Floating Thumb Technique - A Deep Dive

[@FloRiLLAZ]

My Bassteacher told me, that i shouldn't even start with the thumb resting on the pick up because i should learn flexibility for changing position with my right hand. And i'm glad i followed his advise.

[@thumplife792]

When I was learning I was taught to anchor. For years I hated it. It always felt very awkward. Once I got older I saw the "floating anchor" technique and tried it. It was even worse. I always felt like I was hurdling the strings when I would change string sets. Then I happened to see a video of Steve Harris playing Run to the Hills live with Iron Maiden. I noticed his floating thumb and immediately grabbed my bass. Within only a few minutes I was comfortably playing with that technique like I had used it for years. I play 5 string basses a lot, as well as a 6 string sometimes and I've found the floating thumb to be extremely beneficial on those. That's what's awesome about music and instruments; we're all different.

[@raintown]

I just got a Sterling Stingray and my whole play style no longer worked for me, I was stumbling onto your style naturally but doubted myself. This video not only helped me but assured me I was on the right path.

[@Bikes-and-Basses]

I started out learning with anchored thumb, but when I moved to 5-string, my teacher suggested trying floating from pickup or ramp, to B-string, to E-string, to A-string. This maximizes right hand muting (more important for 5-string) but maintains some economy of motion by not floating all the way to the D-string (which doesn't really help with right-hand muting). This technique also allows for easier neck-bridge lateral movement of my right hand, which is an invaluable for altering tone.

[@UncleRiotous]

I'm a big Iron Maiden fan and therefore spend a lot of time trying to emulate Steve Harris. He drives the strings into the neck which makes for a big part of the sound. The floating thumb not only keeps your right hand the same shape but means you can consistently hit each string in the same direction. Great vid.

[@ibrahimozkan9303]

Low action?

[@marknieuweboer8099]

My right hand technique is largely the same as yours as explained from 11:10 on. My hands are narrow (one finger per fret without shifting is only possible for me at about an octave up on the fret board) but my arms and fingers are relatively long. So when sitting I rest my bass in my left leg. This allows me to keep both my wrists nearly straight (and even more so when standing). I did this from the beginning a year ago and mastered it in less than three weeks. This indeed solved half of the muting problem immediately. I noticed though that I use my right underarm as an anchor and I suspect that you do as well. Like you I adapted the floating thumb technique when switching strings several times in a row. But when playing a long row of notes on the highest string (in my case D, because I have BEAD) I still put my right thumb against the A. Btw as my thumb is straight I use the spot between the side and the tip. Finally now and then I let my right pinky rest on the string just above the one I'm playing for more stability - I still can pluck with three fingers when I do. Indeed I practised exactly the exercise you demonstrated but with a slight modification: 4 notes per string (plucking with two fingers, triplets (three finger plucking) and finally 2 notes per string. It's a good exercise to develop speed with the aid of a metronome. It took me about three months to reach 140 bpm (and 150+ on a good day). So I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially to beginners.

[@diamondblazer-i5e]

I have been doing this all along and didn't know what it was called! Im open to learning new bass technique and when this was reccomened to me I clicked on it, to my surprise this one I have been doing without knowledge of what it was!

[@tonyserzo]

I've always anchored my thumb on the pickup, but I just got a new bass and am finding it difficult because of the layout of the instrument. This lesson was super helpful, thank you Steve!

[@AJ-gv2hj]

Bro this is a fantastic deep dive I'm still early in my bass learnings but feels like one of those good habits you can cultivate early and it pays off a lot later, thanks for posting

[@kharybaker868]

Yup, using a 6 string introduced me to true floating thumb years ago. Greatly improved my playing and muting, plus you can throw in some harmonics with your thumb too.

[@MrPdudas]

Great Video. I never much liked the anchoring method. I would much rather work on this technique

[@williamhosford2796]

Great video. I`m a self-taught weekend wannabe bass player,but that is how I learned to play.

[@LiamWhittle-tm7yo]

My floatinf thumb is kind of in between. Its nore flat if im moving between strings a lot but likely anchored on the string above if im staying on one string more

[@fingersmcoy]

i moved to true floating thumb, and I love it.

[@joannalewis5279]

Muting and control of tone of why I use floating thumb. I anchor when playing the lowest string though as there's nothing to float on

[@talesofpurrfection]

Thank you for your explanation. I just started my lessons and my wrist hurts a lot. I hope I can convince my teacher to switch to the floating thumb technique.

