How to Rest a Thumb on a Bass Guitar

Finding the right place to rest your thumb on your bass guitar can make a big difference in developing good technique. Proper thumb placement keeps your hand in the right position to pluck with abandon and sustain those low sweet notes that frame the music and help keep the rhythm pounding through the whole set.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Lay your forearm over the body near the back of your bass and let it rest across the top.

2. Drop your hand over the side of your bass and let your fingers hang limply at the level of the strings.

3. Find the pickup closest to the neck. This is the anchor point for your thumb. Even when you move your hand away from the basic position, this pickup will always be the home your thumb returns to.

4. Place your thumb on the top of the pickup. Get the feel of rolling your thumb on the pickup from the tip down to the pad and supporting the weight of your hand as your fingers move up and down along the strings. This support will keep your hand from wandering all over the place and your wrist from tiring so quickly, especially when you are first learning to play.

Tips & Warnings

• Some bass players have a hardware technician install a custom thumb rest above the front pickup. This may be a good choice if you have large hands or long fingers to keep your hand in the right position to reach all the strings comfortably.