You're making the process more complicated than it has to be... The physical nature of your arm swings your hand outward where your pinky swings out, away from the fingerboard as you move your hand down. So, your pinky is no longer in position to touch the fingerboard, thus, all the fingers move over one space (that's when the thumb takes the place of your index finger). It's as simple as that.
I'm really getting on with the thumb position on the G harmonic and that transition up/down to it on the G and playing more around the harmonic than straight back to first position. It's a really sound idea because it needs working on for muscle memory and getting the body position to feel natural. I'm exploring all the harmonics at the G position and where I've found the others trying to incorporate them into my playing. Being made to think of sliding into notes and percussive elements is very good Geoff,and that riff I can work with it's what I like about double bass..I like 'minor' key and I suppose I'm optimistic but introspective in fact I think Baroque-ish has definitely had some influence but I ramble on.... You know,I actually thought the thumb position was holding down a note with the thumb and have been practising doing just that so thank @ I saw this,(I thought how the hell do you keep that up?Bionic thumbs or what?!!) Geoff,anything you could do about 'percussive' bowing and the merits of using different tensions of the bow,and attack speed slow/fast and working with pressure ? All those things related in one topic maybe? Nice1 Geoff
Hey Eamonn, thanks it's great to hear it's all working. + I do have more plans to film lessons on bowing and think that's a great idea so I will see what I can do, cheers Geoff
It's interesting, I was thinking my Jazz studies would leave the pentitonics behind, well, not so as I listen in on your much appreciated lesson here !!
Hi! First of all, love the video! Liked and subscribed. Very interesting video. I have a question. I am trying to practise the thumb position but my fingers are not strpng enought to play.. can you please tell me a way to make hem stronger? Thank you very much!
Left hand technique in either thumb position or in regular playing position is never about strength, but about using arm/hand weight. So it's almost certainly a technique issue such as you standing with the bass too vertical, or your left elbow or fingers are collapsed. It may be that if you have VERY high strings that makes it harder than it needs to be in thumb position, so bear that in mind, but most likely it's technique. For more information please check out our free lessons on thumb position, discoverdoublebass.com/thumb-position-double-bass-lessons or our full-length course courses.discoverdoublebass.com/p/double-bass-thumb-position Best of luck with all your practice. Thumb position isn't harder than regular positions, it's just less familiar and the more experience and guidance you have the easier it gets.
It would be very helpful if we could see your entire body and views from the front and left side to better understand how the body is involved in the transition into and out of thumb position.
+John F. Hebert It's hard to say what's going on if you're getting pain then..perhaps you are not bending the hips but from the lower back? I can't say without seeing you, but it's good you spotted the problem as that's an issue.... Alternative would be that you could either look at playing more vertically, but then the challenge is how to add in arm weight... or adjust the posture so it's always leaning towards you more and avoids the need to bend...perhaps an angled end pin or sitting down...in fact if playing sat down to see if you get pain would be a good thing as if you don't then it's likely to be the way you bend, rather than the angle of your back to your hips.I think if you're getting pain the best thing you could do is to get some feedback from someone in person so they can see what might be causing it and advise on an alternative method, but let me know if you have any questions as I will help if I can. Cheers Geoff
This lesson and the one that follows were both very helpful to me, no one had ever explained to me the changes in the position of the instrument and how to move your body to accommodate them and you explained these things really clearly. Thank you. I do find when I lean forward to play in thumb position that my back is bending in a way that I’m sure is not healthy over the long term. Any suggestions on how to keep it straighter?
Do you press your thumb down? I'm a violist, middle school teacher and when I try to use my thumb, it is very painful! I'm at a title one (low income) school in Texas and most of my kids don't take private lessons. I at least want to introduce thumb position to my bassists.
