The following right-hand techniques should be used as general starting points to find your own way of playing, which may depend on your physique and physical playing
position as well as your concept of sound. Although these techniques reflect the current standard, based on the evolution of acoustic bass playing, they certainly may not be the
end of the evolutionary process. Experiment!
The three main right-hand rest stroke techniques for non-classical acoustic bass playing are:
1) First finger only - generally for slow to medium up-tempo playing.
Rest the pad of the thumb on the edge of the fingerboard close to the end.
Point your thumb downward, toward the bridge.
Simultaneously strike and pull the G string towards you, parallel to the fingerboard, using the first two joints of the first finger. The finger should then rest on the D string.
Carry out the same motion on the D, A and E strings.
As you strike the lower strings you will notice more finger length being used, up to all three joints for the E string. This technique produces the "fattest" sound.
After striking the E string, the first finger temporarily strikes against and rests on the thumb; therefore the after-strike distance should be approximately the same as the distance between each string.
2) First and second fingers alternating - generally for medium-up to fast tempos.
Raise the right arm so it is almost parallel to the floor and almost forms a right angle to the fingerboard.
Hook the thumb under the fingerboard.
The wrist and the back of the hand form a straight line, while the hand cups around the strings with the first finger touching (resting on) all four strings down to its root on or near the E string.
Only the first joint of the first finger now rests on the G string.
Pull fingers 3 and 4 comfortably into the palm of the hand, out of the way.
Strike/pull the G and D string with alternating first and second fingers using their first joints only.
Continue with the same alternating technique on the other strings.
As you progress to the lower strings the thumb gradually moves out from under the fingerboard until it finally rests on the edge of the fingerboard when playing the E string.
Maintain sufficient angle to the fingerboard to enable use of the entire first joints (not the fingertips) of the first two fingers.
3) Bass guitar technique - generally for up-tempo to very fast playing.
Place the tip of the thumb on top of the fingerboard, vertically, with the thumb's pad resting on the E string.
Using alternating fingers one and two vertically, with fingers three and four tucked loosely into the palm of the hand, strike/pull each string.
When playing the E string the thumb temporarily rests on the edge of the fingerboard.
Pizzicato
Pizzicato means to pluck the strings. It works particularly well if the bass is set up with high action. This technique is used mainly for classical playing as well as for some jazz, folk, Latin and rockabilly styles.
Hook the tip of the first finger under a string and pluck/pull the string upwards, perpendicular to the fingerboard, then let go. If this action is light to medium it will
create very round sound. If the action is more aggressive, the string will snap back against the fingerboard. This slapping sound is often used in rockabilly, sometimes in jazz and occasionally in
classical music.
To get more volume and a more aggressive sound, use two or three right-hand fingers hooked under the string.
Thumb snap
This technique produces the most attack and volume and is therefore the most percussive.
The right arm is parallel to the strings and the first joint of the thumb is placed under the string, pulling the string upwards, then letting go to produce a strong snap-back effect.
Gut strings with high action are most suited to this technique.
