Finger tension in double thumb

[Vengoropatubus]

So I've been trying to learn how to double thumb well for a while now, and my tone has been incredibly thin right from the start. Because of that, I figured I'd slow down, since my tone was likely a symptom of the fact that my fingers were doing nothing more than grazing the strings because of the speeds I was trying to jump to without a solid knowledge of the fundamentals of the technique.

So, long story short, I start going down and up with the thumb slowly, then move to down-up pluck, and then down-up pluck pluck.

My problem is, that when I put the second pluck in, I can feel my index and middle fingers straining right at the knuckle, as if they were trying to blend into one big finger. Any tips on releasing this tension?

[chicagodoubler]

This technique is VERY hard to make solid. There's a reason that only about 3 people in the world do this well. ie Victor, Alain Caron, Marcus Miller.

Watch the Victor instructional video on youtube very carefully. You got the right idea starting very slow. Make sure you are getting a sound as big as you would doing a standard thump.

Also, if you aren't playing faster than you would slapping normally after a few months, why not just focus on standard slapping? Larry Graham and Marcus Miller played some ridiculous stuff back in the day, and nobody's ever going to criticize you for sounding like those cats!

[Vengoropatubus]

when you say only three people can do it well, do you mean that only three people can use it to play incredible bass lines, or that only three people even have the ability to play passable lines with it?

[chicagodoubler]

I've heard a few other people who were ok at it, but realistically, how many people have you heard using it on major releases? I can really only think of those three.

It's an impressive technique when done well, but try to be patient. As I've said elsewhere, it was more than 10 years from my first lesson with Vic before I could even play simple stuff like major scales with it!

Also, as I've said elsewhere, make sure to focus your practice on the stuff you actually use, like groovin melodic basslines, and simple stuff like scales, arps, etc...

If you spend all your time working on something you don't ever use on the gig, then that's not exactly what I can economic use of your practice time, is it?

[Williamsburgjim]

...just another thought/advice. Check out Victor's site and look at his open hammer plucks. They're basically octave hammer-on triplets that closly resemble the double-thumb in sound. I use them in my classic rock/ 70's dance music gig or whenever you want to do a fast triplet riff moving between chord/changes.... .

They are a lot fun and easy to do. Drummer's likem too...

Jimmyjoebob

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[dulouz]

Originally Posted by chicagodoubler

There's a reason that only about 3 people in the world do this well. ie Victor, Alain Caron, Marcus Miller.

Don't forget our own "Ask a Pro" Ray Riendeau. He is incredible!!!!

[chicagodoubler]

yeah ray sounds good, and there's a handful of other guys who can do it to some degree... but I still stand by my claim that I've only heard three competent double thumpers on "major releases..."

[santucci218]

im very fluent with my double thumbing and im only 18 years of age. yo umight think im bsing you but honestly i started learning wooten stuff about 4 years ago.

i learned classical thump, it helped a lot.

[applerocks]

Originally Posted by santucci218

im very fluent with my double thumbing and im only 18 years of age. yo umight think im bsing you but honestly i started learning wooten stuff about 4 years ago.

i learned classical thump, it helped a lot.

There's a massive difference between being able to 'play' classical thump and laying down a solid groove.

I've been trying to nail it for a while now, but I don't practice it very much. For me personally I find it's good for the occasional flashy bit in a solo and not much else.

[santucci218]

i think it makes great use for fast triplets and muted notes as well. I'm not going to sit here and talk myself up as being an amazing player, i am 18 years old, but i dont know any other 18 year olds that are as good as me.

[mutedeity]

This is starting to look like a guitarist convention. I'm not going to single anyone out here but all this posturing about oh yeah I can do it but I don't have to because I can "groove" is really beside the point.

It's not whether anyone thinks they or anyone else should or shouldn't develop any given technique. It's about proper technical development and application. I don't really think we should be projecting our limitations on to others so we can justify our lack. So what you can "groove"? Great when it is appropriate to do it then do it, but when it is appropriate to play other techniques why should anyone have to limit themselves. I would say too that if you are just using this technique as a way to be flashy here and there, then you probably haven't explored the full potential of the technique. On the other hand I wouldn't take it that anyone can play any specific technique as a sign that they are great. Being a good musician comes with experience and knowing what is appropriate and when.

[santucci218]

agreed