Bernard Edwards Fake Pick Attack

Dr. Cheese · #1 09-01-2006, 05:38 PM

Who has checked out the September issue of BassPlayer that has some transcriptions of Bernard Edwards basslines and discusses his technique. I am a huge Bernard Edwards fan and I knew some of his stuff sounded like a pick, but I thought most of work was fingerstyle except for some slapping he did in later years. I had no idea that he used three fingers bunched together lick a pick! Dude must have has a fast wrist to play the lines he did!

Chili · #2 09-01-2006, 06:07 PM

i also love bernards bass playing, i might have to check this issue of bass player out

SullyB · #3 09-01-2006, 06:38 PM

JARRY GRAHM(SP) CALLS THIS TECHNIQUE USING HIS "LG PICK" AND I HAVE HEARD OF RICK JAMES, A VERY TALENTED INDIVIDUAL, USING THIS METHOD AS WELL. I TRIED IT AND...I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS IT MIGHT NOT BE FOR ME. I'LL GO BACK AND GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT.

Alec W. Conway · #4 09-01-2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SullyB

JARRY GRAHM(SP) CALLS THIS TECHNIQUE USING HIS "LG PICK" AND I HAVE HEARD OF RICK JAMES, A VERY TALENTED INDIVIDUAL, USING THIS METHOD AS WELL. I TRIED IT AND...I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS IT MIGHT NOT BE FOR ME. I'LL GO BACK AND GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT.

the caps made everything much clearer and much less agressive sounding.

Cheers.

markjazzbassist · #5 09-01-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alec W. Conway

the caps made everything much clearer and much less agressive sounding.

Cheers.

+1

read the newbie sticky on CAPS.

to the Original Poster -

I also have that issue and read the article. The technique seemed interesting. Like a poster above stated i do remember Larry Graham and Rick James doing the same thing. I just think that you would need to put in way to much time and effort to get the speed down. good luck.

eekmo · #6 09-03-2006, 05:31 PM

You know, if you think about it, there's not a lot of difference between this technique and double thumbing.

Dr. Cheese · #7 09-03-2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eekmo

You know, if you think about it, there's not a lot of difference between this technique and double thumbing.

I see your point. They just sound way different!

Lichtaffen · #8 09-21-2009, 06:49 AM

I was watching some old Chic video performances on youtube and I have to say he moves his hand around a lot from one position to another during each song. It's cool how he got so many different tones just by using different techniques. Most bass players, including myself, stick to one position. There's a lesson to be learned there.

diglo · #9 09-21-2009, 07:20 AM

I remember Nile Rogers saying, when Bernard played live, he would play so hard...blood would be running down his bass. That's dedicated to your craft. The best example is "Everybody Dance."

PJSShearer · #10 09-21-2009, 09:48 AM

I recall seeing a YouTube where someone talks about the time he met Bernard Edwards and he (Edwards) described this technique as "Chucking" - hold your thumb and first finger pretending you are holding a pick and hit the strings with the tip of the first finger - I tried it and it works!!.

I also recall, back in the day, having real problems playing "Everybody Dance" with either fingers or a pick, as (for me) it didn't really suit either technique all the way through - the initial octave jumps were easier with a pick but the rest was easier with fingers - BUT - with a little practice you can switch from chucking, where you'd use a pick, to using fingers and it all flows beautifully.

Another song from that time - "I should have loved you" by Narada Michael Walden needs the same treatment and if you were around me at the time when I was trying to play it you probably heard language you've never heard before or since :-).

Phil Smith · #11 09-21-2009, 10:26 AM

There is a youtube video, the link is available in the Benard Edwards thread in Bassists.

sandman · #12 09-22-2009, 07:50 AM

rick james....bitch

sorry doc, this does sound interesting, i should def check out bernards playing.

recommened tracks i should be checking out?

Dr. Cheese · #13 09-22-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandman

rick james....bitch

sorry doc, this does sound interesting, i should def check out bernards playing.

recommened tracks i should be checking out?

I would say Dance, Dance, Dance and Everybody Dance, My Feet Keep Dancing come to my mind first. There are some other songs, but I don't have my Chic reference on hand at the moment.

I Should Have Loved You featured TM Stevens on bass. The song was by Narada Michael Walden. I had that lp, and it was chock full of sick fingerstyle playing with just a little bit of slapping and plucking.

Infernal Affair · #14 09-22-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandman

rick james....bitch

sorry doc, this does sound interesting, i should def check out bernards playing.

recommened tracks i should be checking out?

"Good Times" is arguably one of the most famous bass lines of all time.

jgroh · #15 09-22-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

I recall seeing a YouTube where someone talks about the time he met Bernard Edwards and he (Edwards) described this technique as "Chucking" - hold your thumb and first finger pretending you are holding a pick and hit the strings with the tip of the first finger - I tried it and it works!!.

I also recall, back in the day, having real problems playing "Everybody Dance" with either fingers or a pick, as (for me) it didn't really suit either technique all the way through - the initial octave jumps were easier with a pick but the rest was easier with fingers - BUT - with a little practice you can switch from chucking, where you'd use a pick, to using fingers and it all flows beautifully.

Another song from that time - "I should have loved you" by Narada Michael Walden needs the same treatment and if you were around me at the time when I was trying to play it you probably heard language you've never heard before or since :-).

Hmmmm...Ive been doing this for 20 years and I gravitated to it naturally. Never saw anyone do it or shown to me. I do play with a pick too but doing it this way takes some of the edge off the attack and you can get surprisingly funky.

bass12 · #16 09-22-2009, 09:38 AM

Here's the link demonstrating the "chucking" style:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnBJWwK4kks

I heard an interview with Nile Rogers where he said that his "chucking" style of playing was influenced by Bernard. I thought that was really interesting - the guitarist taking his cues from the bassist! Man I love Bernard's playing - and Nile's too. To me, those three guys (Bernard, Nile and Tony) were the perfect rhythm section.

Megavega4 · #17 04-05-2013, 10:36 AM

I know I'm REALLY, REALLY late on this thread, but I wanted to thank bass12 for posting my link. My name is Chris Vega and I am the person who met Bernard and learned the "chucking" technique from him during his rehearsals for the shows in Japan, where he tragically passed away.

Interestingly enough, Chic's current bassist, Mr. Jerry Barnes, was using the double thumb technique until 2009/2010... one year or so after I posted my video on Youtube and on Nile's Facebook page. Coincidence.. hmmm?? I think not.. but oh well... some acknowledgement would have been nice. I doubt that Nile would have fired him and hired me based on a video.