[@SteveBurke]

Best of luck! Wrist pain shouldn’t be happening

[@Delboydunno]

I’ve been anchoring my thumb on the pickguard closer to the neck because I saw Sean Hurley doing it. I’m coming from guitar so I’m trying not develop bad habits on bass

[@KlintonSilvey]

The only time I anchor is for disco octaves if they are super fast. I've been doing floating for so long I pretty much can't anchor

[@sskoczzsskoczz4150]

Thank you! Im a beginner and I’ve tried to figure that out this evening. I’m so happy that I came up with the same conclusion as someone with so much experience and knowledge about bass playing. You’re video gives me confidence to stick to this technique and I hope It’s going to work for me as well! Take care bro!

[@CrossFitDelVal]

Great talk, as usual! I also use a hybrid approach, despite having big hands and playing 4-string basses almost exclusively. Side note: flats on a Stingray is what's UP.

[@jdmarino]

I have been playing for 6 years. When I first got started I was introduced the the floating anchor technique and it mostly works for me. I do find that sometimes when the tip of my thumb is on the D string (when I am plucking the G string), the side of my thumb loses contact with the E string and I have heard unwanted resonance. I think I need to become less dependent on the anchor feeling (I *do* like the constant hand shape aspect of it) so I can more truly let my thumb float and do its muting job.

[@SteveBurke]

Thanks for sharing John. Just curious, do you play any 5 or 6 string? I find that the true floating thumb happens a bit more naturally for me when I'm playing 5 or 6 string basses.

[@MrTatiblack]

The only advantage I see in stay anchored over the pick up is when jumping in octaves, Otherwise I would be anchoring always over the string I am playing , but anchoring actully makes my whirst bent tu much, and on the other hand, floating obligates my hand stay straight.

[@stephaneruellan691]

Make sense. I'll try it. thank you Steve!

[@glueball9511]

really excellent explanation here, and also immaculate tone/feel from this guy when he actually plays. watching his right hand is mesmerizing and reminds me i must go practice now

[@SteveBurke]

Thanks so much. Made my day.

[@jema1122]

Great explanation

[@henrypowers8326]

Been looking for a video like this for awhile thank you so much! I always thought that floating was wrong and I felt self conscious about me doing it. Thanks for the much needed confidence boost :)

[@mungo_mick]

Excellent lesson.

[@DaveParkersonofficial]

Thank you for this explanation.

[@BigBassRy]

Great lesson on this topic!

[@HeadRedShot]

i have a hyperflexible thumb so while anchoring is much much easier it hurts so much i still have pain in my thumb 2 days after

[@thahoustonbassrunnaz4389]

Great video! I’ll say it for you lol! Floating thumb is better 👍🏾

[@LeFingal]

before i watched, just by seeing a small picture and the title of the video, i will say this.. Anchor your finger on 4 strings, and float your finger on 5+ strings. :)

[@paulosousa6059]

Personally I prefer the five-point-palm exploding-heart-technique!

[@tedsimms8158]

Hi Steve: about a year ago my bass teacher presented the floating thumb technique as an alternative to the anchoring system I was using. With the anchoring system, I experienced string ringing and a hyper flexed wrist. I implemented the floating thumb technique and found it worked very well with my 5 string bass. However, about a month ago I experienced pain in my right shoulder. I stopped playing for a while and am now resuming slowly, and am seeing a physical therapist. With the floating thumb technique, my right shoulder is rotated inward and that probably led to the pain. But I have also discovered that the muscles in my right upper back and shoulder blade area are very weak and not functioning properly. This may be the true problem, not the inward shoulder rotation. Have you found over the years that the floating thumb technique had led to shoulder pain, and if so, what did you do? I am going to develop my upper back and shoulder muscles and get in good playing shape, but I am considering other ideas: - Would switching from a 5 string to 4 string bass, in your opinion, help? I am a hobby player. I like the 5 string, but I could enjoy my hobby perfectly well with a 4 string. Would love any words of wisdom you or your followers might have.

[@dornelli1]

beautiful music man, man

[@shriram5494]

How does this guy only have 1.77K subscribers?

[@SeanWinters]

When your thumb floats, the anchor is your middle forearm .

[@Hering.07]

Show

[@kwanjeeprentice6698]

Bruh I thought the floating thumb was the only technique, that’s how I started

[@Hering.07]

Bom professor

[@thaizzz]

I use floating thumb since I watched an old Adam Neely video on technique back when I was just starting and now anchoring feels so awkward. The thing is, that for some reason, when jumping octaves the floating technique stops being natural and back to weird. So I've been looking for solutions. Maybe is just a skill issue

[@dornelli1]

anchoring on a music man bass is rather hard, since the pick ups are thinner

[@wernermoser3406]

You need a thumb rest!

[@amostaylor9727]

You're talking too much for me? Don't mean to criticize but if you actually played more utilizing the technique? It would have been more useful for me?

[@SteveBurke]

You’re not wrong. Thanks for the input. It’s helpful.