at www.LowEndUniversity.com - come check it out!

[@ManosRK]

Hello, I have a couple of questions about this double thumbing, I hope you can answer: 1) When I am on the upstroke my thumb wants to go underneath the string and pop it. Am I placing the thumb wrong ? It sounds like slap and pop. and 2) All is well (it's not if you check question 1 but let's say it is! :P) on the E, A and D string BUT what happens with the G string ? It doesn't have another string below to do a rest stroke so where does the thumb go on the downstroke ? Some say you just rest it on the bass itself. Thanks! :)

[@ManosRK]

That's awesome!!! Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me man!! :) Too bad I can't buy your books guys (you and the rest of Scale The Summit I mean) all over here in Greece.

[@bernardocoimbra2777]

hey, what was his answer? i'm facing the same issues!

[@Amanet13]

How come nobody is properly showing how you really position your fingers for plucking,coz i have this problem seeing the way you doing it.And i was looking all over the YT

[@LowEndUniversity]

I don't think I could've explained or demonstrated it any more clearly.

[@hv1461]

What bass do you have ?

[@LowEndUniversity]

this is a Warwick Streamer LX!

[@jasperfuentes615]

Where is part 2?

[@LowEndUniversity]

At www.LowEndUniversity.com!

[@bassismath9118]

bcog of string spacing......but I know it will come with time n practice in 6 string bass too

[@cgsaint]

7 years later im still can't do this double thumb thing 😥

[@LowEndUniversity]

I promise you can do it!

[@samuelkilik8233]

its hardddddd

[@ТатьянаКузнецова-т1т6м]

Imagine that you play C major gamma with this technique.You play one note with one stroke. You play C and D on one string with UP and after DOWN stroke (for example). And now you should hit E on the string below with the UP stroke. How you do this?

[@LowEndUniversity]

Пётр Кузнецов I wouldn’t normally play a scale with this technique like that. It can be done, but I’d rather just use fingers. I use this technique more for fretboard patterns that lend itself to the technique. I suppose if I tried it, I’d go down, up (next string), down up index (next string) down up index

[@ТатьянаКузнецова-т1т6м]

@@LowEndUniversity Ok) Thank you for your answer ✊

[@hugomartinez4742]

and the trick with the index finger?

[@LowEndUniversity]

No trick, just practice!

[@TheWilderMusic]

I started out playing classical and using your thumb like that is like Christians writing with their left hand (might as well slap it with a frickin bass) But Im getting better :D

[@bassboy9700]

Still no part 2

[@LowEndUniversity]

Nope, it's up. Check again!

[@deimos915]

Double thump

[@B0XMATTER]

I was not aware that a finger can blister after five minutes of playing. Jesus fucking Christ.

[@rhynocerous988]

The struggle I have with this technique is muting. It's frustrating as hell.

[@drimets]

Who comes from marcus miller Power lol

[@jeffreyyyy3052]

Pow its Pow...

[@KindredCliff]

Where's the pluck?

[@LowEndUniversity]

Part 2 on www.LowEndUniversity.com

[@Strikker1918BAR]

dang it, i wish my bass' neck wasn't broken

[@jeffreyyyy3052]

How did it break😅

[@kanedgytheguy8105]

missed the opportunity playing a thumb instead of a streamer

[@LowEndUniversity]

Not really, check my other videos. I have 3 Thumbs.

[@floridaboy6931]

Not double thumb slap. Double thumb pick

[@hugomartinez4742]

and the middle finger,what?!!!!

[@ahyes3193]

b a s s

[@ghostnotes5362]

🐮牛逼

[@kfizzle3920]

do you not realize your hand is blocking your fingers for 90% of the shots? like jesus christ dude have some self awareness

[@LowEndUniversity]

You don't need to see my fingers here, bud. This is about thumb motion. Nobody else seems to have this issue.

[@xisotopex]

"you get the idea" no. lol

[@garethde-witt6433]

It’s doesn’t sound good so why do it?

[@LowEndUniversity]

I just felt like it I guess

[@ARTCOURT1]

talk to much

[@LowEndUniversity]

sry

[@CliffHuxtableSweater]

This instant info media generation smh... I'm not about to watch this long vid. But was a few mins in and Victor Wooten name hadn't been mentioned. Terrible. These guys throw up "instructional" vids yet fail to cite the "original authors". Larry, Marcus, verdine, stanley... a lot of guys used the thumb down up but it was UNIQUELY Victor who created and popularized this technique incorporating the finger plucks to immediately follow the thumb down up. Even to this day nobody incorporates it the way he does. Vic was literally doing this crap 30 yrs ago w/ bela fleck. It's cool to explain in your own way the technique but you should always credit the creator when poss. In writing, they'd call it plagiarism to not credit the originator of a statement that you copy. You're better than this.

[@TreborTnemorf]

Literally mentions Vic 30 seconds into the video. Also in the description.

[@makinbass]

Open mouth insert foot why don't you. Vic is in the description and even mention's it is often referred to as victor wootens style. lmfao

[@TheConwenk]

Where is part 2?

[@LowEndUniversity]

www.LowEndUniversity.com