Dictionary

Floating thumb

Thumb not fixed to a pickup; moves for mute and reach.

Anchored thumb

Thumb rests on a pickup or string for stability.

Rest stroke

Pluck lands on the next string for a heavier attack.

Free stroke

Finger clears the string in air after the pluck.

i / m / a

Index / middle / ring plucking fingers.

Pocket

Where the bass sits relative to the kick and snare.

Ghost note

Muted pitchless attack (x).

Walking

Quarter-note chord-tone line outlining harmony.

Rake

Drag across muted strings into a target note.

Gallop

Short rhythmic cell (often 8th + two 16ths) driving metal bass lines.

Lead bass

Melodic / harmonic bass role — lines, chords, harmonics, expressive FX.

Open-string drone

Intentional ringing open string under fretted shapes.

Root–fifth power shape

Root and fifth (often a string pair) as a harmonic skeleton.

Slap

Thumb strike bouncing the string off the frets.

Pop

Snapped string release against the frets.

Natural harmonic

Chime at a node (5, 7, 12…).

Pinch harmonic

Artificial harmonic via fretted note + right-hand touch/pluck.

Double-stop

Two notes fretted/sounded together.

Wah

Filter sweep for vowel-like lead shapes.

Overdrive / OD

Gain that can clarify attacks and harmonics; demands tighter muting.

Compression

Evens dynamics — helpful for gallop consistency in a mix (ears, not a preset).

When a page says gallop, pocket, or lead bass, jump back here if the label feels fuzzy — then return to the drill with one definition in mind.

Gallop · Lead bass · Slap · Muting · Grooves