Thumb position
Encyclopedia
In music performance and education
, thumb position, not a traditional position
, is a stringed instrument playing technique
used to facilitate playing in the upper register
of the double bass
, cello
, and related instruments, such as the electric upright bass
. To play passages in this register, the player shifts
his or her hand out from behind the neck
and curves the hand, using the side of the thumb to press down the string
; in effect, the side of the thumb becomes a movable nut (capo
).
In this same position, notes below the "G" can also be played. By barring
the thumb across the "G" and "D" strings, the "G" and "D" notes can be played in quick succession. Alternatively, notes on the "D" string can be performed in quick alternation with notes on the "G" string. While traditional methods rarely discuss playing on the "A" or "E" string in thumb position, French pedagogue Francois Rabbath
(and his disciples such as Paul Ellison
) advocate the performance of notes on the "A" and "E" strings. While introductory manuals start teaching thumb position by stopping the "G" string on the high "G", any of the notes on the upper part of the fingerboard can be stopped and held by the thumb.
One issue with the use of thumb position is that it is harder to produce vibrato
with the thumb than with the fingers, because fingers have much fleshier pads than the side of the thumb. While the difference between the vibrato sound produced by the fingers and the thumb may not be noticeable in a passage of moving notes, if there is a held note which is stopped by the thumb, which is vibrated, the difference may be noticeable. As such, some players use finger substitution
to replace the thumb with one of the fingers.
ists such as Brian Bromberg
and Steve Bailey
have applied the thumb position technique to their instruments, due to the fact that they share a common tuning. In the jazz world, many bassists from the 1970s onward play both instruments, sometimes with equal proficiency (e.g. Stanley Clarke
). The advantage of using thumb position on the bass guitar is that the left hand can cover two octaves or more without shifting position, which facilitates complex passages.
The cello thumb position is introduced on the second or half-string harmonic, due to: the ease with which this note may be found, the succession of notes from seventh to thumb position are, "in a natural sequence and range," and the stretch required to reach seventh position
without removing the thumb from the neck. Bylsma
attributes many composers of the 19th century being pianists (in contrast to Boccherini
, for example, who routinely used a and D and also used G) as one cause of the use of thumb position on only the a string.
In thumb position, the, "'standard' finger pattern," between the thumb, first and second fingers, is whole, whole, and half tone. Thus if the thumb is placed on A, the index and middle fingers are placed on B and C.
As with the double bass, one issue with the use of thumb position is that it is harder to produce vibrato with the thumb than with the fingers, because fingers have much fleshier pads than the side of the thumb. Some cellists use finger substitution to replace the thumb with one of the fingers.
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
, thumb position, not a traditional position
Position (string technique)
On a string instrument, position is the relative location of the hand on the instrument's neck, indicated by ordinal numbers . Fingering, independent of position, is indicated by numbers, 1-4, and string is indicated by roman numerals, I-IV...
, is a stringed instrument playing technique
Musical technique
Musical technique is the ability of instrumental and vocal musicians to exert optimal control of the their instrument or vocal cords in order to produce the precise musical effects they desire. Improving one's technique generally entails practicing exercises that improve one's muscular sensitivity...
used to facilitate playing in the upper register
Register (music)
In music, a register is the relative "height" or range of a note, set of pitches or pitch classes, melody, part, instrument or group of instruments...
of the double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, and related instruments, such as the electric upright bass
Electric upright bass
The electric upright bass is an electronically amplified version of the double bass that has a minimal or 'skeleton' body, which greatly reduces the size and weight of the instrument. The EUB retains enough of the features of the double bass so that double bass players are comfortable performing...
. To play passages in this register, the player shifts
Shift (string technique)
On a string instrument, shifting, or a shift, is a movement of the fingers of the left hand from one position to another on the same string. Position is indicated through ordinal numbers . Strings may be indicated through roman numerals, I-IV, and fingering may be indicated through numbers, 1-4...
his or her hand out from behind the neck
Neck (music)
The neck is the part of certain string instruments that projects from the main body and is the base of the fingerboard, where the fingers are placed to stop the strings at different pitches. Guitars, lutes, the violin family, and the mandolin family are examples of instruments which have necks.The...
and curves the hand, using the side of the thumb to press down the string
Strings (music)
A string is the vibrating element that produces sound in string instruments, such as the guitar, harp, piano, and members of the violin family. Strings are lengths of a flexible material kept under tension so that they may vibrate freely, but controllably. Strings may be "plain"...
; in effect, the side of the thumb becomes a movable nut (capo
Capo
A capo is a device used on the neck of a stringed instrument to shorten the playable length of the strings, hence raising the pitch. It is frequently used on guitars, mandolins, and banjos. G.B...
).