You use your arm/hand weight, via your thumb to press the string. You don't need to apply pressure, just the natural weight of your arm/hand. This is why keeping the elbow up enough to keep the wrist straight is so important. It is uncomfortable at first, but it gets easier the more you do it. Great to hear you're getting your bassists working on those high notes and if you want to learn more about this topic, please check out our free lessons library as we have a specific section on 'Thumb position' discoverdoublebass.com/thumb-position-double-bass-lessons
hhohn My bass is actually made up of a few parts. The back/sides and scroll are a 100 year old German bass, but it has a modern front, about 10 years old. Its also got a new neck so the set up is really good. I use Evah Pirazzi strings which seem to suit it well. Cheers Geoff
the action on my bass is very high so it makes thumb position very difficult, trying to get a different bridge so I can lower the action but are there any other tips ?
I think you're right to get the bass set up, that could make a huge difference. Without knowing more about your playing I can't recommend anything specific but I would recommend checking out our free lessons as there's several on thumb position technique. discoverdoublebass.com/thumb-position-double-bass-lessons
I literally don't play double bass but I found this very informative.
Call the song " Sliding into....D " Fantastic tutorial thank you . Would be lost without them..
Thanks so much, I'm really glad you enjoyed it :-)
Thumb Position - Pt.1 'The Transition'. If you are working on getting those high notes, check out this view lesson!
This tutorial is priceless Sir. Left hand placement in that transition it's kind of difficult for me; Thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching :-)
You're making the process more complicated than it has to be...
The physical nature of your arm swings your hand outward where your pinky swings out, away from the fingerboard as you move your hand down. So, your pinky is no longer in position to touch the fingerboard, thus, all the fingers move over one space (that's when the thumb takes the place of your index finger). It's as simple as that.
Great lesson as always. Nice licks. I´m gonna practise...;)
+Jindra Schwarz Thanks Jindra, I hope you're doing well :-)
Very interessant and important lesson ! Thank you !
Great, that´s exactly what I was looking for, thanks a lot ;)
I'm really getting on with the thumb position on the G harmonic and that transition up/down to it on the G and playing more around the harmonic than straight back to first position. It's a really sound idea because it needs working on for muscle memory and getting the body position to feel natural.
I'm exploring all the harmonics at the G position and where I've found the others trying to incorporate them into my playing.
Being made to think of sliding into notes and percussive elements is very good Geoff,and that riff I can work with it's what I like about double bass..I like 'minor' key and I suppose I'm optimistic but introspective in fact I think Baroque-ish has definitely had some influence but I ramble on....
You know,I actually thought the thumb position was holding down a note with the thumb and have been practising doing just that so thank @ I saw this,(I thought how the hell do you keep that up?Bionic thumbs or what?!!)
Geoff,anything you could do about 'percussive' bowing and the merits of using different tensions of the bow,and attack speed slow/fast and working with pressure ? All those things related in one topic maybe?
Nice1 Geoff
Hey Eamonn, thanks it's great to hear it's all working. + I do have more plans to film lessons on bowing and think that's a great idea so I will see what I can do, cheers Geoff
It's interesting,
I was thinking my Jazz studies would leave the pentitonics behind, well, not so as I listen in on your much appreciated lesson here !!
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video :-)
Great, that´s exactly what I was looking for, thanks a lot ;)
Jindra Schwarz Glad it helped :-) Have a good weekend, cheers Geoff
Hi!
First of all, love the video! Liked and subscribed. Very interesting video. I have a question. I am trying to practise the thumb position but my fingers are not strpng enought to play.. can you please tell me a way to make hem stronger? Thank you very much!
Left hand technique in either thumb position or in regular playing position is never about strength, but about using arm/hand weight. So it's almost certainly a technique issue such as you standing with the bass too vertical, or your left elbow or fingers are collapsed. It may be that if you have VERY high strings that makes it harder than it needs to be in thumb position, so bear that in mind, but most likely it's technique.
