Jaco - 3 finger technique?

CaptainWally · #1 03-08-2007, 10:41 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdY-KAmj5fU

Did Jaco use 3 or even 4 fingers on his right hand?

If not, it's interesting I can see his ring finger and pinkie moving along with the plucking fingers.

I always assumed moving the 3/4 fingers (if not actually being used) was questionable technique since it "wastes" energy.

Any thoughts?

overtheedge86 · #2 03-08-2007, 11:12 AM

I'm not sure about Jaco, but alot of times i use a third finger.
It adds a nice gallop effect.

Bruce Lindfield · #3 03-08-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainWally

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdY-KAmj5fU

Did Jaco use 3 or even 4 fingers on his right hand?

If not, it's interesting I can see his ring finger and pinkie moving along with the plucking fingers.

I always assumed moving the 3/4 fingers (if not actually being used) was questionable technique since it "wastes" energy.

Any thoughts?

As far as I'm aware, Jaco always talked about a 2-finger technique - but he may have used the other fingers for muting or when playing harmonics - artificial or otherwise - especially on chords .

Koki · #4 03-08-2007, 03:43 PM

Thats 2 fingers. He muted the lower strings with ring and pinky.

Richard Lindsey · #5 03-08-2007, 04:41 PM

I've been told that the way the tendons are connected in the hand means that the ring finger, in particular, tends to move when the middle finger does and that you would actually waste more energy by trying to keep it from doing so than by just allowing it to move sympathetically in this way. Not being an anatomist, I can't confirm that, but it seems to accord with my own experience, FWIW.

And from everything I've seen and heard, Jaco's technique was basically two fingers all the way. He might have used a 3rd finger for the occasional chord, but I can't ever remember seeing him do much else with it.

Zappstorius · #6 03-08-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overtheedge86

I'm not sure about Jaco, but alot of times i use a third finger.
It adds a nice gallop effect.

Me too, it's perfect for some metal stuff. When I play chords I tend to fan out my fingers, using the back of my hand, my fingernails, I guess.