waynepunkdude Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Am I the only one that plays with my thumb on slow songs? It gives a really smooth deep sound that is different to playing with fingers, I have been doing it for years but I never hear of anyone else doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 [quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1313551' date='Jul 23 2011, 09:26 AM']Am I the only one that plays with my thumb on slow songs? It gives a really smooth deep sound that is different to playing with fingers, I have been doing it for years but I never hear of anyone else doing it.[/quote] I'll do it occasionally... and also palm mute after a strike with the thumb nail. Gets close to that 60's Hollywood film music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 (edited) I only use my thumb if I'm going to pluck two strings simultaneously - one with my thumb and the other with my index finger. On slow songs where I want a deep mellow sound I play over the neck with my fingers. Edited July 23, 2011 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I do it on a couple of songs my band play, usually combined with some palm muting. Occasionally I'll play harmonics with my fingers and a thumbed bass note underneath too, but I don't use that much outside the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 It's a technique/sound that I think suits some numbers very well, so yes I play that way ocassionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I use my penis on slow songs. Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I use my thumb as part of my standard technique. And I never played guitar before falling into this technique either so it's not a guitarist thing... Thumb, first finger, and usually both of the other two at the same time. If I play it with just thumb then I know what you mean, seems a little warmier than fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 +1 to the thumbers. I do it too though don't really know how it crept in. But yes, lovely warm sound for some slower numbers. Also used it for a couple of funk tracks muting with the palm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I use my thumb a lot now to palm mute, on ballads though I tend to move up closer to the neck and play with fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Yep i do! And Billy Sheehan dn Steve Harris both do too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I used to do it on a couple of old-school sounding rocksteady numbers, so I could mute with my palm, but in the end I just stuck foam under the strings instead. It does sound nice though especially with flatwounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Truckstop' post='1313609' date='Jul 23 2011, 10:36 AM']I use my penis on slow songs. Truckstop[/quote] Didn't realise you played mandolin, Truckstop Re: thumbing, Sting uses it all the time. Gives a nice, warm rounded sound. I've no idea how some guys manage it on guitar (eg, Jim Mullen) - thats tough when playing fast! Edited July 23, 2011 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Dude who plays for the Hamsters uses his thumb all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1313714' date='Jul 23 2011, 12:24 PM']I used to do it on a couple of old-school sounding rocksteady numbers, so I could mute with my palm, but in the end I just stuck foam under the strings instead. It does sound nice though especially with flatwounds.[/quote]This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 [quote name='Norm' post='1314131' date='Jul 23 2011, 07:33 PM']Dude who plays for the Hamsters uses his thumb all the time.[/quote] He uses a modified thumb pick, which sort of looks like he is just using his thumb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I only pluck with my thumb when I'm trying to do the Matt Garrison thing, or using it in a Jonas Hellborg/Mark King chord style move. I never use it on it's own for slow songs. If I was going for that deep, boomy sound I'd play with my fingers over the neck pickup - not that I ever do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I have to play with my thumb as an early onset of RA means my hand swells up after 30 minutes of playing with my fingers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Id do it, but more often than not the lower attack at gigs it causes a low end mess and muddy sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Yep me too. Like others I'm not sure when or how it crept in. It just seemed to appear. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 [quote name='Paul S' post='1314157' date='Jul 23 2011, 07:53 PM']He uses a modified thumb pick, which sort of looks like he is just using his thumb.[/quote] What like a finger pickers one for lap steel type of thingy? Wasn't close enough to see that & beer was involved! Cheers, Norm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Quote from the Hamsters website [quote]Zsa Zsa uses a modified Jim Dunlop thumb pick. The modification consists of a circular thumbpiece which is attached to the base of the trimmed pick. This then slips onto Zsa Zsa's thumb somewhat like a ring. This enables him to use the pick without actually having to grip it. The reason for this modification is that Zsa Zsa suffers from a nerve disease called Focal Dystonia, which, put simply, affects the ability of his hands to receive the control signals from his brain. After much hard work and determination he has over the last few years re-learned to play bass and guitar and is now pretty much up to 75% of his previous ability.[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Hats off to the bloke, that must have taken a lot of dedication and practise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 [quote name='Truckstop' post='1313609' date='Jul 23 2011, 10:36 AM']I use my penis on slow songs. Truckstop[/quote] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=houU6FjEnaI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=houU6FjEnaI[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lobematt Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 I don't ever use it but if it's good enough for Sir Paul! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Sting also plays like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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