double thumb anchor

highwattage · #1 03-20-2008, 11:26 PM

I thought I was all right at double thumping, and I hate doing it, but I know I should because it's a really effective technique if done correctly. I plugged in today and realized I still suck at it (after 3 months of practicing). I'm getting ok sound with it, but I have no speed, I feel awkward doing it, and I think I'm doing it wrong.

My main question is what does the back and forth motion come from: moving the thumb back and forth, rotating the wrist (like when I normally slap), moving the arm at elbow, or moving the arm at the shoulder. Also, does anyone archor their fingers on the neck pickup (or somewhere else)

Any advice would help (especially from people who know classical thump, or Jauqo III-x) <--- I loved low C# Theory

phektus · #2 03-20-2008, 11:35 PM

I'm also starting at it. I have observed Wooten do it, and it seems that the movement is coming from the whole arm, with the elbow moving slightly and the wrist steady. I'm not going to say that this is 100% accurate but that's what I observed. Also, it helped me a little to point my thumb towards the bass a little bit, but maybe because my thumb is straight as a stick. I've started doing exercises on the metronome with just the double thump and no plucks yet on a very slow speed (quarter notes @ 40bpm). My aim is a consistent attack especially on the upstroke which I occasionally miss. Don't aim for speed just yet, just make sure you get an OK tone with it (attack). I'm sure the veterans here would agree to that. As for the anchor I'm clueless too. I don't know how you're supposed to mute lower strings with it, with the palm maybe like in a guitar?

S1dewinder · #3 03-21-2008, 05:34 AM

I'm also beginner at this technique, and as I saw from some Victors videos, the movement comes from his elbow, which steadily moves up and down, and when he goes a little faster, he adds motion from his wrist. I hope that's helpful...
And about the anchoring, I don't do that, I basically play on the last fret, so the pickup is kinda out of hand

neurotictim · #4 03-21-2008, 05:57 AM

IMO, anchoring is a bad habit to get into, especially when you want to get into using fingers for plucking.

I'm not great at it, by any means, but I like S1dewinder's explanation. My advice would be to take the tack that utilizes the least amount of movement for you to thump consistently. Efficiency seems to be a key aspect.

highwattage · #5 03-21-2008, 11:01 AM

does the fact that I have like 15-16mm string spacing hurt me

highwattage · #6 03-21-2008, 11:06 AM

Also, i can do it fine at slow speeds like you said, but as I get faster my accuracy depleates exponentially

bassteban · #7 03-21-2008, 11:13 AM

I've gotten to a point where I'm comfortable using this technique; it took quite awhile for me. My movement comes mostly from wrist/forearm rotation, but pretty much everything is moving to some extent(I also agree that it's good to work towards less overall motion). As for spacing, I can't slap, thumb or even finger-pluck worth a crap on anything less than 19mm.

Edit: After watching Wooten's basic technique I came up w/a little exercise: Double-thumb the E, then A, D & G; then come back down(G, D, A, A). Next, two double- E, A, D, G; back down. Keep increasing the # of double-thumbs until you're doing 8; then go back(7 DTs per string, then 6, etc). Strangely, for me the hardest to do accurately are the first(1 DT/string)& last reps.

**251** · #8 03-21-2008, 04:52 PM

When I started to learn Slap I bought Alexi Sklaroski's tape. After watching & practicing for a while I noticed his hands. He & I have hands with very different shapes. Likewise, Vic Wooten's finger tips & nails are shaped very different from mine. It isn't reasonable to expect my hands to move like their's. I started experimenting with my hands to find ways to get similar results.

Tuck Andress has an article posted on his website about using a pick. Forearm, wrist, hand rotation, finger movement ... You could use any one or combination, provided it suits your hands and coordination.

Use the playing of others as a guide to making the technique your own. Any or all of the approaches you describe could work. Hang in there & give it some more time.

Good luck