On double bass
For the double bass, thumb position is used when playing above high "G" (on the third leger line in bass clef notation for the double bass). To play passages in this register, the player shifts his hand out from behind the neck and flattens it out, using the side of the thumb to press down the string. When playing in thumb position, the use of the fourth finger is replaced by the third finger, as the fourth finger becomes too short to produce a reliable tone. Bass instruction books often teach thumb position by having the player place the left-hand thumb on the high "G" note (on the third leger line in bass clef notation), so that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd finger can then play the "Ab", "A", and "Bb". Once in this position, other notes can be accessed with slight modifications; the "B" or "C" (above the "G") can be played by making a larger space between the thumb and the first finger; a player with a large hand may even be able to play a high "D" with their thumb still holding down the "G", if they stretch their hand fully open.In this same position, notes below the "G" can also be played. By barring
Barre chord
In music, a barre chord is a type of guitar chord, where one or more fingers are used to press down multiple strings across the guitar fingerboard , enabling the guitarist to play a chord not restricted by the tones of the guitar's open strings...
the thumb across the "G" and "D" strings, the "G" and "D" notes can be played in quick succession. Alternatively, notes on the "D" string can be performed in quick alternation with notes on the "G" string. While traditional methods rarely discuss playing on the "A" or "E" string in thumb position, French pedagogue Francois Rabbath
François Rabbath
François Rabbath is a contemporary French double-bass player, soloist, and composer.He was born into a Syrian family of musicians but his only instruction came from a book written by a Parisian bassist Edouard Nanny...
(and his disciples such as Paul Ellison
Paul Ellison
Paul Ellison is co-principal bass at the Grand Teton Festivals, and is Professor of Double Bass at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. He was also on the faculty of The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California.Mr...
) advocate the performance of notes on the "A" and "E" strings. While introductory manuals start teaching thumb position by stopping the "G" string on the high "G", any of the notes on the upper part of the fingerboard can be stopped and held by the thumb.
One issue with the use of thumb position is that it is harder to produce vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
with the thumb than with the fingers, because fingers have much fleshier pads than the side of the thumb. While the difference between the vibrato sound produced by the fingers and the thumb may not be noticeable in a passage of moving notes, if there is a held note which is stopped by the thumb, which is vibrated, the difference may be noticeable. As such, some players use finger substitution
Finger substitution
Finger substitution is a playing technique used on many different instruments, ranging from stringed instruments such as the violin and cello to keyboard instruments such as the piano and pipe organ. It involves replacing one finger which is depressing a string or key with another finger to...
to replace the thumb with one of the fingers.
Other bass instruments
Electric bassElectric Bass
Electric bass can mean:*Electric upright bass, the electric version of a double bass*Electric bass guitar*Bass synthesizer*Big Mouth Billy Bass, a battery-powered singing fish...
ists such as Brian Bromberg
Brian Bromberg
Brian Bromberg is an American jazz bassist and record producer who performs on both electric and acoustic instruments...
and Steve Bailey
Steve Bailey
Steve Bailey is an American bassist who is famous for his pioneering work with the six string fretless bass. He was voted runner up for "Bass Player Of The Year" in 1994 and 1996....
have applied the thumb position technique to their instruments, due to the fact that they share a common tuning. In the jazz world, many bassists from the 1970s onward play both instruments, sometimes with equal proficiency (e.g. Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke is an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores...
). The advantage of using thumb position on the bass guitar is that the left hand can cover two octaves or more without shifting position, which facilitates complex passages.
On cello
With the cello, in the "neck" positions (which use just less than half of the fingerboard, nearest the top of the instrument), the thumb rests on the back of the neck. However, in thumb position, the thumb usually rests alongside the fingers on the string and the side of the thumb is used to play notes, along with the other left-hand fingers. The fingers are normally held curved with each knuckle bent, with the fingertips in contact with the string. If a finger is required on two (or more) strings at once to play perfect fifths (in double stops or chords) it is used flat. In slower, or more expressive playing, the contact point can move slightly away from the nail to the pad of the finger, allowing a fuller vibrato.The cello thumb position is introduced on the second or half-string harmonic, due to: the ease with which this note may be found, the succession of notes from seventh to thumb position are, "in a natural sequence and range," and the stretch required to reach seventh position
Position (string technique)
On a string instrument, position is the relative location of the hand on the instrument's neck, indicated by ordinal numbers . Fingering, independent of position, is indicated by numbers, 1-4, and string is indicated by roman numerals, I-IV...
without removing the thumb from the neck. Bylsma
Anner Bylsma
Anner Bylsma is a Dutch cellist who plays on both modern, and period instruments in an historically informed baroque style. He took an interest in music from an early age...
attributes many composers of the 19th century being pianists (in contrast to Boccherini
Luigi Boccherini
Luigi Rodolfo Boccherini was an Italian classical era composer and cellist whose music retained a courtly and galante style while he matured somewhat apart from the major European musical centers. Boccherini is most widely known for one particular minuet from his String Quintet in E, Op. 11, No...
, for example, who routinely used a and D and also used G) as one cause of the use of thumb position on only the a string.
In thumb position, the, "'standard' finger pattern," between the thumb, first and second fingers, is whole, whole, and half tone. Thus if the thumb is placed on A, the index and middle fingers are placed on B and C.
As with the double bass, one issue with the use of thumb position is that it is harder to produce vibrato with the thumb than with the fingers, because fingers have much fleshier pads than the side of the thumb. Some cellists use finger substitution to replace the thumb with one of the fingers.