You get up into thumb position and something changes. Your hand starts holding the bass up, then your arm, then your neck and shoulder. Before long you’re crouched over the instrument, and the bass is leaning on your shoulder instead of your leg.
Quick answer
Set up your body first. Keep the bass on your left knee, then lean back like the first half of a squat so you can hold it without your hands. Keep your elbow up and the bass off your shoulder. Start on the E string, then learn the two shapes, 0-1-3 and 0-1-2.
So before we get into scales, exercises or even notes in thumb position on upright bass, we’re going to deal with the most important thing: how your body is positioned on the bass. Then your left hand, then the E string, then the two shapes that get you around up there.
Trick 1: Lean back like the first half of a squat
Start the way you would when you’re playing normally. The bass is square in the middle of your body and supported by your left knee. (If you’re left-handed, it’s the right leg.) Then take your hands off. Five times is my rule. If you can do it five times, your hands are free and you’re not bearing any tension in your hands or arms. Now you’re ready to play the bass in general, and then you’re ready for thumb position.
For thumb position, lean back a little, but not straight back. Lean back like the first half of a squat. Your butt is going to stick out. You’re still supported by the left knee, and you still want the bass balanced so your arms don’t bear any of the weight. There’s a little more pressure on that leg, just like when you’re doing a squat. You don’t have to extend any further than that.
Try it. If you can do it without using your hands, you’re ready to play in thumb position. If you can’t, it’s still possible to play up there. It’s just going to be physically harder, and you’re going to expend a lot more energy.
What you don’t want is what a lot of people do: crouch over the bass. That puts tension in your lower back and your shoulders, and you don’t want that. If you’re feeling strain in your back, bend your knees and get lower instead. You’ll feel your back and shoulders a little, because they’re engaged, but you don’t want to be tense and you don’t want to be sore.
Trick 2: Keep your elbow up and the bass off your shoulder
Once you can hold the bass up without your arms, apply your left hand, and keep your elbow up. When I play in thumb position, I don’t let my elbow come down, because that limits my range of motion.
It’s very tempting to let the hand take over once you’re up there. Then your hand, your arm, your neck and your shoulder are all bearing way too much weight, because the left leg isn’t supporting you anymore. Take the hand away and the bass is wobbly, and it’s resting on your shoulder.
We want it to stay connected to the leg, not resting on the shoulder.
Cole Davis
If you take away the shoulder, it should still work. My shoulder is there because I’m in thumb position, not to keep the instrument from falling. It’s all on the leg.
Then make your first sound up there. Start with the harmonic E in thumb position, then play the first two notes, E and F sharp, and get as good a sound as you can. Do that for a couple of minutes.
Trick 3: Ground yourself on the E string
Just like in half position, those low notes are the foundation. The reason I’m able to play melodies and bebop phrases in thumb position is that I’m grounded in the low notes. If I only had the top two strings, I’d run out of room. I’d run out of ideas. So you want to be grounded on the E string.
Once you’ve got the first two notes, add the G and try to get as good a sound as you can. Then add the third finger. Once the E string is solid, everything else will come from that.
Some people might say you’re not supposed to play the E string in thumb position. Well, why is it on the instrument then? We’re not supposed to be playing instruments in general. So to the people who say the instrument shouldn’t be played up there, I think that’s ridiculous.
What are the two shapes of thumb position?
There are two fundamental shapes of thumb position that will be very helpful to understand: 0-1-3 and 0-1-2, with 0 as your thumb. You can manipulate these shapes and use them to get from one end of thumb position to the other without ever shifting.
Try them on the D string first, because that’s more familiar, so it’s a better framework for understanding the shapes. Then take the 0-1-3 shape through its various configurations, on the A string too. Those aren’t the only configurations, either. There are plenty of different ways you can explore these two shapes. In my video course Understanding Thumb Position, I show you how to move those two shapes across all four strings.
You might say, well, that’s just three notes. What am I going to do with that? Here’s the thing. In half position, you have a four-note shape, which is a lot harder because there’s one more note. In thumb position you just have a three-note shape. If you can master it, you’ll be all over thumb position in no time.
Of course, at first it doesn’t sound like actual music, because you’re not there yet. You’re getting the physical side of thumb position down, because it’s very physical. Once you have the shape, you can manipulate it.
Try this today
- Get in position. Bass in the middle of your body on your left knee. Take your hands off five times.
- Lean back. First half of a squat, butt back, right knee bent, still on the left knee. Check that you can hold it without your hands.
- Elbow up, shoulder just there. Your shoulder isn’t carrying any of the weight.
- Start on the E string. Harmonic E, then E and F sharp for a couple of minutes, chasing the best sound you can get. Add the G, then the third finger.
- Learn the two shapes. Play 0-1-3 and 0-1-2 on the D string, then explore their configurations on the other strings.
If you feel strain in your back at any point, bend your knees and get lower. And if your right hand is the next thing holding you back, try my right hand speed drills.
Tonight, put the bass on your left knee, lean back, and play the harmonic E, then E and F sharp, with the best sound you can get.
Go deeper
Understanding Thumb Position
An intro and 14 video lessons: the no-tension setup, both shapes, the pivot finger and all 12 major scales in thumb position.
FAQ
How should I stand to play thumb position on upright bass?
Lean back a little, like the first half of a squat, so your butt sticks out. The bass stays supported by your left knee and stays balanced, so your arms don’t bear any of the weight. There’s a little more pressure on that leg. If you can hold the bass there without your hands, you’re ready.
Should my upright bass rest on my shoulder in thumb position?
No. It should stay connected to your leg. If your hand, arm, neck and shoulder are bearing the weight, it’s because the left leg isn’t supporting you anymore. Take away the shoulder and it should still work. Your shoulder is there because you’re in thumb position, not to keep the bass from falling.
Can you play thumb position on the E string?
Yes. I’m grounded in the low notes, and that’s what lets me play melodies and bebop phrases up there. With only the top two strings, I’d run out of room and run out of ideas. Some people say you’re not supposed to play the E string in thumb position. Well, why is it on the instrument then?
What are the fingering shapes for thumb position on upright bass?
There are two fundamental shapes, 0-1-3 and 0-1-2. You can manipulate them to get from one end of thumb position to the other without ever shifting. Each is a three-note shape, which is easier than the four-note shape you manage in half position. Try them on the D string first, because it’s more familiar.
What if I feel strain in my back in thumb position?
Don’t crouch over the bass. A lot of people do, and that puts tension in your lower back and shoulders. If you feel strain, bend your knees and get lower. You’ll feel your back and shoulders a little, because they’re engaged, but you don’t want to be tense and you don’t want to be sore.
