Todd Johnson Bass Guitar : Floating thumb technique

Here's a clip from my "Technique Builders" DVD explaining the "floating thumb technique".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• todd
• johnson
• six
• string
• bass
• technique
• lessons
• instruction
• floating
• thumb

[TheTuxedoTuxedo]

What I don't understand about this technique, is how to you mute the higher strings? If I'm playing the D string, what's muting G?

[toddjohnsonmusic]

@TheTuxedoTuxedo : The left hand winds up muting the higher strings....Thanks for your comment. I hope this helps.

[Steve128967]

What do you think of just resting your thumb on the strings behind it (such as Adam Nitti)?

[toddjohnsonmusic]

Totally cool as long as it mutes the strings under your thumb. Adam is a personal friend and a GREAT player!!

[tucker441]

what about movable anchor? Thats what I use and it works great

[toddjohnsonmusic]

Great!!!...movable anchor and Floating thumb are "basically" the same thing!!

[XanBcoo]

Hahah, this video is really helpful but every time I hear "perfectly designed muting system" it makes me think of those creationist videos with the banana.

BASS GUITAR: THE ATHEIST'S NIGHTMARE

[polyrhythmia]

What I like about floating thumb is that you have control over the time between each note. Also, it makes using the open strings much easier.

[flv2358]

I've been using this technique for a long time, and it seems way more natural than with the anchoring thumb. My question is: is it possible to develop the same speed as with the stationary thumb?

[somebassdude]

I think I have Carpal tunnel :s, will it be cureable?

[818KLOWNER]

what kind of bass is that? Looks really beautiful

[Fluffy2772]

Is it ok for me to start use four finger playing where I start with my ring finger followed by middle, then index and finally the thumb? This is opposite of what most people do, but it feels more natural to me to end with the thumb instead of starting with it.

[Laughingantelope37]

@XanBcoo I am an atheist/existentialist/nihilis­t and I love and play bass guitar.........

[drwinkle101]

@toddjohnsonmusic

But your thumb clearly isn't muting the string being plucked!

You need to arch the fingers so the ends are level with the thumb-end in order to do this. I'm working on it. It's awkward but do-able, and you can have harmonic overtones on everything you play!

[feedyoursoul01]

another great advantage of the floating thumb technique is that you can incorporate your thumb in your playing, like a classical guitar. and with the 3 other fingers, you can reach rly high tempo like 200 bpm and + in sixteens for example. It help me a lot cause i am in a death metal band, and doing sixteens with 3 fingers is very hard cause it come in group of 4 (but still doable). Now with 4 fingers, it help a lot.

[JaysunLeigh]

@eaterofcandy I'd assume you would anchor it like normal as holding your hand in the air would be a bit uncomfortable haha :]