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10-01-2008, 10:15 AM
| | | | Does Geddy double-pick with index finger?
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When I watch Geddy Lee I'm always amazed at his right hand economy of motion. It seems like he's using only his index finger the vast majority of the time so I'm thinking he must hit up and down with it for a lot of fast passages?
Is that what he's doing?
If so, he's very strong and consistent at it.
I do it a little but not for fast, driving eight notes.
Do any of you guys do it? |
10-01-2008, 10:25 AM
| | TB's resident Rush freak | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN | | | He does use that finger for both up and down strokes. It's jokingly called "flamenco" bass by Geddy himself.
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10-01-2008, 05:28 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta | | | I do it a lot when I'm jamming and its really quite easy, and it allows one to play fast with ease. Lots of fun once you figure it out! |
10-01-2008, 05:41 PM
| | Cultivatin' the Vast Wasteland | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville Area | | He talks about that technique and demonstrates it in this video.
Starts at about 12:15
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10-01-2008, 05:45 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Norway | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Cap'n Video  He talks about that technique and demonstrates it in this video.
Starts at about 12:15 | oh! i must see that!
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10-01-2008, 06:02 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas | | There's no point even trying to comprehend how he plays. We'll never be half as good.  |
10-01-2008, 06:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. | | | i use that technique
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10-01-2008, 06:39 PM
| | Blazin' Acadian | | Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ontario,705 | | | Nice to see Ged uses a GK 800rb
for practicing warmups... |
10-02-2008, 09:36 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hanau, Germany | | To those of you who are using that kind of technique: How do you tackle the differences of volume between the "normal" hit with your finger and the hit with the backside of it? Besides the fact that there's a difference in tone between the two of them (considering you're not usually using your fingernails to play bass). I can't help it, I'm practicing and practicing, but I do not get an equal volume outta my bass using that technique. Is there a way to crack that or is it (like so many times) just about more practice and more practice and a hell a lot of practice until you got to go to some surgeon to mend your index finger? 
Last edited by Demian : 10-02-2008 at 09:38 AM.
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10-02-2008, 10:57 AM
| | | Hang in there, work and believe. There was a time (and albums) when Rush just wasn't very good. But they got better, better ... until they were smokin' great. Quote:
Originally Posted by waynobass There's no point even trying to comprehend how he plays. We'll never be half as good. | |
12-06-2008, 12:26 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Demian To those of you who are using that kind of technique: How do you tackle the differences of volume between the "normal" hit with your finger and the hit with the backside of it? | Yeah I was wondering the same thing. I use this technique occasionally and I'd also be interested to hear from others who are using it and how they solve the tonal difference between the up and downstroke. It's an interesting technique when combined with standard double finger action. |
12-06-2008, 12:41 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: USA, Warner Robins GA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Demian To those of you who are using that kind of technique: How do you tackle the differences of volume between the "normal" hit with your finger and the hit with the backside of it? Besides the fact that there's a difference in tone between the two of them (considering you're not usually using your fingernails to play bass). I can't help it, I'm practicing and practicing, but I do not get an equal volume outta my bass using that technique. Is there a way to crack that or is it (like so many times) just about more practice and more practice and a hell a lot of practice until you got to go to some surgeon to mend your index finger? | I think he uses a compressor. Which will definately help with making the levels even. |
12-06-2008, 02:21 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London | | Quote:
Originally Posted by mebusdriver I think he uses a compressor. Which will definately help with making the levels even. | But there's a tonal difference between the nail side and the pad side of your finger.... |
12-07-2008, 06:38 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: ChicagoLand | | | The keys to this technique (at least for me) are a light touch, short nails, and playing with the very tip of your finger. If your nail never hits the string the upstroke and downstroke should sound the same.
Once you get the index finger working well, introduce the middle finger too.
I don't use it all the time, but it adds a lot to my playing when needed. |
12-07-2008, 06:44 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridge, MA | | | Chuck Rainey also uses this technique, probably before Geddy. If you search the web, you should be able to find articles or videos. I know he discussed in a Bass Player mag article about 15 years ago. |
12-08-2008, 05:31 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London | | Quote:
Originally Posted by BluesWalker Chuck Rainey also uses this technique, probably before Geddy. If you search the web, you should be able to find articles or videos. I know he discussed in a Bass Player mag article about 15 years ago. |
Interesting. |
12-08-2008, 08:06 AM
|  | Forever in debt to your priceless advice | | Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Methuen, MA USA | | He explains it in his "Bass Method" book as well. A fantastic reference. I have incorporated it into my playing since reading about in that book all those years ago. Quote:
Originally Posted by BluesWalker Chuck Rainey also uses this technique, probably before Geddy. If you search the web, you should be able to find articles or videos. I know he discussed in a Bass Player mag article about 15 years ago. | |
12-08-2008, 01:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KPJ He explains it in his "Bass Method" book as well. A fantastic reference. I have incorporated it into my playing since reading about in that book all those years ago. | I'll have to track that down.
I think it's particularly useful at a mid to fast tempo just at the point when double fingering becomes difficult (it's naturally going to be difficult because standard double picking uses upstrokes) and swinging a single finger, pendulum-like to pluck a string from both sides seems more efficient.
It may be a problem if you're going for that quick - choked - note - Jaco tone though - but I imagine there's a way to get around that too.
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