For more information please check out our free lessons on thumb position, discoverdoublebass.com/thumb-position-double-bass-lessons or our full-length course courses.discoverdoublebass.com/p/double-bass-thumb-position
Best of luck with all your practice. Thumb position isn't harder than regular positions, it's just less familiar and the more experience and guidance you have the easier it gets.
Discover Double Bass alright! Thank you very much. I will watch the videos! Thank you!
Thanks a lot!!!
It would be very helpful if we could see your entire body and views from the front and left side to better understand how the body is involved in the transition into and out of thumb position.
You’re super cool!
Thank you!
When I move my hips back and lean in like around 8:45...it hurts my lower back hurts.
+John F. Hebert It's hard to say what's going on if you're getting pain then..perhaps you are not bending the hips but from the lower back? I can't say without seeing you, but it's good you spotted the problem as that's an issue.... Alternative would be that you could either look at playing more vertically, but then the challenge is how to add in arm weight... or adjust the posture so it's always leaning towards you more and avoids the need to bend...perhaps an angled end pin or sitting down...in fact if playing sat down to see if you get pain would be a good thing as if you don't then it's likely to be the way you bend, rather than the angle of your back to your hips.I think if you're getting pain the best thing you could do is to get some feedback from someone in person so they can see what might be causing it and advise on an alternative method, but let me know if you have any questions as I will help if I can. Cheers Geoff
John F. Hebert I have really bad probs with my back anyway so just go slowly don't force it,stop until you feel better
This lesson and the one that follows were both very helpful to me, no one had ever explained to me the changes in the position of the instrument and how to move your body to accommodate them and you explained these things really clearly. Thank you. I do find when I lean forward to play in thumb position that my back is bending in a way that I’m sure is not healthy over the long term. Any suggestions on how to keep it straighter?
Thanks John, I’m glad they helped. 🙏🏻
Do you press your thumb down? I'm a violist, middle school teacher and when I try to use my thumb, it is very painful! I'm at a title one (low income) school in Texas and most of my kids don't take private lessons. I at least want to introduce thumb position to my bassists.
You use your arm/hand weight, via your thumb to press the string. You don't need to apply pressure, just the natural weight of your arm/hand. This is why keeping the elbow up enough to keep the wrist straight is so important. It is uncomfortable at first, but it gets easier the more you do it. Great to hear you're getting your bassists working on those high notes and if you want to learn more about this topic, please check out our free lessons library as we have a specific section on 'Thumb position' discoverdoublebass.com/thumb-position-double-bass-lessons
3rd finger!!!
Very nice guitar and bass.
Dig it!
Glad you like it! Thanks for watching. :-)
👆👉👍👈
great lesson some useful stuff and thats a cool duo sound nice1
Thanks Eamonn! :-)
Hello Geoff, great lessons. Thank you very much. I enjoy the tone of your bass. What bass do you play? What is it's age?
hhohn My bass is actually made up of a few parts. The back/sides and scroll are a 100 year old German bass, but it has a modern front, about 10 years old. Its also got a new neck so the set up is really good. I use Evah Pirazzi strings which seem to suit it well. Cheers Geoff
It sounds amazing, which has everything to do with you playing it. I aspire to play with your ability someday. Have a good one, and thank you again.
hhohn Thanks so much :-)
the action on my bass is very high so it makes thumb position very difficult, trying to get a different bridge so I can lower the action but are there any other tips ?
I think you're right to get the bass set up, that could make a huge difference. Without knowing more about your playing I can't recommend anything specific but I would recommend checking out our free lessons as there's several on thumb position technique. discoverdoublebass.com/thumb-position-double-bass-lessons
Thank you for this
Great Lesson! Can't wait to get started on it.
Awesome, I hope you enjoy it :-)
Will you be doing any on moving across the strings? Now that I can get up there, I don't really know what to do. (outside of this nifty riff)
Lana Pettey Keep an eye out for my next lesson which takes the process further. It's out in the next couple of weeks, cheers Geoff :-)