official manual[thumpergame.com]

Thumper uses four directional inputs and a single action button. I will not be referring to the specific ones you may be using (arrow keys/WASD/analogue stick/dpad, space/A/X, ...).

Many actions can be performed at all times, some are situational. I have them listed in the order they come up in, with two advanced techniques (not required to complete the game) at the bottom.

While the in game tutorials are great and intuitive, they lack the right format to elaborate on a few details you are meant to figure out yourself. That in itself is a great part of the experience, so I would suggest to only use this guide for clarification on things you have either already used or got stuck on.

Hit the action button.

You can thump at any time without penalty to your score.

The action is used to hit the upcoming glowing thumps on the track.

Hold left or right and the action button.

This action can also be performed at any time and will get you through corners without damage.

Hold the action button, direction button irrelevant.

Can be performed at any time and will get you through barriers without taking damage.

Hold up.

Can be performed at any time, but has no further effect on it's own.

Hit the action button on a thump while holding up.

This action will get you over obstacles.

Hold the action button on a jump.

This gets you over longer obstacles.

The basic variant is limited and you will descend again after some time,
but it can be extended with other actions.

Hit down on a thump while flying.

This action will create a shockwave that kills tendrils on the side of the track, breaks boss shields and can activate upcoming thumps if you have a thump streak going.

Press left or right with an available lane in that direction.

Note that holding the action button will override this action on the ground and turn you inside the current lane instead, but you can switch lanes while holding it for flying.

Hold up and hit the action button while flying over a thump.

Flying from a bounce is extended indefinitely.

Hit either the direction, the action button (with the other turning input already held) or both right as you enter a corner.

This action will allow you to fly through short corners and indefinitely extend your flight afterwards.