Right Hand Positions and Technique

To develop a strong clear tone with optimum definition with the right hand fingers, the "rest stroke" is used, similiar to the positions used by classical guitarists.

The top of the finger touches the string to be played. The finger presses towards and finally comes to rest on the next lower string, or against the thumb. The essence of this stroke is that the finger does not pluck outwards from the bass, but hits the string sideways, allowing the string to vibrate freely without bouncing off the frets, and comes to rest agianst the lower string.

At the end of the stroke, the finger should be curved at the second knuckle in the way it was at the beginning; allowing the finger to straighten takes power away from the stroke and can lead to a weak touch and sound.

Successive notes are not played with the same finger, but are produced by alternating fingers, usually the index and middle fingers. When playing up the strings from low to high, use alternate finger picking with the index and middle fingers. When decending, use alternate picking when playing on a single string, but when crossing adjacent strings always cross with the same finger that played the last note of the string prior to the cross. When crossing strings successively always cross with the same finger.

To ensure proper string damping, the thumb anchors in three positions.

1. When playing the lowest string anchor on the top of the pick-up (fig 1)
   
   
2. When playing on the A string, anchor on the E string (fig 2)
   
   
3. When playing the D move the anchor postion to the A String, and lean your thumb back to touch (and damp) the E string (fig 3)
   
   
4. When playing the G string, stay anchored on the A String, but let your stroke finish against the D string, while leaning your thumb back to touch (and damp) the E string
   

These positions allow for a clean tone with no extra string noise, and will allow a strong right hand attack without the worry of clanking and ringing overtones.

Go back to the main page for the next in our series of free bass guitar lessons.